AUSTIN, Texas — As Texas continues to ramp up its COVID-19 testing capabilities, more and more drive-thru testing sites are starting to pop up.
Here are some of the groups doing drive-thru testing in the Austin area:
Austin Emergency Center
Austin Emergency Center (AEC) announced that it was offering drive-thru or drive-up testing on March 30. No appointments are necessary.
Most patients will be able to be evaluated in a minimally invasive manner from the privacy of their own cars. Those who are found to be seriously ill will be brought inside the ER for further evaluation. Some evaluations may take place by video, but a doctor will see each patient in person during the visit.
Through the AEC-CaSA Carside process, the patient will be able to avoid the risk of being exposed to infectious diseases that could be present in a regular ER office.
AEC physicians may make presumptive "stay at home" recommendations based upon the clinical picture and the risk factors of the coronavirus. Patients might be given a "work note" for up to 14 days, at the discretion of the physician.
AEC-CaSA will be offered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at four of AEC’s locations and a location in Pflugerville:
- AEC - Far West 3563 Far West Blvd. Austin, TX 78731
512-481-2321 - AEC - S. Lamar 4015 S. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78704
512-774-5780 - AEC - Mueller 1801 E. 51st St. Bldg. H, Austin, TX 78723
512-322-5104 - AEC - Anderson Mill 13435 US Hwy. 183 N. Austin, TX 78750
512-614-1200 (starting on April 1) - Pflugerville - 15100 FM 1825, Pflugerville, TX 78660
Austin Regional Clinic
On Monday, March 30, ARC announced it would be opening five drive-up testing sites at locations in Austin, Cedar Park, Kyle and Round Rock.
According to ARC, those looking to be tested must have the test ordered by an ARC physician.
If a patient drives through without first having an initial physician evaluation, staff will offer to schedule them for the next available telemedicine appointment so a physician can decide if a test is needed. That consultation could occur in the parking lot through ARC’s telemedicine service. If patients meet the testing criteria, they will be instructed to return to the drive-up testing tent.
Drive-up testing is offered 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at ARC Far West, ARC South 1st, ARC Cedar Park, ARC Round Rock, and ARC Kyle Plum Creek.
- ARC Far West, ARC Round Rock and ARC Southwest have extended weekday hours to 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and are now offer drive-up testing in. After Hours Clinics as well, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Telemedicine visits are also available, and 60 to 70% of visits are now being done via telemedicine.
Other changes to patient services include:
Saturday pediatric well-checks
Pediatric Well-Checks will be available from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Saturdays, April 11, 18, 25 and May 2.
- Locations: ARC Quarry Lake (Austin), ARC Buda, ARC Cedar Park, ARC Kelly Lane (Pflugerville), with more locations to be added.
- Call the clinic or ARC-INFO (512-272-4636) to schedule or through ARC MyChart or ARCbooknow.com.
- Important for parents to keep up with their child’s development, vaccines, any medical issues.
- All clinics’ patient and staff safety protocols are followed
Well Woman Saturdays
- ARC Obstetrics & Gynecology locations offering Saturday Well Woman exams.
- April 18, May 2 and 9 at ARC North Austin Ob/Gyn
- April 25 at ARC South OB, ARC Medical Plaza Specialty, ARC Seton Northwest, and ARC Far West (Gyn-only), with other dates planned.
- Call the clinic and press “1” to schedule, or go online to ARC appointments.com
Online workshops for senors
- Virtual “Medicare 101” Workshops
- Saturday, April 18, 10-1 a.m. and 1-2 p.m.
- Visit connectedseniorcareadvantage.com and click on the Medicare Events page
- Offered by Austin Regional Clinic, Premier Family Physicians, and Capital Medical Clinic
- Part of Connected Senior Care Advantage
Saturday hours for rheumatology
- With Tina Bunch, MD
- ARC Far West Medical Tower
- Saturdays through May (except May 23), 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Patients will be screened, rescheduled for infusions if experiencing viral symptoms
- Call 512-346-8888 for appointments
Prenatal free virtual meet and greet with a pediatrician
- Meet & Greet Video Visit for expecting parents to help them choose their baby’s pediatrician and ask pertinent questions about their baby’s care.
- More information at: https://www.austinregionalclinic.com/services/preparing-for-your-baby
Opened a High Acuity Triage phone line covered completely by physicians to help patients avoid unnecessarily going to the ER.
- Patients call ARC clinics (press 4) or the COVID-19 24/7 Hotline (866-456-4525) and talk to a nurse to help them decide if they should come in to see the doctor.
- Depending on their symptoms, patients are set up with an immediate telemedicine visit with a physician, by phone or video visit.
- 75% of patients who called triage were able to be treated in the clinic rather than an ER.
- Thus helps keep patients out of the ER and saving beds and care for those who really need it.
Baylor Scott & White
Baylor Scott & White has confirmed that it has opened a drive-thru testing clinic at its location by the Domain.
Additionally, Baylor Scott & White offers drive-thru testing at Baylor Scott & White now offers drive-thru testing sites at its clinics located at 425 University Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78665 and 5251 West US Highway 290 Austin, TX 78735.
Like other testing sites, you will be required to complete a screening questionnaire before the clinic decides whether to test you.
CommUnity Care Health Centers
On April 15, CommUnityCare Health Centers announced it would be re-opening some of its temporarily closed clinics in response to the pandemic and would also be opening drive-up testing sites in eastern Travis County.
The drive-thru testing will be offered Monday through Friday on a rotating basis in communities like Manor, Colony Park, Austin’s Colony/Hornsby Bend, Del Valle, and Dove Springs.
It plans to begin testing on April 16 in Del Valle at Southeast Metropolitan Park and April 17 at Barbara Jordan Elementary School in Colony Park. No appointment, insurance or payment is required for testing.
Drive-up testing sites will be dependent on the availability of testing kits. CommUnityCare’s drive-up testing site at Hancock Center, 41st Street and I-35 South, will remain open six days a week.
Experts at each testing site will first screen every patient for COVID-19 symptoms. If they meet certain criteria, patients will then be given a test. Each site has a limited number of test kits available each day. For information about testing, call CommUnityCare’s COVID-19 Hotline at 512-978-8775.
CommUnityCare Del Valle Drive-Up Testing
Del Valle at Southeast Metropolitan Park
4511 SH-71 W, Del Valle, Texas 78617
9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Thursday
CommUnityCare Colony Park Drive-Up Testing:
Barbara Jordan Elementary School
6711 Johnny Morris Rd., Austin, Texas 78724
9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday and Friday
CommUnityCare Hancock Drive-Up Testing:
1000 E 41st Street Ste: 925, Austin, Texas 78751
8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday – Friday
9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday
CommUnityCare Manor Drive-Up Testing:
Manor Senior High School
14832 FM 973 Manor, Texas 78653
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday
CommUnityCare is working to identify additional locations that are conveniently located with ample parking and electricity.
Cedar Park Pediatric & Family Medicine
Cedar Park Pediatric & Family Medicine is performing two tests: a COVID-19 test and an antibody test.
The drive-up COVID-19 test will be held at the Cypress Creek clinic, located at 345 Cypress Creek Rd, and the Antibody tests will be performed at other locations.
Both tests require an initial Telemedicine appointment with one of the clinic's healthcare providers and is available to new and existing patients.
More information about the tests can be found on the clinic's website.
Dell Medical Center
University of Texas Health in Austin (UTHA), Dell Medical Center's Clinic downtown, has drive-thru testing available.
The testing is available to those recommended to be tested by Austin Public Health and Ascension Seton.
Premier ER and Urgent Care
Premier ER and Urgent Care has COVID-19 drive-thru testing capabilities outside of its San Marcos location at 1509 N Interstate 35.
Testing is available by appointment only for patients who have been given prior approval by a physician through a virtual screening on Premier's website.
The test takes about 5 minutes and the results are typically available within 24 hours, according to the company.
Remedy
Austin-based telemedicine company Remedy has set up a drive-thru testing site, but it isn't open to everyone.
Similarly to all the other testing locations, you must go through a screening to determine whether to be tested or not.
Tarrytown Pharmacy
This pharmacy offers testing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There are two locations: 2727 Exposition Blvd. STE 105 and 8500 Shoal Creek Blvd #200.
Williamson County
Williamson County announced a new, free public testing site for COVID-19 on April 26.
The new drive-through site is for people who are experiencing coronavirus symptoms, however, it does not require a visit from a physician. Patients must first take an online assessment based on screening criteria from the CDC.
The online screening tool will become available on April 27. Tests will begin on April 30. People who are eligible for the test will be given a time and location. Appointments will be made Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
On May 1, Family Emergency Room announced that it is assisting the county to expand testing in Cedar Park and Round Rock. It will be administering the tests at no cost.
To be tested, county residents can access the online screening tool. They can then be tested at either 3620 E. Whitestone Blvd, Cedar Park; or 1925 A.W. Grimes Blvd, Round Rock.
However, the county temporarily took down the online portal on May 20 due to overwhelming interest. It was brought back online by June 5.
With the help of the National Guard, Williamson County announced a new mobile testing site in Taylor on May 7.
Starting at 7 a.m. on Friday, May 8, Williamson County residents experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can call 512-883-2400 or visit www.txcovidtest.org to be screened and to make an appointment. The mobile testing location is at the Taylor Regional Park, located at 210 Carlos G. Parker Blvd. You will need to make an appointment before arriving.
Austin Public Health
The City of Austin has also launched an online assessment for COVID-19.
This new tool allows the public to be screened for symptoms without having to see a physician. The form uses an algorithm-based assessment to evaluate whether or not an individual should be referred to a free testing site.
For more information, click here.
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