The Brownwood/Brown County Health Department is partnering with Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood for expedited COVID-19 testing, followed by treatment, in one location, on the same day.

“We know that people are having to wait more time than they want to get a test returned or get an appointment with their doctor for a test.  What we decided to do is a combination clinic. The health department would supply the testing component and the hospital, Hendrick here in Brownwood, would supply the treatment side,” said Lisa Dick, administrator of the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department.

The goal is to keep people out of physician’s offices, emergency rooms and the hospital.

“You would have to make an appointment to get tested, and we’re hoping those would run on the same day.  After that, if you test positive, we would hand those results over to Hendrick and they would work with you to see if you are eligible to receive treatment.  There are qualifications for that.  They would screen you and hopefully be able to get you in right then.  It’s in one building so we’re hoping it looks something like a one-stop place for COVID treatment,” Dick said.

She further explained that a health department worker would come to your car in the parking lot, do the COVID test and, if the patient is found to be positive, then Hendrick would set up the treatment.

“You wouldn’t even have to leave the parking lot.  You’d be able to come into the building and receive treatment.  That shouldn’t take a tremendously long period of time, less than a couple of hours,” Dick said.

The treatment type is REGEN-COV which, according to regencov.com, has been granted an Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  It’s an infusion type treatment that can also be given as a shot, Dick said.

Brown County Commissioners on Monday approved $63,000 in funding to aid the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department in this response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Last week, the Brownwood City Council approved $77,000 in funding to the health department toward this effort.

The health department has applied for a $758,000.00 grant which would continue this treatment program for 13 months.

Be watching for more information here on Brownwoodnews.com in the coming days.  The health department is planning to begin the clinic on Monday, September 27.