60 Minute COVID-19 Test Result

Madera Community Hospital Improves COVID-19 Test Result Time

Madera, CA – Madera Community Hospital announces improved COVID-19 point of care results in less than 60 minutes.

Until this week, people tested for COVID-19 in Madera County relied on the public health lab or national commercial laboratories to process their test results. Test results were not known for 48 hours to 7days. Now with the introduction of Cepheid automated molecular testing, Madera Community Hospital has the ability to process up to four COVID-19 tests per hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receive the results in less than 60 minutes. If needed, Madera Community Hospital can process up to 96 tests in one 24 hour period. Hospitals, unlike public health departments and private laboratories, never close. “This is unprecedented access to nearly immediate resulting of a COVID-19 Test,” said Bakht Roshan, MD, Board Certified Infectious Disease. “Our hospital’s forward thinking and operational acuity provides Madera County Residents with the gold standard of testing to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”

Madera Community Hospital’s launch of COVID-19 testing followed Fresno County’s announcement of decreasing testing wait time through a partnership with Fresno State. “Adding the processing of COVID-19 testing to our clinical capabilities put our hospital in the forefront of relieving the anxiousness associated with pandemic,” said Karen Paolinelli, Chief Executive Officer.

“In house processing of COVID-19 tests during National Laboratory Week, April 19 – 25, 2020, is an acknowledgement of our Hospital’s professional team of Phlebotomists, Medical Laboratory Technicians and 21 Certified Lab Scientists (CLS) who are all state licensed and nationally certified,” Paolinelli added.

If you think you need to be tested for COVID-19, call, (559) 675-5530 for an appointment

to be screened by a healthcare provider. For more information on COVID-19, testing statistic and how you can help, visit www.MaderaHospital.org/COVID-19.

About Madera Community Hospital

Our 106 bed General Acute Care hospital was founded in 1971 by a group of citizens committed to providing quality emergency and hospital services to Madera County residents. Today Madera Community Hospital is the County’s premier health system providing integrated care through access to primary care and twenty-three medical specialty services, including telemedicine in Chowchilla and Madera.

Madera Community Hospital’s onsite laboratory is under the direction of Michael P. Dacoco, MT(AMT), CLS,DHA,FACHE.

Madera Community Hospital has received numerous awards for Labor and Delivery Care, General and Orthopedic Surgery and is nationally recognized for healthcare quality, patient safety and patient satisfaction. Madera Community Hospital is accredited by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program.