Drive-thru outpatient services, such as COVID-19 testing, vaccines, lab work and chest X-rays, offer low-contact, high-quality care that will extend long after the pandemic.

Story by: Lynne Choate on November 4, 2020

Norton Healthcare Express Services, a drive-thru outpatient medical facility, opens Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. The unique center is located at the corner of Breckenridge Lane and Taylorsville Road, and will offer diagnostic testing, COVID-19 testing, vaccinations and lab work with a provider referral seven days a week.

Russell F. Cox, president and CEO, Norton Healthcare, announced the new concept in medical care in May 2020 after the success of Norton Healthcare’s pop-up drive-thru respiratory clinics launched this spring in response to keeping patients and staff safe and healthy during the coronavirus pandemic. Services offered included hospital pre-admission testing and COVID-19 testing.

“COVID-19 taught us a great deal about new ways we can provide medical care to our community, including drive-thru testing centers and expanded telehealth services,” said Cox. “We heard from our community that they liked the convenience of these drive-thru centers, so we developed a way to expand services beyond those for COVID-19 in a permanent location.”

“After thoughtful planning and construction, this concept is now a reality. Services will be provided in a covered, climate-controlled building, allowing patients to remain in their vehicles for most services.”

The building is part of a parcel of land Norton Healthcare purchased in 2019. The rest of the land and existing structure is being renovated for the relocation of CPA Lab, a division of Norton Healthcare.

The architect for Norton Healthcare Express Services is TEG Architects and Abel Construction is the contractor. The total investment for the project is $1.85 million, which includes the structure and testing and diagnostic equipment. The facility employs nine people who will oversee the seven-day operations

Norton Healthcare Express Services is primarily a referral-only location, and patients must have a provider’s order to be seen, with the exception of existing Norton Healthcare patients seeking flu shots. This allows providers offering Norton Telehealth and Norton eCare services the ability to give patients, including those who are immunocompromised, a no-contact option to receive care.