Local Doctor From Medwise Urgent Care Discusses COVID-19 Testing

With the increase in COVID-19 cases, comes the demand for testing. 

A Tulsa hospital said it is seeing patients come to the ER just to get a COVID-19 test.  

Medwise said across its nine locations, it has given more than 15,000 COVID-19 tests in the past six weeks.  

Before the Medwise urgent care near Admiral and Sheridan opened for the day on Wednesday, there were already people waiting in the parking lot.  

Dr. Patrick Aguilar said COVID-19 testing on top of other visits, is keeping them busy.  

"Right now things are so busy that we strongly encourage appointments,” Dr. Aguilar said.  

Medwise, which is owned by QuikTrip, is offering PCR and rapid tests at its nine locations across Green Country.  

Depending on a patient's insurance, they may have to go inside for a visit.  

"Most of our COVID testing definitely happens at the curbside of our clinics, we also do have some folks who come in either because they want their symptoms evaluated or because their insurance requires them to do that,” Dr. Aguilar said.  

At St. Francis, Chief of Emergency Medicine Dr. Ryan Parker said some people are coming to their emergency room hoping to get a COVID-19 test.  

"We have quite a few patients who are just coming for COVID testing. And we are happy to see you, but you're gonna wait a little bit if you come to the emergency department for that,” Dr. Parker said.  

St. Francis offers drive-thru testing in Broken Arrow, with no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. The Warren Clinic on Elm is open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on weekends. St. Francis said the goal is to give results in 24 hours.  

Patients at Medwise who do not have insurance will be charged $150 for a COVID-19 test.   

The Tulsa Health Department is offering free COVID-19 testing to those without insurance.  

For a list of testing resources throughout our area, click here.