City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov
Long Beach, CA - Today, the City of Long Beach launched a Rapid Assessment Clinic to provide medical assistance to people who might otherwise feel compelled to visit an emergency room for their medical conditions.
“This new Rapid Assessment Clinic will serve our community and create much needed space in our hospital emergency rooms,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “People who need free care can get it fast and safely.”
The no-cost clinic, located at the Long Beach City College Pacific Coast Campus, will operate from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., seven days a week, until further notice.
The Rapid Assessment Clinic is available to individuals who are not experiencing flu-like symptoms on a walk-in basis. No appointment is necessary. Patients can obtain assessment and treatment for common ailments such as earaches and urinary tract infections. They can also obtain and renew prescriptions for common medications such as oral contraception, and medications for hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), thyroid issues, cholesterol, diabetes, depression and allergies. Those needing prescription renewals are urged to bring a list of their current medications with dosages and/or pill bottles if they have them.
People who arrive with moderate flu-like symptoms, including a cough, fever without rash or sore throat will also be evaluated on site. These patients will leave the clinic with a patient care plan.
The clinic will not perform X-rays or fill prescriptions on-site.
Starting Tuesday April 7 drive-through appointment-only COVID-19 testing will be available for those who need it, in an area adjacent to the Rapid Assessment Clinic. Interested individuals should visit the City's COVID-19 testing page and answer several pre-screening questions. Testing will continue to be prioritized for individuals who are symptomatic, those who have underlying health conditions, or are 65 years or older. The City expects to test approximately 100 people per day initially.
Test results take approximately 48 hours to process. Long Beach Health Department case investigators will call individuals whose test results are positive. Individuals whose test results are negative will be notified by letter via the United States Postal Service.
“The launch of the Rapid Assessment Clinic today was a huge success,” said Public Health Emergency Management Director Sandy Wedgeworth. “In the first few hours, approximately 50 people were assessed and several of those were referred for COVID-19 testing. The average time a patient spent in the tent was 10 minutes, so we’re really staying true to our promise of appropriate, expedited care.”
Free parking is available in the college campus parking lot near Orange Avenue, north of Pacific Coast Highway. Signage and staff will direct individuals accordingly.
The clinic is staffed by members of the Long Beach Medical Reserve Corps which consists of volunteer non-medical and medical professionals from the community, including public health professionals, doctors, nurses, medical assistants and nurse practitioners. Individuals interested in volunteering, should visit longbeach.gov/MRC.
For the latest information on COVID-19, with details on all that the City of Long Beach is doing to keep its residents safe, visit: longbeach.gov/COVID19 and follow @LongBeachCity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.