CLEVELAND — University Hospitals is offering another line of defense for its cancer patients during the pandemic, a separate COVID rule-out clinic.
“Seidman Cancer Center adapted early to open a special Rule-Out Clinic specifically for cancer patients. The clinic, which is currently located in the former wig salon space on the ground floor of the cancer center, has been retrofitted for negative air pressure,” according to a press release from University Hospitals.
Some studies show cancer patients can face up to 4x the mortality rate if they are infected with COVID-19.
“Our cancer patients, if they would develop symptoms related to COVID-19, you know, cough, fever or shortness of breath, we did not want them to have to go to the emergency room to be evaluated,” said Dr. Theodoros Teknos, the president of Seidman Cancer Center.
A free-standing clinic offers them the chance to be tested, without the risk of exposure.
“A place where cancer patients could come in and be evaluated, have a chest x-ray, and have a coronavirus test done and also check their oxygen levels without having to put themselves at risk of waiting in the emergency room. And also, you know, streamline their evaluation so that it could be done very quickly,” said Dr. Teknos.
Since April 1, this clinic has tested nearly 200 cancer patients.
