Hershey

St. Joseph opens curbside X-ray service to ensure patient safety

Diane Heck, left, radiologic technologist, and Karen Wagner, radiation safety officer, use pressurized ionization survey meters to test low-level ionizing radiation at St. Joseph’s former main entrance that was converted to a curbside X-ray service. Credit: Penn State Health / Penn State. Creative Commons

Penn State Health St. Joseph opened a curbside, chest X-ray service at the medical center’s main entrance at 2500 Bernville Road on May 4. This new service is part of its continued efforts to increase patient safety during the coronavirus pandemic.

During the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, patients who are under suspicion or positive for COVID-19 and need a chest X-ray can drive up to the front entrance, where an imaging technician will guide them through the registration and imaging process. Appointments are not required.

Patients will need an order from their physician for a one-view chest X-ray before they can be seen. The X-ray process takes approximately 10 minutes from start to finish, and patients are sent home immediately following their imaging.

“This unique service mitigates exposure to the virus to the population within the hospital and conserves personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies,” explains Lynn Kaufman, director of imaging. “The location just inside the main entrance also makes it convenient to our drive-through COVID-19 testing and curbside pharmacy pickup should those services be needed.”

Other diagnostic testing for low-risk, intermediate-risk and high-risk patients is available by appointment during the coronavirus pandemic. For any of these additional services, patients must have a physician’s order prior to calling Central Scheduling at 610-378-2100.

Last Updated May 6, 2020

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