COVID-19 Information and Updates

 

Testing Information
Treatment Options
Vaccine Information
 

COVID-19 Update from The GW Medical Faculty Associates

Please visit our COVID-19 Safety Protocols for more information on visitation guidelines, and the current precautions we are taking at our locations.

Your Safety
The GW MFA team is working hard to ensure continuous and safe medical care. As a result, you may experience some of the following precautions:

  • If you have a medical appointment scheduled, you may notice medical staff taking additional precautions including extra personal protective equipment (PPE) and new workflows.
  • If your medical appointment is canceled you may be able to reschedule it as a tele-visit or in a few days. Please request an appointment with your provider through MyChart or contact the scheduling staff for the department.
  • Delays in communication may occur due to surge conditions and system-wide shortages. For urgent matters, please call your provider.

We thank you for your flexibility and patience with these rapidly changing circumstances and for helping keep our staff, community, and patients safe with these health and safety measures. 

COVID-19 Testing

We encourage our patients to visit their state/local resources pages for COVID-19 testing information:

**If you are seeking pre-procedural testing for GW Hospital, please go to the GW Hospital (900 23rd St NW, Washington, DC 20037) and proceed to pre-admission testing.

If you are symptomatic, traveling, or need a COVID-19 test for another reason, you can get a COVID test at one of our GW Immediate & Primary Care (GW IPC) locations listed below. No appointment is required.

Patients are able to walk-in or schedule an appointment any time during normal operating hours to receive a COVID-19 test and evaluation for upper respiratory infections. For information on locations and operating hours visit gwdocsipc.com.

To find additional COVID-19 testing sites in your area, please click one of the links below:

Treatment Options

If you test positive for COVID-19, please isolate yourself from others right away. The recommended period of isolation for most people per the CDC is at least 5 days. Unless you are specifically instructed to do so by your physician or employer, you do not have to test negative in order to end isolation after this period. PCR tests can remain positive for a long time after illness due to remnants of the virus that are no longer infectious.

The following information regarding treatment is current as of late December 2021:

Treatment of Mild to Moderate Illness 

  • At-home management: symptoms of COVID-19 can be managed with common medications such as aspirin and acetaminophen. You can use a pulse oximeter to monitor your oxygen levels. If you have a lot of respiratory symptoms or a history of lung disease your doctor may prescribe an albuterol inhaler or steroids. If your symptoms are getting worse please contact a medical provider or seek urgent medical care.
  • Paxlovid and molnupiravir, oral pills against COVID-19, were just authorized by the FDA this week. They are not yet available. These pills will likely be distributed through the government and then prescribed by physicians. 
  • GW participates in the ACTIV-6 trial, which is looking at existing medications that can be easily given at home during the first 7 days of illness. Please see the website for more information and call the GW coordinator at (202) 741-2917 if interested. 
     

Monoclonal Antibody Treatment

  • People who have risk factors for severe disease from COVID-19 can be treated with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) during the first 10 days of illness. 
  • Unfortunately, mAbs are currently in short supply nationwide due to the surging demand. Also, most of the available products are ineffective against the Omicron variant of COVID-19 which is now dominant in our region. DC and GW are awaiting federal distribution of the remaining product. 
  • For more information on mAbs including eligibility, FAQ, a hotline, and treatment center locator, please see the U.S. Combat COVID website.


MyChart Video Visits Available

We are offering virtual health visits for almost all of our specialty care areas. Please contact your provider to schedule your virtual health visit, or call (202) 677-MED3 (6333). It’s easy, convenient, and safe.

Instructions for Patients

If your GW healthcare provider has ordered this test
Please bring a photo ID and insurance card with you and inform the registration staff that you are a GW patient whose provider has ordered a COVID-19 test. Your provider will share results with you.

If your non-GW healthcare provider has ordered this test
Please bring a photo ID, insurance card, and copy of the provider’s order for the COVID-19 test. The order will need to include your provider’s LabCorp account number to help make sure that the results are sent back to your provider. Your ordering provider will share results with you.

If you do not have an order, but want to be tested
Please bring your photo ID and insurance card with you. You can expect to be evaluated by a qualified GW healthcare provider who may order the COVID-19 test for you. Note that the evaluation by a GW healthcare provider is required in order to receive an order for testing and that this is a billable visit. The self-pay fee is $150.

Test Results

  • Results are currently taking approximately up to 7 days, though result times vary based on laboratory capacity.

  • Results from testing will be sent to the healthcare provider who ordered the tests. Patients should wait to be contacted with results or contact the healthcare provider who ordered the test if they are seeking results.

Visitor Restrictions 

  • To ensure we maintain a safe environment for all our patients and staff, we ask for your help by following our visitor restrictions. We truly appreciate your understanding.

Important Information Regarding COVID-19