COVID-19 Assessment Centre

 

Criteria for testing

To get tested at Headwaters COVID-19 Assessment Centre you must meet the criteria listed below and book an appointment by phone or online. Walk-ins will not be accepted.

The Assessment Centre is no longer a drive through option.

The Ministry of Health has recently updated the guidelines for COVID-19 testing. The Assessment Centre will ONLY be testing patients who are/have:

• Showing symptoms of COVID-19
• Been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 as informed by public health or through the COVID alert app
• Working or living in a setting that has a COVID-19 outbreak as identified by public health
• Been selected by the Ministry of Health for a targeted testing campaign

The Assessment Centre will no longer be testing patients who:

• Do not have symptoms of COVID-19
• Are asymptomatic people who do not meet the guidelines above
• Are seeking testing for international travel clearance

IF YOU ARE HAVING AN EMERGENCY OR IF YOU ARE HAVING CHEST PAIN OR DIFFICULTY BREATHING PLEASE GO TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

FOR PATIENTS AGE 1 and UNDER, PLEASE GO TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FOR A COVID-19 TEST. 
 

Booking an appointment
Please call: 1-833-442-2001 to talk to a Headwaters staff member to book your appointment.

To book an appointment online click here. 

Appointments are booked for same day and beyond.

We will call Headwaters Health Care Centre surgical patients with an appointment date/time prior to their procedure.
 

Hours & getting to the Assessment Centre:

Hours

The Assessment Centre is open seven days a week, including holidays.
Hours of operation: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm

The Call Centre is open seven days a week, not including holidays.
Hours of operation: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Hours are subject to change and will be updated accordingly.

Getting to the Assessment Centre
The COVID-19 Assessment Centre is located at the Headwaters Health Care Centre site (100 Rolling Hills Drive, Orangeville ON). The COVID-19 Assessment Centre cannot be accessed from inside of the hospital. The entrance is located on the north side of the hospital, near the Emergency Department, see map below.

Parking at the Assessment Centre
Designated COVID-19 Assessment Centre parking is located in the Emergency Department lot.
Parking is free for people coming to the COVID-19 Assessment Centre for testing.

100 Rolling Hills Drive, Orangeville ON

Important information about the Assessment Centre:

• The COVID-19 Assessment Centre provides screening, assessment and testing.
• Individuals are asked to arrive 20 minutes prior to their booked appointment time and park in the designated Assessment Centre parking area, in the Emergency Department parking lot.
• Upon arrival at the Assessment Centre, individuals who have registered will be asked to call 226-916-5657. A member of our team will call you inside. 
• If individuals arrive by bus, taxi or are dropped off, they will be asked to call 226-916-5657 on arrival and wait to be called inside by a member of our registration team.
• Individuals are asked to wear a mask on entering the Assessment Centre. If you arrive without one, you will be provided with a mask on entry.
• The following information sheets help prepare toddlers, young children and older children for the COVID-19 test. 
• The test is similar to that of other respiratory illnesses and involves taking a sample from the back of the nasal cavity with a swab. Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health will follow up with those who test positive for COVID-19.
• The COVID-19 Assessment Centre will not provide a doctor’s note. Those individuals requiring a doctor’s notes are requested to contact their family doctor.
• Avoid bringing any individuals with you who do not have to be swabbed or assessed.  This will help us ensure adequate space for social distancing.
• Parking is free for people coming for a COVID-19 test at the Assessment Centre.

Test Results: 

• Please do not call the Hospital Switchboard. They do not have access to test results.
• If you have a valid health card, test results can be accessed online within 2 – 4 days using a computer or mobile device.
• Test results can also be found on MyChart for Headwaters patients.
• Patients who do not have a family physician and do not have a health card or it is expired or is a red and white version will receive a phone call within 5 days regarding their results.
• If you do not receive a call within 5 days, please contact our COVID-19 Call Centre at 1-833- 442-2001 and we will have someone get back to you. Please note, our COVID-19 Call Centre does not have access to test results.
• Public Health will not call those who test negative.
• Public Health will contact those who test positive with further instruction.
• Continue to self-isolate while you’re waiting for test results.

You asked - we answered

• How do I find out the results of my test?
  • Please do not call the Hospital Switchboard. They do not have access to test results.
  • If you have a valid health card, test results can be accessed online within 2 – 4 days using a computer or mobile device.
  • Test results can also be found on MyChart for Headwaters patients.
  • Patients who do not have a family physician and do not have a health card or it is expired or is a red and white version will receive a phone call within 5 days regarding their results.
  • If you do not receive a call within 5 days, please contact our COVID-19 Call Centre at 1-833- 442-2001 and we will have someone get back to you. Please note, our COVID-19 Call Centre does not have access to test results.
  • Public Health will not call those who test negative.
  • Public Health will contact those who test positive with further instruction.
  • Continue to self-isolate while you’re waiting for test results.
• What is the COVID-19 Assessment Centre?
  The COVID-19 Assessment Centre is an appointment based clinic where people are screened and may seen by a team of health care providers for COVID-19 related concerns. This decreases the pressures on the Emergency Department, family doctors and other community clinics.
  
  On Sept. 25 the Ministry of Health updated its Provincial COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidelines:
  People are encouraged to visit a COVID-19 Assessment Centre only if:    

  • You are showing COVID-19 symptoms;
  • You have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus, as informed by their public health unit or exposure notification through the COVID-19 app;
  • You are a resident or worker in a setting that has a COVID-19 outbreak, as identified and informed by their local public health unit; or
  • You are eligible for testing as part of a targeted testing initiative directed by the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Long-Term Care.
  • You are a dialysis patient and have been directed by a physician to be tested due to your 'atypical' symptoms
  • You have been directed by a physician to be tested prior to the start of your first chemotherapy treatment
  • You are a perioperative patient. You will continue to be tested five days in advance of your proposed surgery. 
  • You can also QUALIFY for a test at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre if you are from the following Population groups and if you are NOT SHOWING SYMPTOMS:
    • Residents, workers or visitors in long-term care homes
    • Residents or workers in homeless shelters
    • International students that have passed their 14-day quarantine period
    • Farm workers or
    • Indigenous communities
       
• When will the current COVID-19 Assessment Centre at 140 Rolling Hills Drive move to its new location
  We moved to an area inside the hospital on November 10, near the Emergency Department entrance. There will be no drive through option and appointments need to be booked in advance either by phone or online.
• Who should get tested for COVID-19 at an Assessment Centre?
  As of Sept 25, 2020 the Government of Ontario has indicated that testing at COVID-19 Assessment Centres should be available only if:  

  • You are showing COVID-19 symptoms;
  • Have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus, as informed by their public health unit or exposure notification through the COVID-19 app;
  • You are a resident or worker in a setting that has a COVID-19 outbreak, as identified and informed by their local public health unit; or
  • You are eligible for testing as part of a targeted testing initiative directed by the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Long-Term Care.
  • You are a dialysis patient and have been directed by a physician to be tested due to your 'atypical' symptoms
  • You have been directed by a physician to be tested prior to the start of your first chemotherapy treatment
  • You are a perioperative patient. You will continue to be tested a few days in advance of your proposed surgery. 
  • You can also QUALIFY for a test at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre if you are from the following Population groups and if you are NOT SHOWING SYMPTOMS:
    • Residents, workers or visitors in long-term care homes
    • Residents or workers in homeless shelters or other congregate setting
    • International students that have passed their 14-day quarantine period
    • Farm workers or
    • Indigenous communities
    • Staff working in schools, school boards or in child care settings

  If you are eligible, you will need to book your appointment in advance at all Assessment Centres, as of October 5th. To book your test at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre at 140 Rolling Hills Drive in Orangeville, please call: 1-833-442-2001 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm seven days a week. 
• Who should go to the Assessment Centre?
  We are asking the public to consider a few things when they are thinking about booking an appointment with our COVID-19 Assessment Centre:

  • If you are unsure whether you should seek further care, please use the self-assessment tool provided by the Ministry of Health.
  • If you have no symptoms, continue to monitor yourself for symptoms and practice social distancing.

  As of Sept 25, 2020 the Government of Ontario has indicated that testing at COVID-19 Assessment Centres should be available only if:  

  • You are showing COVID-19 symptoms;
  • Have been exposed to a confirmed case of the virus, as informed by their public health unit or exposure notification through the COVID-19 app;
  • You are a resident or worker in a setting that has a COVID-19 outbreak, as identified and informed by their local public health unit; or
  • You are eligible for testing as part of a targeted testing initiative directed by the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Long-Term Care.
  • You are a dialysis patient and have been directed by a physician to be tested due to your 'atypical' symptoms
  • You have been directed by a physician to be tested prior to the start of your first chemotherapy treatment
  • You are a perioperative patient. You will continue to be tested a few days in advance of your proposed surgery. 
  • You can also QUALIFY for a test at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre if you are from the following Population groups and if you are NOT SHOWING SYMPTOMS:
    • Residents, workers or visitors in long-term care homes
    • Residents or workers in homeless shelters or other congregate setting
    • International students that have passed their 14-day quarantine period
    • Farm workers or
    • Indigenous communities
    • Staff working in schools, school boards or in child care settings

  If you are eligible, you will need to book your appointment in advance at all Assessment Centres, as of October 5th. To book your test at the COVID-19 Assessment Centre at 140 Rolling Hills Drive in Orangeville, please call: 1-833-442-2001 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm seven days a week. 
• How do I book an appointment?
  Starting Tuesday, November 10 we will offer one of two options for booking your COVID-19 test:
   
  1. Online – you can book an appointment online by clicking here and following the instructions. If you are eligible to receive a COVID-19 test, you will be asked to register for an account by providing your name, date of birth, as well as your phone number and email address. Please note, a valid email address is required for online booking. If you do not have one, you are welcome to book via phone.
   
  Please check your junk/spam folder to ensure you receive the verification email after your account is created. Click on the link in that email to return to the booking site and select the time that is most convenient for you. 
   
  2. Phone – you can book an appointment by phone by calling 1-833-442-2001. The phone line will be staffed seven days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If your call is not answered immediately, you are welcome to wait on hold for the first available attendant. Alternatively, you have the option of booking your appointment online. 
   
  When you book your appointment by phone or online, you can choose to receive a text message and/or email confirming the date, time and location for your COVID-19 test.  You are still able to schedule and arrive for your appointment if you do not have email or a mobile phone. Please note that Oncology and Surgical patients are not being asked to self-book for a COVID19 test at this time. Your bookings for a test will continue to be coordinated by your specialist.   
  
  We will call Headwaters Health Care Centre surgical patients with an appointment date/time prior to their procedure.
• Can I book an appointment for other members of my family at the same time?
  People wishing to book a COVID-19 test for more than one member of the family will be able to do so by phone or online, as long as all individuals are eligible to receive a COVID-19 test as per the Ontario Government’s testing criteria. Upon scheduling the appointment for each eligible family member, each individual will be able to attend together at the provided appointment time, as indicated in their booking.
• Can I choose an appointment that suits me, or will I be given the next available spot?
  You may request a specific appointment time, but due to the high volume of appointments, specific times may be unavailable. In that case, you will be offered the next available spot.
  
  We will call Headwaters Health Care Centre surgical patients with an appointment date/time prior to their procedure.
• How far in advance can I book an appointment?
  Whether you book online or by telephone, you will be able to book 2 days ahead.  For example, you can book on Monday for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  We cannot book for tests further than 2 days ahead.
• What are the hours of operation for the call centre taking bookings?
  Typically, we will accept bookings between 8:30am and 4:30 pm seven days a week. 
  
  
   
• Will you test individuals with no symptoms or symptoms only?
  We will test individuals with symptoms and others as required through special circumstances such as people visiting or working at long-term care or preparing for travel.  A full list of updated guidance can be found on our website headwatershealth.ca
• Will patients be assessed and swabbed?
  Individuals will be assessed and swabbed. If anyone requires more medical support, they may be directed to our Emergency Department.
• What happens if I do not drive or use the bus or a taxi? Is there a place for me to wait inside?
  People will be able to come inside if they do not drive and park. People can also wait outside (weather permitting). We ask that people call our team at 226-916-5657 to let our team know they have arrived.  We ask that people kindly arrive about 20 minutes prior to their booked appointment time so we can ensure proper physical distancing.
• Your bookings are already filled up and I can’t wait three days to make an appointment.
  If this is an emergency and require urgent care, please visit the Headwaters Health Care Centre Emergency Department or call 9-1-1. If you are experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms or if a child under the age of 2 requires testing, we are here to help.  
   
  For more information about COVID-19 testing criteria please visit www.covid-19.ontario.ca; here, you will find a list of all Assessment Centre’s and pharmacies conducting COVID-19 testing in our community. 
   
• What are the hours of operation of the new interior COVID-19 Assessment Centre?
  Open 7 days a week from 10 am to 10 pm.
• Where do I park?
  COVID-19 Assessment Centre parking in our Emergency Department parking lot. People will need to receive a ticket, pass through the parking gate, and park in one of the designated parking spots. These will be clearly identified. People are asked to call 226-916-5657 when they arrive. Your parking will be paid. Please bring your ticket with you when you come to your appointment so it can be validated. 
• I do not have a cell phone, how do you let me know when it’s my turn to come inside?
  Please approach the door and a staff member will be there to assist you. You can come inside when you arrive if you do not have a cell phone. 
• If I do not show up for my scheduled appointment, will I be charged?

  You will not be charged for a missed appointment. We ask that if you know you will not be able to make your appointment, that you will call 1-833-442-2001 and cancel or reschedule, so we can offer that time to others.

• Do I need to wear a mask when I come to the Assessment Centre?
  Individuals must follow all public health measures when going for a test, including wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing and frequent handwashing. If you arrive and do not have a mask or face covering, we will provide you with a mask. If you can not wear a mask for health reasons, we can provide you with a face visor.
• How many people can the COVID-19 Assessment Centre see at once?
  We have physically distanced space to see 15 people at any given time. We expect screening to take about 15 minutes per person. If someone is in medical distress, we can transfer someone to the Emergency Department. 
• What happens if I am really unwell and need to see a physician?

  The COVID-19 Assessment Centre is next to our Emergency Department. If needed, we can transfer patients to the Emergency Department very quickly.

• Is the area fully accessible?
   Yes, the new location is fully accessible both inside and outside the location.
   
• Will you assess children 1 and under?
  Children 1 and under will be assessed at the Emergency Department, next door to the COVID-19 Assessment Centre. No appointment is required. They will need to be accompanied by an adult at the time of assessment.
• In the spring will you move to a Drive Through Model again?
  We are always assessing the needs in our community. We can’t comment now on future longer-term plans at this point. We will know more later this winter and in early spring. 
• Can someone come with me for testing?

  We will be able to accommodate people who need assistance. Please advise the booking clerk when booking an appointment. We will be following our pandemic visitor policy during this time.

• How will staff parking be accommodated with the loss of parking near the Emergency Department?
  We are creating additional staff only parking for at least 30 vehicles on the grass field near 140 Rolling Hills Drive. The space will be prepared as soon as we move to the new COVID-19 Assessment Centre location. This lot is ideal for staff who work Monday through Friday during the daytime. Staff who park there will receive a numbered dashboard sign and will also pay the same staff rate. This lot will be maintained by the Hospital’s property management contractors and it will be monitored for safety and compliance.
• Can people be transferred from a vehicle to a wheelchair near the entrance to the Assessment Centre?
  We will have wheelchairs available and can assist if that is required. Please call 226-916-5657 when you arrive and park temporarily near the COVID-19 Assessment Entrance while we assist you.
   
• What if I need to cancel my appointment?
  If you booked your appointment and you need to cancel it, you will need to cancel your appointment by phone at 1-833-442-2001.
• What happens if I am late for my appointment?
  We will do our best to accommodate you if you are late for your appointment, though wait times may vary based on volumes.  We may not be able to accommodate you.
• How early do I need to arrive for my appointment?
  We recommend you target to arrive about 20 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time. 
• What do I need to bring with me for my appointment?
  Wear a mask or face covering, and if you have a valid Ontario Health Card, please bring it with you. Please note, that if you do not have a valid Ontario Health Card, you can still receive a COVID-19 test.
• How soon can someone get an appointment for a COVID-19 test?
  Most times, we are able to get someone tested the same day that they are seeking an appointment. If the maximum number of appointments that can be booked is reached, please try again the following day to book an appointment.
   
• Do I need a valid Ontario Health Card to book an appointment for a COVID-19 test?
  No. Currently, the province will also cover the cost of COVID-19 services for uninsured people who do not meet the criteria for OHIP coverage.