COVID-19 testing finishes first day in Arlington

Self-launched drive-thru tests about 15 for virus

By early afternoon on Tuesday, the owner of the Arlington-based Women’s Healthcare Associates, Dr. Andrenette Fleming, wrapped up the first day of her self-launched drive-thru COVID-19 testing location.

Fleming said she tested around 15 people for the coronavirus, or COVID-19, the first day she donned protective gear and met people in their cars for a symptom-based questionnaire.

“I wanted to see how it would work,” said Fleming. The first day, the physician of 22 years noted, was to “work out the bugs.”

Fleming said she is able to offer some COVID-19 tests through a private medical supply company called Labcorp, one of the largest clinical laboratory networks in the U.S.

According to Labcorp’s website, its test is avail

able for order by any physician or authorized healthcare provider in the United States.

The Tennessee Department of Health and Vanderbilt University Medical Center announced over a dozen coronavirus remote testing locations over 11 Tennessee counties, but none in Shelby County.

At Fleming’s clinic, patients drive around the back of the facility, located along Hwy 64 in Arlington, and Fleming meets them in their car. Once she administers a questionnaire, those with qualifying symptoms are given a test. Test results arrive within three to five business days, she said.

Private laboratories are required by state law to report positive results to the county health department, according to Alisa Haushalter, director of the Shelby County Health Department, but not negative results or the number of tests completed.

At a press conference Tuesday, Haushalter mentioned Labcorp as one example of a company that can test specimens for COVID-19.

With one testing day down, Fleming is hoping to bring in the rest of her staff for increased testing efforts once she gets the process streamlined. Other offices, Fleming said, can view her clinic as a real-time test for COVID-19 screening.

“If the community can see that this went well today, they’ll be other offices that will go on to do the testing as well,” Fleming said.

For now, testing appointments must be made by phone prior to a potential patient drives to the Arlington clinic.

The total cost for patients, Fleming said, is $60.

“I am not here for price-gouging,” Fleming said. “I’m only offering an option for people in the community who want to get tested. When the Trump administration said we have to have ‘foot soldiers’ in this pandemic, well, that’s what I’m doing.”

Women’s Healthcare Associates is located at 9005 US Hwy 64, in suite 101. You do not have to identify as a woman to be a patient.

Across the state, testing centers have been established in metropolitan areas, like Davidson County, as well as rural communities, like in Unicoi County. Here are the testing centers announced by The Tennessee Department of Health and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Wilson County

❚ Vanderbilt Health Walk-in Clinic Mt. Juliet, 64 Belinda Parkway, Suite 200A, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

Davidson County

❚ Vanderbilt Health Walk-in Clinic Melrose, 2608 8th Ave. S, Suite 102A Berry Hill TN 37204

❚ Vanderbilt Health Walk-in Clinic Bellevue, 7069-B, Highway 70 South Nashville TN 37221

❚ Vanderbilt Health Walk-in Clinic Belle Meade, 4534 Harding Pk. Nashville TN 37205

Williamson County

❚ Vanderbilt Health and Williamson Medical Center Walk-in Clinic - Spring Hill, 3098 Campbell Station Parkway, Suite 100 Spring Hill TN 37174

❚ Vanderbilt Health and Williamson County Walk-in Clinic - Cool Springs, 1834 W Mcewen Dr., Suite 110 Franklin TN 37067

❚ Vanderbilt Health and Williamson Medical Center Walk-in Clinic - Brentwood, 134 Pewitt Dr., Suite 200 Brentwood TN 37027

❚ Vanderbilt Health and Williamson Medical Center Walk-in Clinic - Franklin, 919 Murfreesboro Rd. Franklin TN 37064

❚ Vanderbilt Health and Williamson Medical Center Walk-in Clinic - Nolensville, 940 Oldham Dr. Nolensville TN 37135

Montgomery County

❚ Vanderbilt Primary Care - Clarksville 800 Weatherly St., Suite 201B Clarksville TN 37043

Sumner County

❚ Vanderbilt Primary Care - Gallatin, 300 Steam Plant Rd., Suite 430 Gallatin TN 37066

Sullivan County

❚ Bristol Regional Medical Center, 1 Medical Park Boulevard Bristol TN 37260

❚ Indian Path Community Hospital, 2000 Brookside Dr. Kingsport TN 37660 Carter County

❚ Sycamore Shoals Hospital, 1501 W. Elk Ave. Elizabethton TN 37643

Unicoi County

❚ Unicoi Co. Hospital, 2030 Temple Hill Rd. Erwin TN 37650

Greene County

❚ Greeneville Community Hospital East, 1420 Tusculum Boulevard Greeneville TN 37745

Hawkins County

❚ Hawkins Co. Memorial Hospital, 851 Locust St. Rogersville TN Washington County

❚ Franklin Woods Community Hospital, 300 Med Tech Parkway Johnson City TN 37604

JOE RONDONE/THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL Dr. Andrenette Fleming administers drive through COVID-19 tests from her office at Women’s Health Care Associates in Arlington on Tuesday.

PHOTOS BY JOE RONDONE/THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL Dr. Andrenette Fleming speaks with the media from her office at Women’s Health Care Associates in Arlington where she has been administering drive-thru COVID-19.

Dr. Andrenette Fleming administers drive-thru COVID-19 tests from her office.