MADISON, Wis. – UW Health has expanded capacity at the John Wall Drive Thru Clinic amid a seasonal rise and sustained high volume of respiratory illnesses.
Health system patients have access to care car side, including many routine vaccinations for patients 5 years old and older, as well as seasonal vaccinations like RSV, influenza and COVID-19. UW Health patients of all ages can also receive testing for conditions like strep throat, influenza, COVID-19 and RSV, but patients younger than 5 and older than 69 years old, should consult their primary care provider before testing.
Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, the UW Health John Wall Drive Thru Clinic, located at 3819 John Wall Drive, was able to assist 60 to 70 patients per day, but now has the capability to care for 140 people, or more, each day.
The drive-thru clinic is open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Appointments are not required, but preferred in some cases, like for influenza and COVID-19 shots.
The primary advantage for this clinic is patients remain in their cars during testing and immunizations, according to Linda Yim, registered nurse and clinic manager, UW Health John Wall Drive Thru Clinic.
“This option offers a convenient, safe way for patients to receive the care they need, while also keeping others around them safe by staying out of a group space, like a primary care clinic or pharmacy,” she said. “Our patients really do appreciate the convenience of being able to stay in their vehicles and they also really appreciate that we’re open on the weekend.”
A complete list of available vaccines and tests can be found on the John Wall Drive Thru Clinic webpage.
For COVID-19, influenza and RSV testing, patients, or their legal guardians, can log into their MyChart accounts to schedule. Strep throat testing requires an order from a UW Health provider. The test can be scheduled by a UW Health clinic provider, or patients can come to the drive-thru clinic without a scheduled appointment. Many routine immunizations are available at the clinic and do not require a doctor’s order, and patients can come to the clinic without an appointment. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations can be scheduled via MyChart.