On Friday, May 15, 2020, the JRMC Medical Center joined forces with Quest Diagnostics to provide the first round of testing services to members of the Newark Board of Education Faculty and Administrative Staff as part of the ongoing COVID-19 prevention and treatment campaign. Testing took place at Malcolm X Shabazz High School.
There are 6,000 Board of Education employees, and the JRMC and Quest will assist in the testing of all employees interested at the request of the Board of Education Administration. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 is monitored by JRMC via telehealth.
“The Jewish Renaissance Medical Center has been a critical partner in several health-related initiatives in our schools,” said Superintendent León. "It comes as no surprise that when it mattered the most to our staff, they stepped up for us. The Newark school system is eternally grateful for the generosity and assistance provided to us by JRMC.”
"We’re proud to be working closely with Quest Diagnostics to increase access to COVID-19 testing for faculty and staff of the Newark Board of Education during this health emergency,” said Jack O’Leary, CEO of JRMC. “This collaboration is a prime example of our mission in action, which is to engage in community outreach activities that improve healthcare access within our region.”
To date, the JRMC has been testing at its Perth Amboy facility and has had a number of drive-thru testing events whereby staff has seen 4,000 COVID-related patients and tested 2,000 patients with an average of 40% of those patients testing positive for the virus. The JRMC is a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides healthcare services to patients regardless of insurance or income status.
“COVID-19 testing is a critical component to curb this epidemic,” said Lakshmi Gudapakkam, East Region Vice President & General Manager, Quest Diagnostics. We are proud to join forces with JRMC to offer a COVID-19 testing strategy to the faculty and staff of the Newark Public School System. Supporting providers like JRMC with their testing strategy is a first step to getting our local communities back to care, school, and work.”
Quest Diagnostics annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the U.S.
For additional information on the JRMC COVID-19 testing program, visit www.jrmc.us
