With most of the state funding for free COVID-19 testing having expired, Spokane residents are once again able to get tested for free.
Other medical supplies may soon be available.
A health supply kiosk offering free testing was installed last month just outside the Northeast Community Center – it’s accessible 24 hours a day, easy to use and all products are free.
Earlier this year, the Washington State Department of Health asked local health officials if they would be interested in setting up kiosks.
“Knowing that COVID-19 funding has been reduced and in some areas gone completely, we wanted to offer it as a resource for the community,” said Kelly Hawkins, director of public affairs and government relations for the Spokane Regional Health Department. “We reached out, applied and were able to get the funding.”
The kiosks offer two types of COVID tests: antigen tests to be taken at home and tests to be processed at a lab. If you are taking a COVID test to be taken at home, the kiosks do not require any personal information, but if you are taking a test to be processed at a lab, they will require your contact information.
Once you select a lab test, you will be asked to enter a phone number or email address to receive your results. The test will then be administered and the sample will be returned to the kiosk where it will be collected by Longview International Technology Solutions.
Technology solutions companies also offer services for the kiosks, such as managing inventory and providing maintenance.
The idea for kiosks that provide convenient health products was born within a technology solutions company about two years ago and has since spread across the country.
The Department of Health will fund the installation of the machines and also cover the cost of COVID tests and, in the future, flu tests. Those tests will take up half of the kiosk’s space, with SRHD funding additional resources to fill the other half.
Nick Bowcutt, facilities manager at Northeast Community Center, said pregnancy testing kits, socks, gloves and Narcan are some of the items the kiosks could potentially provide.
“We’re looking into what Northeast Community Centre should put in their vending machine and are open to anything that will benefit the community,” Hawkins said. “Once we have more details we will begin to stock them accordingly.”
Sean Nash, clinical director and account delivery manager for Longview International Technology Solutions, noted that while the products dispensed at the kiosks would need to fit properly into the machines, there are still many possibilities.
“We have naloxone, fentanyl testing strips, simple dental kits, whatever we can provide,” Nash said. “This is a great program, we’re happy to be a part of it and can’t wait until we have more product to distribute.”
Hawkins stressed the importance of making these supplies easily available to everyone.
“This helps address health equity issues in our community. It makes it easier for people who can’t afford some of these supplies or have trouble getting them.”
The kiosk is located outside MultiCare Behavioral Health, near the east entrance of Northeast Community Center (4001 N. Cook St.).
