One ambulance company has a plan to test people inside their home once test kits are released to paramedics and doctor officers. Brewster Ambulance has already been getting calls from hospitals requesting pickups at someone’s home for potential COVID-19 cases.
"We're developing what we call a forward team, which would only handle these types of cases," said Chris DiBona of Brewster Ambulance.
But instead of picking the person up and driving them to a testing center at a hospital, Brewster paramedics would suit up in gear manufactured by Brauer Protection and do the tests right in the person's home.
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“We’re looking to alleviate the touchpoints and the exposure to possibly infected patients by going right to the source and keeping them comfortable in their home,” DiBona said.
The gear is designed so paramedics could use their decontamination equipment on it for re-use. Brewster says it also provides complete protective coverage.
"A fully encapsulated suit, which doesn't have exposed clothing, shoes, hands, face, things like that," DiBona said.
Brewster says it will be launching these forward teams even before they get the COVID-19 tests, using other tests to rule out this virus by confirming if someone instead has the flu or strep.
Brewster plans to suit up near the location where they go in with the goal of trying to protect people’s privacy.
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