MGH Clinical Assessment Centre

Last updated: June 22, 2022

If you are a primary care provider in East Toronto and have questions about the Paxlovid pill or would like to refer a patient to a COVID-19 assessment for treatment, please follow the process outlined here (Download PDF).

Michael Garron Hospital's (MGH) Clinical Assessment Centre offers:

• COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for eligible groups, as determined by the Ontario government.
• COVID-19 assessments and prescriptions for COVID-19 treatment, including the Paxlovid pill, for people who are at higher risk of becoming seriously sick or being hospitalized from COVID-19.
  • Use the Ontario government's COVID-19 antiviral treatment screener to help you determine if you are at higher risk of becoming seriously sick or being hospitalized from COVID-19 and may benefit from these Paxlovid or Remdesivir. This screener is only meant as an aid and cannot guarantee you access to COVID-19 treatment. When you arrive at the Clinical Assessment Centre, a nurse or doctor will ask you questions to confirm if you need COVID-19 assessment and prescriptions for treatment.
  • The Evusheld injection is available for people who are immunocompromised or have been advised against receiving the COVID-19 vaccine by a healthcare professional.
    • If you need Evusheld, your doctor or specialist must complete an online referral form and submit it to the MGH Clinical Assessment Centre before you arrive. Please note referral forms must be completed by a doctor or specialist with valid College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) certification. After your referring doctor or specialist completes the referral form, staff at our Clinical Assessment Centre will contact you to book an appointment.
• Pick-up and drop-off of take-home PCR test kits for symptomatic students and education staff who meet testing eligibility.

These services are available by appointment and walk-in. Appointments are prioritized. We encourage you to make an appointment in advance whenever possible.

Book an appointment at the MGH Clinical Assessment Centre.

Location

Our Clinical Assessment Centre is located on the north side of the hospital building off of Mortimer Avenue, west of the Emergency Department (see map below).

The centre is wheelchair accessible. Interpreter services are available for patients who do not speak English.

Hours of operation

• COVID-19 PCR tests, assessments and pick-up and drop-off of take-home PCR test kits for eligible individuals: Every day, 11 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. by walk-in and appointment.
• Prescriptions and dispensing of the Paxlovid pill for people who are at higher risk of becoming seriously sick or being hospitalized from COVID-19: Every day, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. by walk-in and appointment.
  • Starting July 4, hours of operation for this service will be every day, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. by walk-in and appointment. If you arrive to our Clinical Assessment Centre after 3:30 p.m. and staff think you may need Paxlovid, they will take your contact information. A doctor will follow up with you by phone the next day.
• Prescriptions and administration of the Evusheld injection for select immunocompromised patients: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. by appointment.

Prescriptions and dispending of the Paxlovid pill are also available at our COVID-19 Outreach Centres for people who are at higher risk of becoming seriously sick or being hospitalized from COVID-19. See locations and hours of our COVID-19 Outreach Centres.

what to expect AT THE CLINICAL ASSESSMENT CENTRE

A nurse or doctor will ask you questions to confirm if you need a COVID-19 PCR test or COVID-19 treatment. Types of treatment include the Paxlovid pill; Remdesivir, an intravenous (IV) therapy; and the Evusheld injection.

If staff think you need a COVID-19 PCR test, staff will administer a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab or, if you are a child, an oral-nasal swab. PCR tests are processed in a laboratory. They are different from rapid antigen tests and antibody tests. PCR test results should be available online within 48 hours.

It is important to remember that PCR testing represents a moment in time. Therefore, it is important that you continue to follow public health guidelines, including wearing a mask, physical distancing and washing your hands. 

If staff think you may need Paxlovid or Remdesivir, staff will administer a rapid molecular test. Test results should be available on-site within 15 minutes. If the test result is negative, you do not need COVID-19 treatment.

If the rapid molecular test result is positive, a doctor will see you on-site. The doctor will conduct a further assessment and may prescribe you Paxlovid or Remdesivir.

If you need Paxlovid, you will be prescribed and given the medication on-site at the MGH Clinical Assessment Centre. If you need Remdesivir, staff will refer you to an infusion centre.

A doctor is available on-site at our Clinical Assessment Centre every day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. to prescribe and deliver Paxlovid. Starting July 4, a doctor will be available on-site every day from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Depending on patient volumes, people at highest risk of becoming seriously sick or being hospitalized from COVID-19 may be prioritized for treatment.

If you need COVID-19 treatment but a doctor is not available on-site, staff may note your contact information for follow-up or refer you to another Clinical Assessment Centre.

If you need Evusheld, your doctor or specialist must complete an online referral form and submit it to the MGH Clinical Assessment Centre before you arrive. Please note referral forms must be completed by a doctor or specialist with valid College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) certification.

After your referring doctor or specialist completes the referral form, staff at our Clinical Assessment Centre will contact you to book an appointment.

When you arrive at the MGH Clinical Assessment Centre for your appointment, a doctor will verify your referral information. They will then prescribe you and administer Evusheld on-site. Following the treatment, you will need to stay for a 15-minute observation period.

A doctor is available on-site at our Clinical Assessment Centre every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to prescribe and administer Evusheld.

IMPORTANT: If you think you need COVID-19 treatment, please state this when you arrive at our Clinical Assessment Centre. Please bring a list of your medication and a list of any important medical conditions.

TAKE-HOME PCR TEST KITS

Symptomatic students and education staff who meet testing eligibility can pick up and drop off take-home COVID-19 PCR test kits at our Clinical Assessment Centre or COVID-19 Outreach Centres. You do not need an appointment to pick up or drop off a take-home test kit.

Due to limited supply, availability of take-home test kits varies at our sites. We recommend each household pick up one take-home test kit at a time. Additional kits may be provided on a case-by-case basis (for example, if a family has multiple children who need a test). Learn more about our take-home PCR test kits.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What are COVID-19 treatments?

COVID-19 treatments, also known as COVID-19 therapeutics, are prescription medications and therapies for use outside hospitals that help prevent COVID-19 symptoms from getting worse. Treatments include:

• Paxlovid, a pill for people aged 18 and older.
  • Paxlovid must be taken within five days of the start of symptoms to be effective. A full course of treatment is three pills twice daily for five days in a row.
• Remdesivir, intravenous (IV) therapy for people aged 12 and older.
  • Remdesivir must be taken within seven days of the start of symptoms to be effective.
• Evusheld, two intramuscular injections for people aged 12 and older who are immunocompromised or have been advised against receiving the COVID-19 vaccine by a healthcare professional.
  • To receive Evusheld, you must not be infected with COVID-19 and have had no recent known contact with someone infected with COVID-19 at the time of administration.

COVID-19 treatments are free for everyone who would benefit from them. You do not need a health card or health insurance.

COVID-19 treatments are not replacements for vaccination. If you have not already done so, we strongly encourage you to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible to protect yourself, your loved ones and our communities. If you are aged 5 to 11, fully vaccinated means two doses. If you are aged 12 and older, fully vaccinated means three, four or five doses, depending on your eligibility.

2. What happens if I test positive on a PCR test?

See instructions for self-isolation, contact tracing and next steps here.

Due to an overwhelming number of positive COVID-19 cases, MGH’s clinicians may not have the capacity to speak to you directly about your positive PCR test result despite our best efforts. We are prioritizing individuals in our follow-up who are at highest risk for complications from COVID-19.

3. How do I cancel an appointment at the MGH Clinical Assessment Centre?

If you booked your appointment online using a Health Myself account, you can log into your account and cancel it online. 

4. What if I have symptoms of COVID-19 but I am not eligible for a PCR test, assessment or treatment?

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you are presumed to have COVID-19 and must self-isolate according to provincial guidelines.

If you have concerns about your symptoms, contact your doctor, healthcare provider or Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000 for more information and guidance. If you develop severe symptoms requiring medical attention, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, call 911.

5. What if I am exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 but I am not eligible for a PCR test or assessment?

Confirm if you need to self-isolate or self-monitor here.

6. What if there are no appointments available at the MGH Clinical Assessment Centre?

If you are eligible for a PCR test, you can visit one of our COVID-19 Outreach Centres in East Toronto. These sites do not offer prescriptions for COVID-19 treatment. However, they may be able to connect you to a referrer if you test positive and are at higher risk of becoming seriously sick or being hospitalized from COVID-19.

If you need a COVID-19 assessment or prescription for treatment, you can also walk in to the MGH Clinical Assessment Centre when a doctor is on-site: every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You can also visit another Clinical Assessment Centre in the Toronto region.

HOW TO GET TO THE MGH CLINICAL ASSESSMENT CENTRE

The MGH Clinical Assessment Centre cannot be accessed from inside of the hospital. The entrance is located on the north side of the building off of Mortimer Avenue, west of the Emergency Department (see map below).

If you require urgent care, please visit an Emergency Department or call 911 and inform them of your travel and contact history and symptoms.

If you are experiencing issues using our COVID-19 Tests Results tool, Clinical Assessment Centre booking tool or related COVID-19 web pages, please report your issue at @email.