[Post removed; please cite reliable sources for your assertions.]

In October, my child and I needed testing after air travel, and, after quite a bit of back-and-forth (very bureaucratic processes), PAMF agreed to test me but not my child, which I thought was odd. My results took four days, and no one responded to my secure messages asking about them, though a provider encounter was noted each time a message was read. We also went to a different pediatric urgent care for testing and received results in two days. Overall not a great experience with PAMF.

Recently I was advised by a work contact that I should get tested (a person from their pod tested positive), but PAMF refused to provide testing for me unless I was symptomatic or unless my contact had also tested positive. I ended up going to the Curative drive-thru in San Mateo, had a test the same day, and results in 1.5 days. Curative was a much better experience, and I would recommend them highly for easy, trouble-free testing.

I don't like the idea of fining healthcare organizations, but I do think PAMF has made it difficult for people to test at a time when we need that information.

I feel like PAMF is making patients jump through unnecessary hoops to get tested in order to make money. On two separate occasions, I had symptoms that could be COVID related, and requested a test in order to rule it out. Both times, they insisted I do a video visit with a doctor/ nurse practitioner before allowing me to get tested. They claim that it’s because I could have more severe symptoms that require care. I feel like this is just another way to charge my insurance with a visit. In some cases, a video visit could be necessary, but in many instances, a simple two minute conversation with a nurse or technician should have sufficed.

And lets address apprehension of those out and about not wearing masks...........especially bike riders and runners, please.

Agreed with comments above. Why do we need to do a video visit to get a test? The County has made testing super easy and fast. We have been going to the County Fairgrounds; we can get a drive-through appointment same day with no symptoms. We've gotten the last 2 test results back in less than 36 hours. Highly recommended.

Way to many hoops to jump through at PAMF. I did notice that Stanford has made testing much easier, but I like that the County & PAMF do the lower nostril swabs vs. the one that goes "all the way up".

I agree PAMF want to discourage Covid testings. They asked tons of questions, so many steps & phone calls needed . End up I made appointment at Santa Clara County health website, it’s so easy and took 5 mins for making appointments. 5 minutes for the test itself. And we got the test results in 2 days! Don’t waste time in PAMF.

That’s an awfully large PAMF headline for a mere two sentences of PAMF misdeed information that weren’t even mentioned until the 17th paragraph of the article.

"Jan Buck, another community
Registered user
And lets address apprehension of those out and about not wearing masks...........especially bike riders and runners, please."

Masks not required for runners able to maintain 6' space

Web Link

"Jan Buck stated:
And lets address apprehension of those out and about not wearing masks...........especially bike riders and runners, please."

Masks not required for runners able to maintain 6' space

https: // www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/health-orders

"Jan Buck stated:
And lets address apprehension of those out and about not wearing masks...........especially bike riders and runners, please."

Masks not required for runners able to maintain 6' space

www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/health-orders

"Jan Buck stated:
And lets address apprehension of those out and about not wearing masks...........especially bike riders and runners, please."

Masks not required for runners able to maintain 6' distance

Per Santa Clara guidelines: "Persons who are outdoors and maintaining at least 6 feet of social distancing from others not in their household. Such persons must have a face covering with them at all times and must put it on if they are within 6 feet of others who are not in their household."

www.sccgov.org/sites/covid19/Pages/public-health-orders-faq.aspx#face-coverings

"Jan Buck stated:
And lets address apprehension of those out and about not wearing masks...........especially bike riders and runners, please."

Masks not required for runners able to maintain 6' distance

Per Santa Clara guidelines: "Persons who are outdoors and maintaining at least 6 feet of social distancing from others not in their household. Such persons must have a face covering with them at all times and must put it on if they are within 6 feet of others who are not in their household."

www.sccgov .org /sites/covid19/Pages/public-health-orders-faq.aspx#face-coverings

Well, let's start penalizing those not wearing masks in accordance with the county guidelines. Let's start making examples of those violators before all our restaurants and small businesses disappear.

Please wear a mask even a single layer one when out exercising and riding your bike. You breath heavily and if you are infectious unknowingly (I would hope!) the virus stays in the air for 15 minutes or more and others can breath it in. Please help us as getting outside for a walk is so helpful. Fresh air is important. Let's reduce the spread even if the County or State or National health advisories aren't saying it for political reasons, economic reasons or just reasons of being afraid of people who are vehemently in denial.
As a health care provider for 30 years and trained in Emergency Medicine with all the implications of an aerosolized respiratory transmitted vascular illness with extreme effects on our health care system, I beg you to wear a mask whenever you are outside on the streets even if they don't say so. You know as well as I that the 6 feet outdoors is not going to stop this pandemic. Respect other people. At least put yourself in their shoes as you will be someday in the same position.