M Health Fairview creates COVID-19 testing booths to help conserve PPE

M Health Fairview is turning to a new innovation in testing to help save personal protective equipment.

Wednesday, the health system released photos of a glass testing enclosure that resembles a phone booth.

The booth allows test collectors to swab patients without using up supplies of protective gear because the patient and health care worker are separated by glass.

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"It's unreal how much PPE we're saving," said Dana Seeker, a medical assistant at M Health Fairview Clinic – Bloomington Oxboro.

The health system said because lack of supplies is the main limitation on testing capacity, the booths are expected to improve testing efficiencies.

There are expected to be 12 booths in use at M Health Fairview's testing sites.

The booth was built in partnership with the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering.