4/21/20: In addition to our other visitor restrictions, all visitors to our office must be wearing a facial covering. Go to https://www.utmedicalcenter.org/visitor-restrictions-implemented/ for more information.
For the protection of our patients and our staff, University General Surgeons is trying to minimize exposure and spread of COVID-19 and still provide quality care to our surgical and trauma patients. New patients who need surgery and cannot wait will still be seen in the office. If you are unsure if it can wait, then a physician or advanced practitioner can triage you over the phone to determine whether you need to be seen now or can safely wait. We are continuing to see trauma patients who have had severe life-threatening injuries, incisions to examine, pain control issues, etc. in the office.
UT Medical Center has implemented screening procedures for all visitors and patients to the campus. For patients going to the Cancer Institute: They will park in the Cancer Institute Lot and be screened upon entering the building. For all patients going to other medical office buildings or parking in Garages E or G to access other on-campus facilities: All traffic will be directed towards the parking garage gates between Building C and Heart Lung Vascular Institute. All vehicles will go through the medical office building check-in lane at patient drop-off area for Heart Lung Vascular Institute. Signs will be placed to direct traffic flow. Screening questions will be asked while patients and visitors are sitting in their vehicles: Do you have fever and cough and/or trouble breathing? A patient with these symptoms will be permitted to enter with a mask and instructed to call their provider’s office before entering. NOTE: All physician office patients must park in Garage E (next to HLVI) or Garage G (under buildings C/D). Physician office patients and visitors are not permitted to walk through the hospital or use the cafeteria or gift shop at this time.
Patients who are having any of the following: nausea, vomiting, fevers >100.4, increased pain, chest pain, shortness of breath should delay their appointment and contact their PCP immediately. If anyone presents to the office with fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath associated with upper respiratory symptoms, they will be masked and sent from the office to call their PCP, or if they don’t have a PCP, go to a UT Urgent Care Clinic or the emergency department.
Patients who need narcotic refills should contact our office. We may be able to use a video chat to assess their condition. The prescription will still need to be picked up in person.
Patients may not to bring more than one person with them to their appointments, and if possible do not bring anyone over the age of 65 or children. No more than one person may accompany a patient. Patients have the option of using video to replace appointments depending on their diagnosis and what would be ideal for most post-op care. UGS team members will be in touch to discuss options with the patient or care giver.
As of 3/23/2020, UGS is no longer doing elective cases. All patients will be evaluated and treatment discussed as appropriate.
