Safely caring for our patients
Rest assured, your safety is a top priority. And making an appointment with our physicians today is the best way to maintain your health and prevent minor conditions from becoming major ones.
Throughout these uncertain times, UT Health Physicians has remained open for care and true to its promise of making lives better. We welcome new patients seeking the same level of care that is making us the provider of choice for Central and South Texas.
Safety first is our guiding principle. Your visit with our physicians and staff will be conducted with every precaution in place. We have followed closely new developments and listened carefully to guidelines from the CDC. Our own infectious disease specialists have advised our local governments.
We have taken every precaution recommended by the CDC and other experts to lower the risk of transmitting COVID-19.
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are distributed throughout our facilities.
- All surfaces, both in common areas and exam/procedure rooms, are regularly disinfected
- With the option of using smart devices, such as your cell phone, to check-in and pay bills, the time the patient spends inside the office is further decreased.
Important to know before your appointment
- If you have cold or flu-like symptoms, call to your doctor’s office before arriving at your appointment.
- Concerned patients may contact their care team using their MyChart account or by calling their doctor's office directly.
- How do I locate and contact my doctor or specialist?
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Schedule a video visit or in-person appointment
Virtual visits and telemedicine care
Video visits are a convenient and safe way to get the care and answers that you need. They allow you and your physician to share information using a secure video link. Plus, they can be done from the comfort of your home. All our primary care doctors and most of our specialists can offer a video visit in place of an in-person visit.
It’s just one more way we are safely helping care for you during this time. Learn more about scheduling your video visit.
In-person appointments
We are now taking in-person appointments at all our locations. For your safety, we have followed the latest recommendations from the CDC and from our own experts to minimize the risk of transmitting COVID-19 at all our sites. We want you to feel assured that we have the welfare of you, our staff and provider top of mind.
Use your MyChart account to request an appointment. You may also call for an appointment.
Important to know before your appointment
- Everyone is required to wear a face cover or mask while inside our offices.
- No companions are allowed during your appointment. If you require assistance, one healthy, adult may accompany you.
- We screen everyone who enters for COVID-19 symptoms, which includes taking your temperature.
- Please call the day before your appointment for any special instructions.
- If you have cold or flu-like symptoms, call to your doctor’s office before arriving at your appointment.
- Some appointments, elective procedures and follow-up visits were postponed. These will be rescheduled as soon as safely possible.
- Concerned patients may contact their care team using their MyChart account or by calling their doctor's office directly.
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Appointments you've already scheduled
Keep your scheduled appointment. Your health and wellbeing are our highest priority. Delaying a health screening, a surgical procedure, a chronic condition visit or even a routine exam can lead to more serious health problems.
We are following the CDC guidelines and the advice of our own infectious disease specialists to ensure you receive care in a safe environment.
Take comfort in knowing that we have implemented new safety measures to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission to our patients and our staff. These measures include: universal screening and masking, enhanced cleaning protocols, rearranging of furniture to promote social distancing, and electronic check-in and check-out.
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I need non-COVID urgent care today
We understand that not all care and health concerns can wait. Many of our primary care locations offer same-day, next-day and after-hours appointments.
You may also be able to schedule a live video visit which allows you to have an appointment from the comfort and safety of your home or anywhere.
To request and schedule your appointment, simply use your UT Health Physicians MyChart account.
If you do not have a MyChart account, call 210-450-9100 to speak with a member of our primary care team, or find a primary care location near you.
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I think I might have COVID-19
We’re here to care for you and your family. If you feel you have COVID-19 or been in contact with someone who has it, we offer safe, private testing for COVID-19 and provide non-emergency treatment when needed. You may also be able to schedule a live video visit which allows you to have an appointment from the comfort and safety of your home.
If you have a UT Health primary care physician, use your UT Health Physicians MyChart account to send a message to your primary care team letting them know you think you may have COVID-19. They will give you directions on how to receive a test and, if needed, schedule an appointment.
If you do not have a MyChart account, call 210-450-9100 to speak with a member of our primary care team, or click on this link to find a primary care location near you.
Most people who have COVID-19 can safely recover at home. However, emergency symptoms require emergency care. Learn more about what to do if you think you may have COVID-19.
COVID-19 Testing
UT Health San Antonio offers COVID-19 testing. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, contact your primary care provider for instructions on how to receive a test.
Patient Responsibility: UT Health San Antonio's cash price for the COVID-19 test, before any discounts, is $300. This represents only the cash price for the COVID-19 test and does not include physician examination or any other services. A patient’s financial responsibility will vary, depending on insurance coverage, plan specifications or payment plan negotiated.
If you have health insurance, please contact your health plan to understand your coverage, deductibles and related financial obligations. If you do not have health insurance, call 210-450-6330 for information about our financial assistance policy, prompt pay options or other discounts that may be applied.
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I had a procedure or surgery scheduled, and I want to know if it is still scheduled or when it will be rescheduled.
Please, keep your elective procedure or surgery appointment unless your doctor’s office has contacted you to reschedule.
If your procedure or surgery was postponed, your doctor’s office will be contacting you soon to reschedule.
If you have any questions, please contact your care team through your MyChart account. Or as always, you can call your doctor’s office directly.
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How is UT Health Physicians protecting its patients and staff?
Entrance Screening
Screening stations are located at all our buildings near the entrances, and the path to the screening station is clearly marked or cordoned off so people are directed to the screeners immediately upon entering the building. Screening stations are staffed throughout the buildings’ working hours.
We have limited the open entrances to only those that can be monitored.
Screeners ask questions (standardized at all clinical locations and based on latest CDC recommendations) pertaining to possible COVID-19 symptoms or contacts, and the person’s temperature will be taken.
If a person answers “yes” to any of the questions or has a fever they are not allowed to enter the building and are instructed to contact their physician for guidance.
Universal Masking
All people in our buildings are always masked - unless the mask has been removed as required for the examination and only within the exam room.
Patients are advised to bring their own masks at the time of the appointment reminder calls. If a patient appears without a mask, one will be provided.
All our providers and staff are provided with masks with replaceable filters. Masks with a greater level of protection, such as N95s or half-face respirators (HFR), are used by providers and staff in high-risk areas and while performing procedures that require them.
Maintaining Social Distancing
Although universal masking diminishes the need for strict six-foot separation, every effort has been made to keep people from crowding or congregating.
All areas where people may wait in line have been marked to maintain six feet of separation.
Waiting rooms have been reconfigured to minimize the number of patients waiting in them, and most chairs have been either turned toward the wall or windows, or the chairs cordoned off.
Clinical workflows and schedules have been modified to decrease the number of face-to-face patients visits in any one time.
The use of video visits also decreases the number of face-to-face visits.
Whenever possible, and if the electronic health record permits, patients are encouraged to “check-in” online before their scheduled appointment, including review of their medical history and medications, as well as online payment of their copays and deductibles.
This will decrease the number of patients at the check-in/out desks.
Personal Hygiene
Hand sanitizer dispensers are located throughout our facilities for the use by our patients, staff and providers. Signs have been posted to remind everyone to wash their hands. All staff and providers sanitize their hands before and after every patient encounter.
Elevators
In buildings such as the Medical Arts & Research Center, elevators are critical for the efficient movement of patients to the practices located on different floors.
Although the use of the stairs is encouraged, some patients, staff and providers cannot climb the stairs.
With masking, the need for six feet of separation is not critical, nevertheless, we make every effort to avoid crowding in the elevators.
A “greeter” has been positioned to ensure the elevators are not overcrowded.
Limiting Visitors
To greatly minimize the number of people coming into the clinical buildings, patients may not bring “visitors” with them to their appointments unless medically necessary.
These exceptions include patients who need someone to drive them home after a procedure, or the patient who requires assistance due to a cognitive or physical impairment.
If the visit will include discussions of a sensitive nature (e.g., serious diagnosis or a surgical procedure) and you would appreciate a family member or another person present, please consider arranging before the visit for that individual to be available via phone or video chat at the time of the appointment.
If you plan to bring a visitor with you to your appointment, you must alert your doctor’s office so that your visitor’s name can be added to the list of visitors for that day.
Surface Cleaning
All hard surfaces in common areas are sanitized twice during the day, and all other “high touch” surfaces such as elevator buttons are cleaned frequently.
Exam rooms are thoroughly sanitized after every patient.
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Additional questions or concerns
If you have any other concerns or questions, you can use MyChart to send a message to your care team, or call the office to speak with them.
For general questions, please call 210-450-9000.
UT Health and COVID-19
- UT Health Physicians continues to schedule and care for patients, in-person and online. Use your MyChart account or call your doctor's office to schedule an appointment.
- We continue to actively monitor the outbreak of the respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus (called COVID-19). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Our team is also monitoring the COVID-19 situation worldwide and locally and is taking action to prevent transmission of the disease. We rely on information provided by the CDC, WHO, the U.S. State Department, state and local health departments, and our own public health experts to guide decisions concerning our operations and maintaining a safe environment for our patients.
- UT Health San Antonio researchers have begun a clinical trial that may prove effective in the treatment of COVID-19.
- We are working closely with the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District which maintains a COVID-19 health website that has up-to-date information about the virus and its impact on the city.
For referring providers
We are accepting patient referrals for primary and specialty care. Continue using the same processes you have used previously for referring your patients.
If you have not referred previously, you may call the practice directly, or call 210-450-9000 for information on how to refer.
Find information on referring to UT Health MD Anderson Cancer Center
COVID-19 Testing
UT Health San Antonio offers COVID-19 testing. Schedule a COVID-19 vaccine through your MyChart account.
Patient Responsibility: the cost for COVID-19 testing provided by UT Health San Antonio is $300 before any discounts. This represents only the cash price for the COVID-19 test and does not include physician examination or any other services. A patient’s financial responsibility will vary, depending on insurance coverage, plan specifications or payment plan negotiated.
If you have health insurance, please contact your health plan to understand your coverage, deductibles and related financial obligations. If you do not have health insurance, call 210-450-6330 for information about our financial assistance policy, prompt pay options or other discounts that may be applied.
Appointments are available in-person and online!
Our offices are prepared to safely welcome you, in-person or through a live video visit. If you need to see a doctor, call us for an appointment or request an appointment using MyChart.
Help stop COVID-19
Stop the spread of germs and disease by taking simple to follow measures, including:
- Get your COVID-19 vaccine and booster. Find a vaccine near you.
- Schedule your COVID-19 test using MyChart.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand rub
- Continue practicing social distancing
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Wear a face cover or mask in public
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning spray or wipe