UT Health Hill Country
If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 9-1-1 or go to your local emergency room., How to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians: Call us at , 210-450-6800, to be directed to any of our primary care or specialty services. Request a Primary Care appointment using MyChart or our appointment request form . Please have the following information available when you call to make an appointment: Name Address Telephone Number Photo ID Name of your referring physician and primary care physician Insurance information To help us make your visit go as…
UT Health was awarded a rating as a Patient-Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)., The concept of a “patient-centered medical home” (or PCMH) has been around for more than 40 years. It is only in the last decade that studies have confirmed the benefits of patients having a “home base” for their health care. Many doctors knew it as common sense and a smart thing to do, but it is now backed up by many scientific studies ; when you go to the same doctors and they get to know you…, Access:, This means making sure to meet the patients’ needs during normal business hours, but also after business hours when they might call in with a prescription problem or need guidance on how to care for a new medical problem or complication., Team-based Care:, Some medical problems may require the expertise of multiple experts to get optimal treatment and function. Some problems may need behavioral health interventions, others may need expert guidance from a clinical pharmacist to help with the adherence to recommended medications, or others may need coaching for increasing physical activity and healthy diet guidance from a dietician or nurse care…, Care Coordination and Care Transitions:, This is especially beneficial for older people who have many health issues. Coordinating care means keeping track of all of your health issues and helping to coordinate tests or referrals to new doctors – or referrals to other places such as a hospital, an emergency room or a retirement home or hospice care., Evidence-based guidelines:, Although this may sound complicated, it is not. It simply means making sure that scientific evidence (based on studies and clinical trials) is what the doctors use to make decisions for their patients. This is especially important for preventive care such as immunizations for adults and children, and for cancer screening tests. The same standards of evidence also applies for how we care for…, Population Health Management:, This is another complex sounding phrase that simply means looking at all our patients and using information about them to see how they are doing as a group. Your health information is always kept private – that’s the law. But we can take pieces of it (we leave your name off it to keep it private) to look at health markers in groups of patients. This means looking at things like all our patients’…, Performance Measurement and Quality Improvement:, This is related to the “population health management”. It’s about using our information and looking at ways that we can do things better and that means making our patients healthier. We always want to get better at what we do and make you healthier – and that’s what “continuous improvement” is all about. It is also about having a commitment to constantly make changes – big or small – in our…
Beginning, or refining, a voice care program is the first step in taking better care of your voice and is essential for vocal cords that have been hurt or stressed. Whether you rely on your voice for regular activities or for your livelihood, you can begin taking better care of your voice today using these tips., Hydrate, Hydration refers to keeping the vocal cords moist both externally and internally. External dehydration may come from breathing dry air, breathing with an open mouth, smoking and certain drying medications. Vocal cords can be rehydrated by inhaling steam (i.e. hot shower, facial steamer, hot-water vaporizer). Internal dehydration comes from too much caffeine, alcohol, drying drugs or sweating…, Manage your mucous, Bothersome mucous can cause people to frequently clear their throats or have the sensation something is on their vocal cords. Your doctor may advise you to take a medication, called a mucolytic, that helps to keep respiratory secretions thin and flowing. The most common mucolytic is Mucinex or guaifenesin. Putting this into practice: Stay hydrated. Ask your doctor if a mucolytic medication would…, Stop throat clearing, Throat clearing is extremely traumatic to your vocal cords and can cause excess wear and tear. Bothersome mucous can cause the sensation that something is on the vocal cords that needs to clear off. The irritation and swelling produced by the throat clearing can cause saliva to sit in your throat. This causes more throat clearing. More throat clearing causes more stagnant mucus which causes more…, Irritating your voice, “Everything in moderation.” This sage advice is especially true when it comes to your voice. Compare your vocal cords to your legs. You would not expect to run a long distance and then later do a hour-long leg work out in the gym. Similarly, you should not talk all day at work and then head out for an evening of yelling or talking over noise. Putting this into practice: Avoid lengthy…
How we hear, The process of hearing involves a complicated pathway as sound waves travel from the outer ear, through the middle ear, to the cochlea and then up the auditory nerve to the auditory centers in the brain, where sounds are interpreted and processed for understanding. Damage to any structure between the outer ear and the brain can cause hearing impairment, reducing and distorting the message.…, What causes hearing loss?, The three most common causes of hearing loss in adults are: Aging/genetics Noise exposure Ototoxic medications Additional causes of hearing loss include: Trauma to the head which may cause perforation of eardrum, disarticulation of middle ear bones, or concussive trauma in cochlea Infection Meniere's disease Tumors Otosclerosis Congenital disorders Physical blockage such as wax buildup or foreign…, Types of hearing loss, Conductive Permanent or transient Causes: Infection, malformation of auditory structures Treatment: Medication, surgery Mixed Combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss Medication or surgery may improve conductive component Sensorineural Permanent Typically due to damage/death of outer/inner hair cells of cochlear or nerve damage/disuse Most common type of hearing loss in adult and…, Why do I think I hear fine, but my family says I have hearing loss?, Hearing loss is often a slowly progressive condition that isn’t noticed at first. Hearing loss is frequently denied by the individual suffering from impairment. People frequently blame others for mumbling, not speaking clearly or not facing them when they talk. In 2006, 37 million adults in the United States identified themselves as having difficulty hearing — ranging from a little trouble…, Warning signs of hearing loss, Some warning signs include: Asking people to repeat themselves Missing large parts of conversations when there is a lot of background noise Complaining that people around you are mumbling when they speak Inability to hear common sounds like doorbells and blinkers in cars If you think you have a hearing loss, please contact your physician. In some cases, hearing loss can be prevented from…, Consequences of untreated hearing loss, Studies have linked untreated hearing loss to: Irritability, negativism and anger Fatigue, tension, stress and depression Avoidance or withdrawal from social situations Social rejection and loneliness Reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety Impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks Reduced job performance and earning power Diminished psychological and overall health, When to contact a medical professional, Call your health care provider if: Hearing problems interfere with your lifestyle. Hearing problems do not go away or become worse. Hearing is worse in one ear than the other. You have sudden, severe hearing loss or ringing in the ears (tinnitus). You have other symptoms, such as ear pain, along with hearing problems. You have new headaches, weakness or numbness anywhere on your body. Sources:…
What are hearing aids?, Approximately, 80 percent of hearing impairments are permanent in nature. The typical treatment of permanent hearing loss is the recommendation of hearing aids. A hearing aid is a small electroacoustic device which typically fits in or behind the ear, and is designed to amplify and modulate sound for the wearer. A hearing aid has three basic parts. The parts are a microphone, amplifier and…, Digital technology, The digital revolution has made a huge impact on the way hearing aids look, feel and function. They can be so small that they are virtually invisible, so "cool" looking that you will want everyone to see them and so natural sounding, they mimic the way you used to hear before you experienced hearing loss. Until recently, the majority of hearing aids utilized analog signal processing. Ttoday,…, Styles, There are many types of hearing aids, also known as hearing instruments, which vary in size, power and circuitry. There are hearing aids to fit any lifestyle. Among the different sizes and models are: In the ear or full shell (ITE or FS) Half shell (HS) In the canal (ITC) Completely in the canal (CIC) Behind the ear (BTE) Open ear mini behind the ear
What is tinnitus?, Tinnitus is the medical term for the perception of a noise in one or both ears or in the head when no external sound is present. It can take the form of many different sounds but it is often referred to as ringing in the ears. Some people hear hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping or clicking. Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant. Its perceived volume can range from very soft to painfully…, What causes tinnitus?, We have made tremendous advances through research. Based on what is known about the auditory (hearing) system, sound is detected by the ear and processed by the brain. On the other hand, the exact physiological cause or causes of tinnitus are not known. There are several likely sources, all of which are known to trigger or worsen tinnitus. Exposure to loud noises can damage and even destroy hair…, Is there a cure for tinnitus?, There is no cure for tinnitus. In some cases, tinnitus can be managed by treating the underlying cause or by altering reactions to it. Treatment outcomes vary depending on the specific cause of tinnitus, how long a patient has had tinnitus and other competing health factors. Consult with your physician to learn of possible ways to manage your tinnitus. Source: American Tinnitus Association
Ear, Hearing and Balance Disorders
What is noise-induced hearing loss?, Every day, we experience sound in our environment, such as the sounds from television and radio, household appliances, and traffic. Normally, we hear these sounds at safe levels that do not affect our hearing. However, when we are exposed to harmful noise, sounds that are too loud or loud sounds that last a long time, sensitive structures in our inner ear can be damaged, causing noise-induced…, Can noise-induced hearing loss be prevented?, Noise-induced hearing loss is 100 percent preventable. All individuals should understand the hazards of noise and how to practice good hearing health in everyday life. To protect your hearing: Know which noises, those at or above 85 decibels, can cause damage. Wear earplugs or other hearing protective devices when involved in a loud activity. Special earplugs and earmuffs are available at…, Treatment options for noise-induced hearing loss, Wear hearing protective devices to prevent further damage. Wearing hearing aids can compensate for permanent damage to fragile hearing structures. Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss .