Information about COVID-19 Coronavirus
Southwest Family Medicine Associates is providing the following information to help keep our patients and employees informed about the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Updated May 11th, 2020
Your health and the health of our community are our highest priority. Southwest Family Medicine Associates is here to support you and your family during the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide uninterrupted healthcare. We are providing the following information to help keep our patients and employees informed.
Appointments
- Most of all appointments are still being converted to TeleVisit. Our clinics will remain open. If your provider determines that an in-person appointment is required, we will schedule an office visit after your TeleVisit.
- In-Person Visits: You can now schedule a routine, in-person appointments with your provider including chronic care and well exam as in-person visits. To provide a safe environment for both our patients and staff, we will continue to follow social distancing practices. We will make sure you know what to expect when you call to make your appointment. We will attempt to schedule these visits in the mornings, to separate sick patients from well patients.
- If you are sick, and have one of these symptoms within the past 7 days: fever/ cough/ diarrhea/ shortness of breath/ being exposed with a person with a lab confirmed for COVID19 (+), you won’t be allowed to enter our building and you should contact our office to schedule a TeleVisit.
- For those who are sick with one of the symptoms above, and after TeleVisit the provider determines that you need to come in to our building, then you will be instructed to schedule another appointment and to stay in car in a designated parking lot on your scheduled appointment. Call our office when you arrive and stay in your car. Our staff or provider will call you and you will be directed to enter through a different door to avoid common areas.
- Guidelines for In-Person Visits: If you schedule an in-person visit, we want to share important details that will help us continue to provide you with exceptional patient care:
- You will be screened at least 3 times, while making an appointment, at check-in, and with a medical assistant before you see the doctor. Screening involves having your temperature taken and answering a few questions.
- Universal masking is one of the best ways to limit the transmission of the virus. With that in mind, everyone, including patients, and staff, are required to wear a mask while in the practice. It Is essential that you wear your own mask to the office, we have a very limited supply, if you forget to wear a mask, we have some, for a donation of $1. If and when we no longer have extra masks, you will be asked to leave the building and do the visit as a TeleVisit, as according to the Texas Medical Board you are required to wear one.
- No companion is allowed to enter our building, except for minor, and patients who cannot communicate for themselves or disabled and need some type walking assistance (in this case only 1 companion is allowed to enter the building). Please have everyone else to wait outside in the car.
Should I wear a mask?
- Face masks for the general public are now recommended per CDC guidelines to be worn in public settings.
- Starting May 4th 2020, our office requires all persons entering our building to wear some type of face covering. You won’t be allowed to enter our building without one.
Should I be tested?
- Southwest Family Medicine Associates is providing: COVID-19 Diagnostic PCR and Serological (Antibody) Testing!
- To see if you are a candidate, please TEXT or CALL 214-393-2940 or email triagenurse@southwestfamilymed.com to schedule a lab appointment & TeleVisit with a provider.
- Both tests are available to new & established patients.
- There are two types of tests available for COVID-19 that can detect whether a person had it in the past (serology testing, which tests for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19), or whether they have it in the present (polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, which tests for active infection)” (Texas Health and Human Services).
Prescription medications
- Prescription refills can be filled by your pharmacy.
- If you need a prescription renewal, contact our office to schedule a TeleVisit so a provider can renew your prescription.
Older adults and those with chronic medical conditions
- At this time, older adults and people of any age with certain serious underlying medical conditions like lung disease, heart disease or diabetes are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness and should schedule a TeleVisit as soon as symptoms start.
- Our patients who fall into this group will be receiving calls periodically from Southwest Family Medicine Associates care managers and providers, with the goals of helping you succeed in social distancing, eliminating any non-essential face-to-face interactions with the healthcare system and making sure chronic medical conditions are being managed.