Your Upcoming Hospital Visit
Texas Health Alliance

How We’re Keeping You Safe

Texas Health has taken steps to help limit the spread of COVID-19 and make our facilities safe for everyone:

  • Virtual visits for patients and loved ones are encouraged.
  • Dedicated building entrances with visitor screening stations
  • Limited number of visitors on campus; all are screened at arrival.
  • Screening stations provide temperature checks, handwashing and sanitizing stations, and masks. Find out how to best protect yourself when wearing a mask.
  • Universal masking: all visitors, patients, and health care personnel wear masks while on campus.
  • Access to handwashing and sanitizing stations and supplies for visitors and patients.
  • Closure of public water, food, and beverage stations.
  • Re-organized seating areas to allow for social distancing.
  • Patients tested before most procedures.
  • Distancing of patients according to positive/negative COVID-19 status.
  • Health care personnel self-monitor for symptoms; caregivers with symptoms must stay home.
  • Follow-up calls to check on patients after leaving the hospital.
  • Consumer hotline staffed by nurses to answer questions and concerns.
  • Updated Labor & Delivery and NICU processes to provide support and care for a safe and memorable childbirth experience.
Testing
  • Should I get tested for COVID-19?
    • If you have symptoms, call your doctor first. Your doctor may order testing based on your symptoms and risk factors.
    • Some people can get better at home and may not need to be tested.
  • Where can I get tested?
    • It depends on why you need a test. If you are having a procedure at Texas Health, you will likely be tested before the procedure as part of your pre-admission testing. If your doctor orders testing, the office staff can help with an appointment.
    • Test results are typically available in 24 to 72 hours. A Texas Health nurse will call you, or current MyChart users can check their account.
    • While waiting for test results, stay at home. Minimize contact with others, including pets. Wear a mask or face covering. Practice safe social distancing. Wash your hands often and sanitize items and surfaces that are touched often.
    • You can also visit hhs.texas.gov for information about local testing sites.
  • What if my test is positive?
    • Continue to minimize contact with others in your household, including pets.
    • Continue to wash your hands often, and sanitize items and surfaces that are touched often.
    • Stay away from others for 3 full days after all symptoms are gone and at least 10 days since symptoms started.
    • Call your doctor to reschedule an upcoming surgery or procedure.
  • What if my test is negative?
    • You could still have the infection, because it can take up to 14 days from the day you were exposed before you have symptoms.
    • Continue to wash your hands often, and sanitize items and surfaces that are touched often.
    • If you were tested because you were around someone with COVID-19:
      • Minimize contact with others for 14 days since you were last around this person.
      • Practice social distancing – even with those in your household, including pets.
    • If you were tested because you had COVID-19 symptoms:
      • Stay away from others for 3 full days after all symptoms are gone and at least 10 days since symptoms started.
      • Minimize contact with others in your household, including pets

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Visitor Policy
We know that having your loved ones with you is important. However, we are limiting the number of people in our facilities to protect patients and health care personnel.
  • General Visitor Information
    • Visitors must be 16 years or older.
    • One visitor per day for hospital inpatients.
    • One visitor for labor and delivery (L&D) and postpartum patients, plus one outside care provider (a doula, for example).
    • Two parents or guardians for Neonatal ICU (NICU) patients.
    • One visitor for outpatient surgery patients.
    • Behavioral Health: No visitors. Exception for outpatient minors.
    • One visitor only for impairment or mobility needs.
    • Visiting hours:
      • Hospital inpatients – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., effective July 9, 2020. Please arrive no later than 5:45 p.m.
      • Positive/suspected positive COVID-19 patients – No visitors. Call the nurse manager for information.
      • ICU and NICU – Check with the nurse manager.
      • L&D / Postpartum – No restriction on visiting hours.
    • No visitors in Emergency Department treatment areas except to support patients with impairment or mobility needs.
    • No visitors in outpatient services areas (radiology, lab, pre-admission testing, for example) except to support patients with impairment or mobility needs.
    • All visitors are screened when they enter the facility. Those with COVID-19 symptoms or other risk factors will not be able to visit.
    • Visitors get a wristband and face mask to wear while in the building.
    • Phone calls and video chats are another way to connect with your loved ones.
  • Outpatient Surgeries and Procedures
    No visitors in hospital outpatient services unless the patient is undergoing an outpatient procedure or requires support with impairment or mobility needs.
  • Inpatient Hospital Stays
    One visitor daily is allowed for inpatient stays. 
  • Women’s Services
    • One visitor only for labor and delivery and postpartum (visiting hours are not restricted).
    • The mother may also have a paid professional doula at her side for the duration of labor and delivery. We recognize the doula as part of the maternal care team, and the doula must pass our current screening process. Please note that if the mother tests as COVID+ the doula will not be allowed to participate as part of the maternal care team.
  • Neonatal ICU (NICU)
    Two parents or guardians for Neonatal ICU (NICU)
  • Emergency Department
    No visitors in treatment areas of the Emergency Department unless needed to support with impairment or mobility needs.
  • Behavioral Health
    No visitors. One visitor, but only if needed to support outpatient minors with impairment or mobility needs.

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Appointments and Access

If you have an upcoming appointment:

  • Contact your doctor’s office. You may be able to get care through a virtual visit, in the comfort of your home.
  • Virtual visits are available for some services and doctor offices.
  • If you are a Texas Health patient, call your doctor’s office to see if virtual appointments are available, and schedule an appointment.
  • If you have COVID-19 symptoms, call your doctor before you visit a Texas Health facility.
  • When visiting a Texas Health facility, a greeter will ask about your general health, take your temperature, and give you a face mask.

Thank you for choosing Texas Health. We look forward to serving you and your family.

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Texas Health Alliance
Your Upcoming Hospital Visit
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