When COVID-19 hit, we were bombarded with messages via telephone and our patient portal, MyChart. Patients had so much concern from secondary or tertiary contact from COVID-19 and they were looking for guidance. We were able to pivot quickly to provide care through telemedicine, which allowed us to reach our most vulnerable patients. Some patients feared coming to the clinic so they avoided important follow ups. However, with extraordinary guidance from UT Health San Antonio leadership and infection control, our faculty and staff made daily changes, allowing us to communicate to patients that they were coming to a safe clinic.

As family physicians, we take care of many different conditions, and now COVID-19 is unfortunately a common condition we help patients overcome. We see patients from the first symptom of COVID-19 to educate, test when necessary and provide home-monitoring services to ensure our patients are improving through their illness. We check on a few patients every day by phone to get updates on their oxygen levels and breathing status. They feel reassured and supported even in isolation.

 

David Cadena, MD

Family medicine, UT Health Physicians