COVID-19 Information

Commonly Asked Questions about COVID-19 Tests

SAFETY MEASURES IN OUR GENERAL CLINIC

MASKS

A mask must be worn at all times by all patients, visitors, physicians, and clinical staff throughout the Clinic and garage.

SCREENING

At time of scheduling and upon arrival, patients and visitors are screened (to include temperature testing and screening questions) for potential symptoms of COVID-19 (as are all employees, each and every day).  You will be referred to our Satellite Clinic should screening outcomes indicate.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

In our entrance, elevators, and waiting rooms.

DISINFECTING

All patient exam rooms are disinfected between each patient visit. All rooms, equipment, and surface areas that are being touched (counter-tops, doorknobs, exam chairs, computers, etc.) are disinfected frequently throughout each day.

AIR FILTERING

A combination of MERV 13 air filters and UV lighting is used to remove 1.0 – 3.0 micron size particles from the Clinic’s air (Viral droplet nuclei is accepted to be in the range of 1.0 – 5.0 microns).

UV LIGHT SANITIZING

The air conditioning system in our building was designed with UV lighting as a method to fight germs, mold and viruses. These UV lights are installed on every floor of the building and are on 24/7.  Additionally UV light sanitizing portable equipment is used throughout the Clinic.

MCH SATELLITE CLINIC

SATELLITE CLINIC FOR SYMPTOMATIC OR EXPOSED PATIENTS

For the protection of you, other patients and our employees, Medical Clinic of Houston has set-up a Satellite Clinic for our current patients who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been exposed to a COVID-positive individual. Patients scheduled to be seen in the Satellite Office will be seen by an MCH physician without compromising the safety of other patients and our employees. The Satellite Clinic has a completely separate entrance to the building, a separate waiting area, a separate set of exam rooms and air is converted to negative pressure – which means the air is not re-circulated in the clinic.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACCESS TO THE SATELLITE CLINIC

If you are scheduled to be seen in the Satellite Clinic, you access the Satellite Clinic directly from the 4th floor of our parking garage. The Satellite Clinic has a completely separate entrance and waiting area. Open parking is available adjacent to the Satellite Clinic (garage level 4) so you will be able to access the Satellite Clinic without the need to use an elevator, enter the Clinic’s main lobby, or use valet parking.

THE SATELLITE CLINIC IS NOT A WALK-IN CLINIC

Please do not report to the Satellite Clinic unless you are directed to do so by your physician’s office.

ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES IMPLEMENTED IN OUR SATELLITE CLINIC

STAFF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

The physicians and clinical personnel (RN /LVN /MA) will be wearing full PPE to include gowns, gloves, and face/eye shields with masks.

DISINFECTING

In addition to the daily disinfecting of all patient exam rooms, manual disinfecting occurs between each patient visit.  A portable UV Light is used in each room for 30 minutes as an additional precaution.

NON RECYCLED AIR  – UTILIZING NEGATIVE AIR PRESSURE

In order to reduce the risk for transmission of airborne infectious diseases, the Satellite Clinic has been re-engineered to mechanically provide a negative pressure environment, which is commonly used for infection control to ensure infectious germs are not spread through an air conditioning system. Negative pressure causes more air to be removed from the room than that which is allowed into the room.

As clean air flows into the Satellite Clinic, existing air is exhausted, thru a hepa filter, to the outside, preventing re-circulation of this air into any part of the Clinic building. This non-re-circulation of air is to further protect patients, physicians, and Clinic staff.

TESTING RELATED TO COVID-19

Please discuss these tests with your physician prior to having them performed.