Coronavirus: Everything You Should Know About the COVID-19
How SignatureCare Emergency Center Protects You from COVID-19
While we have the ability to test our patients for COVID-19, we are not considered a testing center. If you are seeking a testing center, please go to Texas Coronavirus (COVID-19) website or dial 2-1-1 and select Option 6.
As we go through this COVID-19 crisis, we know that our fellow Texans need immediate medical attention for a variety of illnesses, injuries and trauma.
As your friendly neighborhood 24-hour emergency room, we’d like you to know that we consider you and your family’s safety and well-being, our top priority. Our emergency rooms are open 24 hours and our board-certified ER physicians are available on-site to meet your medical needs.
We recognize that most people may not feel comfortable visiting an emergency room for care during this COVID-19 pandemic but we want to assure you that we have taken numerous steps to ensure the safety of our staff and patients.
These steps include taking extra care to clean and prepare our ER before our patients arrive and minimizing contacts between you and others in the waiting areas. This minimal contact allows us to lower any chance of community transmission of COVID-19.
We also enforce wearing of masks and other PPE for our staff, masks and hand hygiene for everyone visiting our emergency rooms. We have equipped our facilities with HEPA air filtration. Every room and furniture is sanitized before patients are allowed in the room.
We also provide a negative pressure isolation room in each emergency center should one be needed. In some of our emergency centers, we have set up outside tents for outdoor screening of each patient before they are allowed inside our emergency centers.
We ensure that wait times to see a doctor in our ER is minimal.
Although we do not advertise this, SignatureCare Emergency Center also offers financial assistance to our patients who may be uninsured or underinsured. We understand that due to COVID-19, more members of our community may need this assistance and we are stepping up to help.
We have expanded this financial assistance to the community, especially to those who may have suffered significant financial impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s damaging effects on the economy.
If you or your family have been adversely affected by COVID-19 and need our financial assistance, please let our front desk personnel know when you visit any of our emergency rooms. You may need to complete a short application form but in most instances, we will be able to discount your out of pocket expenses.
SignatureCare Emergency Center is here for you and your family. Our goal is to help alleviate the financial burden COVID-19 may have placed on you and your family when you visit our facility to seek emergency medical attention.
Please contact your nearest emergency room if you have questions or concerns.
SignatureCare Emergency Center ERs are freestanding emergency medical care facilities. When a patient receives an emergency evaluation at any of our facilities, there is an associated facility fee and a physician fee charged for the medical care provided to the patient in addition to any testing and other services provided. Rapid COVID Antigen swab (87635) is charged at $175.00.
Suspect COVID infection or exposure? Get your COVID-19 Emergency Evaluation Appointment.
Click the image above or here to download a pdf copy.
Please download, print,complete and sign our Patient Forms prior to coming to our emergency room. Bring the completed and signed forms with you to the ER.
Click the image above or here to view the full pdf file. Pdf by Abbott Labs.
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Review of the two new outpatient treatments available for high risk patients infected with the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) virus. Video by Dr. Michal Tracz.
COVID Management Update. When to stay home, when to head for the ER
Updated for December 2020 – A lot has changed since the Spring when we just told patients to stay home. Know what to do after exposure to coronavirus, what to take at home, and when to go to the emergency room (ER). Video by Dr. Michal Tracz.
COVID Vaccine — a Guide for the Hesitant
Deep dive into the mRNA vaccine technology and what it means for the safety and efficacy of the coronavirus vaccine. Systematic information for the curious and the hesitant.. Video by Dr. Michal Tracz.
– What We Know About the Way the Covid-19 Virus Spreads.
Click here to download a pdf copy.
Coronavirus is a respiratory syndrome from Wuhan, China (2019-nConV)
What is Coronavirus?
Corona is a large group of viruses which can infect both humans and animals with cold-related diseases. The intensity of the infection ranges from common colds to acute respiratory syndrome.
However, the new strain of Coronavirus, called 2019-nCoV, is a novel virus to humans. So the information related to the disease, including symptoms and means of treatment is limited.
The CDC, in cooperation with WHO and international experts, are working to combat the virus.
Is there Treatment or Vaccine for Coronavirus?
There is currently no treatment beyond supportive medical care to relieve symptoms.
What are the Symptoms of the Coronavirus?
- Coughing
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Pneumonia
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
In advanced cases, the patient can have serious complications that can result in death, such as:
- Severe Pneumonia
- Kidney Failure
How is the Coronavirus Transmitted?
- Direct contact with infected patient
- Droplets from patient’s coughing and sneezing
- Contact with patient’s belongings followed by touching your nose or mouth
How to Protect Yourself from the Coronavirus
- Avoid contact with others and wash your hands frequently
- Maintain good hygiene habits at all times
- Wear a face mask when dealing with infected persons
- Use tissues when coughing or blowing nose
- Wash and prepare food carefully
- Exercise and proper sleep will bolster the immune system