Category: Education

What is COVID-19?

• COVID-19 is the name of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. A novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. ‘CO’ stands for corona, ‘VI’ for virus, and ‘D’ for disease.

Where do I go if I have fever, cough, and recently traveled to an area with many cases of COVID-19?

• Stay home except to get medical care. Call our office or other medical facility before going in for instructions. You will be scheduled as a virtual visit to be evaluated and advised on next steps. You should wear a face mask if you are around other people.

I just got back from an area with many cases of COVID-19. I don’t have any symptoms. Do I need to be seen? 

• The CDC recommends monitoring for symptoms (mainly fever, cough, shortness of breath) and practicing social distancing for 14 days. Social distancing means remaining out of public places where close contact may occur (malls, theaters, stadiums), workplaces (unless able to distance from others), schools, and public transportation.

I have a fever and a cough. I don’t know if I was exposed to someone with coronavirus. Do I need to be seen? 

• Recommend calling our office to schedule a virtual visit. We can review your risk factors and make further recommendations. Please do not come into the office. You should wear a face mask if you are around other people.

When can I fly or go on a cruise? 

• CDC is currently recommending ALL travelers avoid cruises at this time. CDC also recommends older adults and travelers with underlying health issues avoid all nonessential travel. Nonessential travel should be avoided for ALL travelers to many countries with increasing cases of COVID 19. Check the CDC website for the most up to date recommendations. The US government has recommended avoiding all nonessential travel until further notice.

What is the definition of an older adult? 

• CDC is defining an older adult as 60 and over.

If I am told to quarantine myself at home since I was exposed and may have the virus, how do I prevent my family members from getting the virus? 

• As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from others in your home. Use a separate bathroom if available. Wear a face mask when you are around other people. If you are unable to wear a face mask, have others in your home wear a face mask if they are around you. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw away after use. Wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or with a 60% or greater alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid sharing dishes, glasses/cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with others. Clean all high touch surfaces daily (counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables).

What is the source of this virus? 

• It is suspected to have originated from animals and then spread to people. That being said, it is now spreading from person to person and there is no reason to think contact with animals puts you at higher risk.

How is this virus spread? 

• It is thought to spread mainly between people in close contact with one another (within 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It also may be possible to get the virus by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching your own mouth, nose, or eyes.

How long does this virus last? 

• Recovery time is around 2 weeks for mild infections and 3 to 6 weeks for severe disease.

Office Procedures

Will I have to wait a long time?

Because your time is important, we want to keep your waiting time to a minimum. When you call, tell the receptionist all of the reasons for your office visit, so that she can provide ample time with the doctor. We pay special attention to scheduling, so please make sure that you also arrive on time for your visits.

We make every effort to see people who are acutely ill on the day they call for an office visit. We also will try to fit the acutely injured patient into our schedule, however, on these days our office may run behind.

What if I need an appointment today?

Conditions indicating a need for an appointment for today or the next day: recent injuries or illness with fever or otherwise requiring an appointment in the next 24 hours. Such an appointment will be for that acute illness/injury only. Please do not expect additional services (such as refills of other medications) during that appointment time slot.

Should I call in my prescriptions?

Call the pharmacy directly for prescriptions requiring refills. We generally do not refill prescriptions for narcotic pain relievers, tranquilizers, or sleep medications without an office visit. It is not our policy to refill prescriptions for antibiotics. If you still do not feel well after taking your full course of antibiotics, contact our office.

What do I need to know about electronic medical records?

The Village Medical Centers are amongst the first in the nation to use a state-of-the-art computerized medical record system. As such, your medical record can be accessed quickly by any of our physicians from either office location. Prescriptions (and office notes) are typewritten and thus legible.

Therefore we usually will not incorporate into your new medical record the actual handwritten notes from your previous physicians. Instead, we will summarize from the old records the information we need and place it within your new computerized record. Your old paper records can then be passed back to you for your safekeeping.

Confidentiality of medical information is one of the cornerstones of the doctor-patient relationship. We take this very seriously. Please do not request medical information about another adult family member.

What do I do on weekends?

When illnesses or accidents occur on evenings, weekends, or holidays, call our office first. If we are closed, our answering service is able to reach the doctor on call at all times. The doctor is often able to make suggestions which will help address your concerns. Sometimes the doctor may make arrangements to meet you at the office. Calling the office first, evenings or weekends may save you time and the expense of going to an emergency room or urgent care center. If the doctor feels you should go to the hospital emergency room, he/she will direct you there. If the situation can wait until the next regularly scheduled office day, the doctor will advise you. Some Managed Healthcare plans require you to notify your primary care physician first before seeking treatment at another facility. In these cases, unless it was a life-threatening situation, your insurance company may deny payment of the claim because it was not approved by your primary care physician. You may then be held responsible for the payment of those charges.

What should I do in an emergency?

An emergency is a life-threatening illness or injury such as a heart attack, uncontrolled bleeding or poisoning. If this is an emergency, you need to be seen immediately and NOT make an appointment, but rather call 911 or proceed to an emergency center. After the emergency has passed, we will provide or oversee your care. For problems that are urgent but not life-threatening, such as sprains, broken bones, fever or stomach pain, call us and we may arrange to see you in the office. If you need to be seen within the next few hours, you should CALL the office for an appointment at 281 292-1192/1191.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if the office is closed?

If you are in need of our assistance after hours or on weekends and holidays, you can call our office and our answering service will assist you in reaching one of our on-call doctors who will then connect with you to discuss your concerns and answer questions, suggest treatment or in some cases make arrangements to meet you in the office. We offer this service to save you the time and money that would otherwise be spent in emergency rooms or urgent care centers. In the event that a situation does arise that the on-call doctor decides is best handled in emergency care, they will direct you to the right facility for your treatment.

What do I do on weekends?

When illnesses or accidents occur on evenings, weekends, or holidays, call our office first. If we are closed, our answering service is able to reach the doctor on call at all times. The doctor is often able to make suggestions which will help address your concerns. Sometimes the doctor may make arrangements to meet you at the office. Calling the office first, evenings or weekends may save you time and the expense of going to an emergency room or urgent care center. If the doctor feels you should go to the hospital emergency room, he/she will direct you there. If the situation can wait until the next regularly scheduled office day, the doctor will advise you. Some Managed Healthcare plans require you to notify your primary care physician first before seeking treatment at another facility. In these cases, unless it was a life-threatening situation, your insurance company may deny payment of the claim because it was not approved by your primary care physician. You may then be held responsible for the payment of those charges.

What should I do in an emergency?

An emergency is a life-threatening illness or injury such as a heart attack, uncontrolled bleeding or poisoning. If you have an emergency, call your family physician’s office. We will probably tell you to go to the emergency room. If you cannot reach us quickly, go to the nearest emergency room and ask the staff to contact us. After the emergency has passed, we will provide or oversee your care. For problems that are urgent but not life-threatening, such as sprains, broken bones, fever or stomach pain, call us and we may arrange to see you in the office.

Useful Contacts

Fax Number

Panther Creek – 281.367.0396
Alden Bridge – 281.362.9170

Phone Numbers

Panther Creek – 281.292.1192
Alden Bridge – 281.292.1191

Patient Education

Below are links to educational healthcare resources that are highly recommended to patients by our providers.

FamilyDoctor.org – Award-winning, trustworthy, and credible health information and tools for patients from American Academy of Family Physicians.
American Academy of Pediatrics – Dedicated to the health and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
Mayo Clinic – Award-winning medical and health information and tools for healthy living.
UpToDate – For current, in-depth, and unbiased medical information on the web