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Important Information for UAB Patients

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Dear UAB Medicine Patients and Family Members,

You have always trusted us with your care, so rest assured that UAB Medicine will continue providing essential medical services throughout this coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

There is so much information to share, but let’s start with the basics:
  • UAB Medicine remains open. We will continue seeing patients who need us most at our hospitals and emergency departments. All UAB Medicine outpatient clinics downtown and across central Alabama, including The Kirklin Clinic, are open for essential care only, which is determined by your provider. The state of Alabama ordered that visitors are not allowed in hospitals and clinics, though patients may be driven to the entrances. Patients who need assistance will be helped to their destination by our Guest Services team.
  • We are using alternative methods of serving patients, such as telephone visits for less urgent cases. These will help us continue caring for patients as we limit on-site visits to those who need immediate physical care for urgent medical issues. UAB Medicine is working on other ways to provide care remotely, and we will announce these details as soon as possible.
  • “Well visits” are being cancelled, to help keep patients and staff safe. Patients should postpone checkups and other non-urgent appointments, procedures, or surgeries. Most patients already have been notified that their upcoming visit has been canceled, and many have been offered telephone visits.
  • Your health and safety is our No. 1 priority. We are taking numerous steps to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, including special cleaning measures and practicing social distancing throughout our operations.
  • The UAB Medicine app is available for download from the app stores for both Apple iOS devices (iPhone/iPad) and Android devices. It gives patients easy access to many UAB Medicine services, including:
    • The Patient Portal, where you may request refills and send messages to your providers.
    • UAB eMedicine, which offers online diagnosis and treatment for common conditions.
    • Online bill payment.
    • Updates on the coronavirus and answers to common medical questions.
    • A user guide for the app is available here.
Below are some general guidelines to follow if you or a loved one needs medical care:

CORONAVIRUS TESTING:
You have several options for testing if you think you may have coronavirus. You may call the 24/7 Alabama COVID-19 hotline at 1.888.264.2256. for testing site locations and hours of operation. Also, in partnership with the Jefferson County Department of Health, UAB has opened an appointment-based testing center, open seven days per week from 9 am - 1:30 pm. Patients experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can call 205-975-1881 for screening. If they meet the screening criteria, they will be provided an appointment time at our drive-through testing center. Patients must have an appointment to be tested. 

TO CANCEL OR RESCHEDULE A NON-URGENT APPOINTMENT, PROCEDURE, OR SURGERY:
Please call your doctor’s office or contact UAB HealthFinder at 205.934.9999. or toll-free at 1.800.822.8816.

FOR NON-URGENT ONLINE CARE:
Please visit uabmedicine.org and click on eMedicine in the top right corner.

FOR URGENT MEDICAL CARE:
If you are experiencing a true medical emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For non-emergency urgent care – if you have coronavirus or think you’ve been exposed – please DO NOT go to the emergency room or come to UAB Medicine outpatient clinics for any reason. Instead, please contact your primary care doctor or call UAB HealthFinder at 205.934.9999. or toll-free at 1.800.822.8816. for instructions.

We recognize that this is a difficult time for everyone. Please understand that UAB Medicine is doing everything we can to ensure that our patients continue receiving the care they need. UAB Medicine will send out more details as updates become available.

For information about the coronavirus and updates on how UAB is responding, please visit uab.edu/coronavirus.

We hope that you and your loved ones stay healthy and safe.

Sincerely,

Will Ferniany, PhD
CEO, UAB Medicine