Blog

April 22, 2020
Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans to allow hospitals and health systems to resume delayed medical care for Californians – such as heart valve replacements, angioplasty and tumor removals, and key preventive care services, such as colonoscopies – which were deferred as the state’s health care delivery systems prepared for a surge of COVID-19 patients. The decision was based on progress toward preparing California hospitals and health systems for a surge in COVID-19 patients – one of the six critical indicators the governor unveiled last week as part of the state’s framework for gradually modifying California’s stay-at-home order.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced that hospitals and health systems may resume delayed medical care for Californians – including surgical and clinic-based procedures, and key preventive care services, such as colonoscopies – which were deferred as the state’s health care delivery systems prepared for a surge of COVID-19 patients.

This decision was based on progress toward preparing California hospitals and health systems for a surge in COVID-19 patients – one of the six critical indicators the governor unveiled last week as part of the state’s framework for gradually modifying California’s stay-at-home order.

All University of California medical centers have initiated activities to safely increase the volume of essential services.

These activities are informed by and consistent with guidance issued on April 27, 2020 by the California Department of Public Health, and informed by the principles and considerations identified in the Joint Statement of the American Hospital Association, American College of Surgeons, American Society of Anesthesiologists, and Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, as well as those issued by the California Medical Association and others.

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Your health comes first. Rely on UCI Health for your healthcare needs.
Experts across the county agree that you must not delay in getting your healthcare needs met.

Is it safe to keep my appointment?
Yes. Patients face no additional risk for COVID-19 at our medical center in Orange or other clinical locations. Timely healthcare checks and follow-up visits keep you stronger in the fight against the COVID-19. At UCI Health, we will safely address your healthcare needs.

Is UCI Health prepared?
Yes. UCI medical center took the COVID-19 pandemic incredibly seriously. The medical center was the first in Orange County to have onsite testing for COVID-19 and was the first in Southern California to offer the successful Remdesivir clinical trial to COVID-19 patients. As a university health system our team of infectious disease specialists are leaders in their field, highly trained and in continuous contact with local, state and federal public health officials. We continue to monitoring novel coronavirus developments closely.

How are you ensuring my safety?
All healthcare workers at UCI Health are required to mask.
All patients arriving at our locations and their visitors are required to mask. Please bring your own mask to your appointment so that we may reserve masks for our healthcare team.
All hospitalized patients at UCI medical center have been tested for COVID-19.
All healthcare providers are screened for COVID-19 symptoms and fever every day prior to working.
All of our staff are following physical distancing guidelines at all of our locations and our waiting rooms have signage in place to avoid crowding.
All of our healthcare sites undergo frequent and meticulous deep cleaning.
Under our “Code Clean” program, all staff members participate in a coordinated disinfection of all high-touch surfaces in their work area at regular intervals throughout the day.

What can I expect at my appointment or procedure?
If you have a procedure scheduled, you will likely receive a COVID-19 test. The scheduler for your procedure will provide you more details. If you have any concerns about this, you may consult with your physician.
After your appointment you will receive an “after visit summary” with information about COVID-19. It will provide details and instructions on where to retrieve your test results, if one was ordered for you.
UCI Health outpatient pharmacies are maintaining normal business hours of 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday. During the Covid-19 crisis, patients have the option to have medications, not requiring special handling, to be delivered via USPS or FedEx. The fee for USPS is $4 and FedEx is $7.50. All specialty medications will continue to be shipped at no charge.

We do not ship any controlled substances at this time. Patients can request their provider electronically send their prescriptions to UCI Health Outpatient Pharmacy to avoid the need to drop off paper prescriptions.

How can I get care in convenient manner?
Your convenience and peace of mind matter now more than ever.
UCI Health now offers telemedicine visits with your physician and care team when you don’t require an in-person visit.
We encourage you to sign up for UCI Health MyChart, a convenient and secure way to manage your healthcare online. Through MyChart you can request appointments, communicate with your provider, request prescription renewals, view test results, access medical records, pay bills and more. For more information, visit http://www.ucihealth.org/mychart.
COVID testing to verify a current infection is available by appointment. You may call our nurse triage line at 714-456-7002. You should also consult with your physician if you have any symptoms.
Serology testing may be ordered by your physician.

Why is UCI Health the best place to receive care?
When tests for COVID-19 were in short supply nationwide, our microbiology experts labored night and day to develop tests we could produce locally to serve our patients. Our leading virology experts are hard at work studying the novel coronavirus to develop novel treatments — and potentially a vaccine — in collaboration with colleagues across the University of California and leading national experts.
We have been consistently ranked as one of America’s Top Hospitals in U.S. News & World Report
For 12 years in a row, UCI Health has received an ‘A’ safety score from the Leapfrog Group
We were the first academic health system in world to receive honors from the Patient Safety Movement Foundation
We are a Meritorious Hospital according to ACS/NSQIP surgical safety ratings

What if I want to wait until August or September for my procedure?
If you have questions or concerns, we can set up a call or video visit with your physician.
Your physician can answer your questions and together you can decide when the best time is for you to come in.