USF Health continues to closely monitor the evolving coronavirus outbreak. Our priority is to keep you healthy and safe. 

At USF Health, we are working to ensure patient and frontline staff safety continues to be a priority.

As State restrictions on hospitals and clinics are lifted, you now have more options for seeing our physicians and providers in-person. To help protect both you and our clinical teams, USF Health has implemented new protocols for when you visit our clinical facilities. 

These measures will make your appointment seem different than previous visits, but rest assured they are meant as added precautions for keeping everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Screening you as you enter our facilities and our team wearing masks are some examples of what you will experience. 

We are taking these vital precautions to protect our patients and our frontline staff and closely monitor the official health guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health. 

Please review the details below prior to your appointment to help you have a better and safe patient experience at your next visit.

In all instances for all patients

If you are exhibiting any of these symptoms before your scheduled appointment, please call 813-974-2201 and press option 2. 

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Diarrhea

Patients must arrive at their visits alone

At this time, USF Health continues to restrict visitors from entering our clinical locations. Family members or companions must wait outside the facility.

Exceptions to this policy are:

1) One parent or legal guardian may accompany patients who are less than 18 years of age.

2) Adult patients who are unable to provide consent for treatment, or for those with mental or physical disabilities that require assistance from one companion to complete their visit.

3) All patients scheduled for surgeries/procedures at the Ambulatory Surgery Center will require one visitor who will be both the 24-hour caregiver and driver. 

Screenings and COVID-19 Testing 

At USF Health, we continue to conduct screenings at our entry points to our buildings for patients and visitors. Entry into any USF Health clinical facility will include screenings which can consist of several questions about your recent exposure risks but will also involve taking your temperature. Frontline staff and vendors are screened for COVID-19 symptoms daily. 

PPE and Masks

Our health care providers and staff will continue to follow the appropriate measures to keep our patients safe by wearing PPE masks and gloves, as well as frequently washing their hands. We require all patients to wear a facial covering or mask while in our facilities and practice social distancing measures.

Steps we are taking to promote social distancing at our entrances and clinics

We have reorganized our waiting areas to keep patients a safe distance away from others and have separate waiting areas for patients with respiratory illnesses or symptoms. We also have alcohol-based hand sanitizers available in all of the reception, waiting, and patient areas. Routine cleaning and disinfection protocols take place inpatient areas. 

Procedures and Surgeries

All Ambulatory Surgery Center patients are screened through the pre-admission process and then again through COVID-19 testing prior to the surgical/procedure date. At any time, if your symptoms change or you have any questions, a member of the USF team is available to address and assist.

Parking for your in-person appointment

Our valet services may remain limited at a number of our locations.  We apologize for the inconvenience. 

Billing

In addition, we have also made updates to our billing policies during this time and continue to offer financial assistance to those with financial hardships.

MyChart

USF Health strongly encourages all patients to sign up for MyChart – our free online portal offering patients personalized and secure access to portions of your medical records. With MyChart, you can communicate with your medical care team, view your health summary and routine lab results, review your statements, and pay bills online, request prescription renewals, and more. Signing up is easy – simply call 813-974-2201 and request an activation code. This code will enable you to log in and create your own user ID and password. You may also request an access code to create a MyChart account at your next office visit.