Medical Specialists Associated

Medical Specialists Associated has resumed regular office visits on a reduced schedule. Given the current COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic, we strive to continue caring for our patients and staff in a reasonable manner, following the advice of our government, the Centers for Disease Control, and other local and national experts. As much as possible, we will continue handling your needs by an indirect encounter. This could be an online telemedicine visit using an audiovisual connection with your mobile phone or computer, even through your Patient Portal and the Healow app. We encourage you to enable this access if you have not done so. A phone call may suffice. We will be charging for these professional services. We are screening all patients by phone prior to scheduling an appointment. YOU WILL BE TURNED AWAY IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION TO COME TO THE OFFICE. You must answer the following questions: Do you have a fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher), sore throat, cough or difficulty breathing? Have you had contact with anyone known or suspected to have coronavirus/COVID-19? In the last 14 days have your traveled anywhere with confirmed sustained community transmission of COVID-19? Please update your contact and insurance information at that time. We ask that you arrive 15 minutes (or more if you have mobility issues) prior to your appointed time. You need to bring your mobile phone so that we can call you and arrange your entry into the clinic. Wait in your car in the parking lot until you are directed by one of our staff to come inside. Only one visitor per patient is granted entry. That person will be asked the above 3 questions also. We intend to minimize the time you spend in any common area. Some of our services may not be available or altered to meet the current needs. Please practice social distancing by staying 6 feet away from others as much as possible. Proper hand and cough hygiene is expected. Instructions are posted throughout the office. We are not prescribing Plaquenil or it's generic equivalent, hydroxychloroquine, at this time. Please do not request this medication by way of phone call or electronic encounter. The doctors and staff of Medical Specialists Associated are here to care for you. We will continue to take your phone calls, communicate with your other doctors, refill your medications, and advise you on other health issues. We may ask you to postpone any routine or non-urgent care. You will be seen by a provider as needed. If you desire an appointment or need us, you may initiate an encounter through your Patient Portal. You can access that on your smart phone with the Healow application or by clicking the "Patient Portal" button on our website, http://www.MSADallas.com.  We will handle it during our regular business hours. If you don't use your portal or smart phone app, or if you have urgent need, then call and leave your provider a message. Dial 214-692-8541 and follow the prompts to get to your provider as you may have done in the past. We remain "on-call" 24 hours each day including weekends and holidays. Of course, if you believe you have an emergency,dial 911 and allow the paramedics to direct you to the appropriate next level of care. That's better than trying to drive yourself to the closest Emergency Department. Please visit www.coronavirus.gov and read the "15 Days to Slow the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19)" instructions. More information is at http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov . Patients can talk to a nurse about the epidemic by calling the Texas Health Resources nurse hotline: 682-236-7601.