Preparing for Your Appointment
Prior to your initial appointment, you will receive multiple emails requesting you to register as a patient at UT Health Austin. You will also receive an email with a detailed questionnaire about your Post-COVID-19 symptoms. We ask that you follow the enrollment instructions in the emails and complete all questionnaires as soon as possible to ensure your providers have time to review your answers prior to your visit.
Appointments with the Post-Covid-19 Program are available by referral only.
Please gather important medical records from your other healthcare providers:
- Submit records via email at utha.him@austin.utexas.edu or fax at 512-495-2090.
- We will also request records directly from your providers, but our return rate is low. If you have labs, imaging, or other important records from specialist visits, please send them to us directly.
Confirm with your insurance whether you need a referral authorization (common for HMO plans):
- Call the number on the back of your insurance card to verify whether you need a referral authorization.
- Please note: A visit with the Post-COVID-19 Program is considered a specialist office visit.
What can I expect during my post-COVID-19 assessment?
Your initial visit can take up to 2-3 hours. We spend a lot of time addressing your concerns and answering your questions. You will see several different members of the care team during your visit, including a medical assistant for intake, a social worker, and a research coordinator as well as your medical provider. We will evaluate your wellness, including any personal, mental health, cognitive, or rehabilitation needs. After the assessment has been completed, we will recommend a personalized care plan and provide referrals to other medical specialists as needed. A summary of your visit will be sent to your UT Health Austin online patient portal 1-2 days after your visit. Every phase of your assessment and all recommendations will also be shared with your primary care provider as well as any designated caregivers.
Screening methods include:
- General health questionnaire
- Post-COVID-19 symptom questionnaire
- Medication consult and reconciliation
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
- Mental health screening assessment for depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and PTSD (PC-PTSD-5)
- Social and financial impact of COVID-19
If any labs are ordered, they will not be fasting labs. We suggest bringing water and a snack to help keep your energy up. We also encourage you to bring a care partner to your visit to help you with questions and note-taking. If your visit is a telehealth visit, we can arrange to have your care partner call in or join by Zoom.
You may also have the opportunity to meet with a research coordinator to discuss your interest in participating in ongoing studies at The University of Texas at Austin.
Research Enrollment Opportunities
The Post-COVID-19 Program is committed to studying and developing treatments for Long COVID. We collaborate with researchers at the Dell Medical School and The University of Texas at Austin. Patients receiving care may have the opportunity to participate in research, which may include filling out surveys, donating a blood sample, and/or in some cases, receiving experimental treatments. Participation in research is optional, but if you are eligible and interested in participating, you will have an opportunity to learn more from our research coordinator.
Post-COVID-19 Program Research Coordinator:
How do I make an appointment?
Appointments with the Post-COVID-19 Program are available by referral only. Speak with your primary care provider to request a referral.
If you need assistance with getting a referral to UT Health Austin’s Post-COVID-19 Program, please call 1-833-UT-CARES (1-833-882-2737) and we will be happy to help.