Updates on COVID-19

Current UTHealth Travel Rules

Please be aware that all UTHealth employees must complete a Travel Registration Form prior to any travel, whether it is international or domestic. All international travel is prohibited, and domestic travel is strongly discouraged. If you do travel outside of Texas, you may need to quarantine before returning to work, depending on where you visited.

To read more about UTHealth’s policies regarding travel and COVID-19 response, click here »

Masking Policies

Universal Masking policies are in full effect in all UTHealth campus buildings and clinics. All employees should be wearing a mask as they enter and work in UTHealth facilities.

It is important to understand that surgical masks and cloth masks are not considered respiratory protection – rather surgical masks and cloth masks are primarily intended to prevent you from dispersing respiratory droplets and to reduce the opportunity for you to touch your nose and mouth. Since COVID-19 may be transmitted while individuals are asymptomatic, wearing a surgical mask is another measure to help reduce the opportunity for community transmission.

To read more about this policy and see answers to Frequently Asked Questions, click here »

Stroke and COVID-19

UTHealth Neurosciences providers offer both inpatient and outpatient services for a wide array of neurologic disorders. Most of our staff is well aware of what goes on in our outpatient clinics, but our inpatient providers are sometimes unsung heroes! One of the most common emergent conditions that our inpatient team treats is stroke.

May is Stroke Month – a time to remind yourself of the indications of a stroke and to reflect on how important it is to seek immediate care for yourself or a loved one when exhibiting stroke symptoms. It’s easy to remember the symptoms that can help you quickly identify when someone is having a stroke; just remember to BE FAST.

Dr. Ritvij Bowry, a physician in the Neuro ICU, recently treated a patient that benefitted from our Neuro ICU stroke care. The patient’s brother called 911, but not for stroke symptoms – he called with concern about the patient’s respiratory symptoms from COVID-19.

When the EMS arrived at the man’s home, they noted his stroke symptoms immediately. He was admitted to the Neuro ICU and placed in a negative pressure room due to his positive COVID diagnosis. Because the patient had been self-quaraniting, he had not sought help for his stroke symptoms. Dr. Bowry began a course of treatment for both the stroke and COVID-19.

The patient stayed in the Neuro ICU under Dr. Bowry’s care for two weeks. The gentleman was eager to be discharged despite coping with his new, significant disability. The patient shared with Dr. Bowry that staying in the hospital was weighing heavily on his mind because he was anxious about having his small business closed, worried about his employees, and concerned about the costs of the medical care he was receiving without having insurance coverage.

Dr. Bowry’s team worked to find solutions to help the patient and were able to match him with an organization that provides charity home rehab services. Additionally, the care team ensured that the patient had multiple negative COVID tests, since he would be returning home to live with his elderly parents and his brother. He has recently been discharged and is recovering at home.

Patients often have a myriad of barriers to deal with after a stroke. COVID-19 and its consequences, unfortunately, add yet another major obstacle to their lives and transition back to their community. While treatment was successful for this patient, seeking care earlier could have helped ease the tumultuous road to recovery that he now faces.