Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information and FAQs

Yes. In addition to in-person visits, we are also offering video visits, which allow you to see and talk with your provider through the camera on your phone or your computer to assess your condition and discuss a course of treatment. If you have an upcoming appointment with your provider, you may be contacted to set up a video visit.  In some cases, we still need to see you in person and, if so, we will do everything to ensure your safety.

In addition to video visits, you can also connect with your provider remotely through e-visits or online second opinions.

Virtual visits are not for emergencies. If you have an urgent medical need, call 911 or visit your nearest emergency department or urgent care facility. All patients who are able should utilize their online patient portal (MyChart or Ingalls Care Connection) to communicate with their care teams.

One unintentional consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic is that many patients have delayed receiving needed care as they followed “stay-at-home” orders.

With the pandemic expected to last for several more months, patients can no longer delay receiving needed care for cancer, heart disease and chronic illnesses, including necessary lab work, imaging and other diagnostic tests.

If you and your physician determine that your condition requires a visit to our medical center in Hyde Park or one of our outpatient clinics for follow-up care or diagnostic testing, such as imaging or blood work, we have implemented a number of new policies to keep you safe. To continue serving all of our patients, UChicago Medicine has gone above and beyond state and national standards to protect patients’ health and safety while they receive medical care.  

Absolutely. Your safety and the safety of our staff is our highest priority, and we have implemented a number of practices to ensure you can get the high-quality care you need. 

• Our healthcare workers have been fully supplied with highly effective personal protective equipment (PPE) and trained in its use in order to protect our patients and themselves. We are also requiring employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
• We have dedicated spaces for treating coronavirus cases that are separate from the general patient population.
• Staff, patients and visitors are required to participate in masking in certain areas to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• All employees and patients are instructed to follow the Centers for Disease and Control guidelines for social distancing of remaining 6 feet apart, including in waiting areas.
• Staff are also minimizing the time patients spend in waiting areas. This means patients will either be brought directly into patient rooms or, at some locations, patients will be checked in by phone in their car and asked to come when their exam room is ready. In the event a waiting room must be used, seats are spaced out to maintain social distancing.
• In addition, clinics are performing the normal check-out process and follow-up scheduling by phone to avoid patients congregating in waiting areas.

We have a long history of continuously enhancing and improving our medical center’s safety systems and protocols. This practice has enabled us to care for patients with COVID-19 safely and effectively while still meeting our community’s needs for a wide range of other medical services. In fact, our clinical teams’ skill in providing the safest level of care was recognized nationally this spring when the University of Chicago Medical Center was awarded its 19th consecutive “A” grade for patient safety by the healthcare watchdog Leapfrog Group. We are the only medical center in Chicago to have achieved this record of consecutive “A” safety ratings and one of only 27 hospitals nationwide.

First and foremost, if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 — which include fever, muscle and body aches, cough and sore throat — stay at home, self-isolate and rest. You may also be able to be tested for the virus at a curbside testing clinic by going through a telephone triage or electronic screening process.

Monitor your temperature and drink plenty of fluids. Continue to wash your hands often, disinfect frequently touched surfaces in your home and stay away from other people as much as possible. If your condition worsens, reach out to your doctor. This is particularly important if you experience more severe symptoms, are over 60, or have additional health issues. People with hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes, who have weak immune systems, who smoke, with underlying lung disease, or who take medicines to suppress their immune systems because they have cancer or an autoimmune condition are at higher risk for COVID-19.

You’ll need to stay home for 72 hours after you recover.

Testing is available for those with COVID-19 symptoms, which include fever, cough, stuffy nose, sinus pain, difficulty breathing, inability to smell or taste and body aches. However, you must be screened before you can be tested. Call our screening hotline or complete a MyChart screening questionnaire. Our providers will determine if you are eligible to be tested.

COVID-19 testing is not available without an appointment. Swab collection visits typically take several minutes to complete. You will receive information on how to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms after your visit and will get follow-up phone calls with your test results in one to two days.

See our full screening information and patient education packets.

In response to a decline in demand for PCR COVID testing, UChicago Medicine will close its outside curbside (drive-through) testing operations in Hyde Park on Monday, October 3, 2022. COVID-19 testing will still be available inside our Care Transitions Clinic (CTC).

The hospital and emergency room should be used by people who are concerned about life-threatening symptoms, such as trouble breathing and chest pain. If you’re just a little bit sick, the best thing you can do is self-isolate and try to keep the virus from spreading to others. You should also get test for COVID-19. 

If you are over 60 and have other chronic medical problems in addition to less-severe symptoms of the virus, you should consider contacting your doctor to see if they recommend you go to the emergency room.

Yes. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visitor restrictions are in place at this time. Limited exceptions will be granted on a case-by-case basis. We recommend calling ahead and checking with your patient's clinical team.

These visitation restrictions will continue until our infectious diseases experts, in consultation with state and city public health officials, determine it is safe to resume hospital visitation on a limited basis.

See all COVID-19 visitor policy changes.

UChicago Medicine is adhering to masking practices for all patients, visitors and staff.

• Masks are optional in non-clinical buildings, and specific non-clinical areas that are behind closed doors and away from patient and visitor population (e.g. workrooms, breakrooms, offices, meeting rooms) throughout the health system.
• Employees, visitors and patients are required to wear masks for patient care and when in areas where patients or visitors access, such as hallways, elevators, waiting rooms, lobbies and team/nursing stations.
• Masks with vents are not allowed.

Social Distancing Requirements

• All healthcare workers, non-clinical support staff and all other employees are required to practice social distancing and maintain a distance of 6 feet from each other unless they are wearing a full complement of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and are delivering care to a patient.
• All patients and visitors are required to practice social distancing while in our clinics and hospitals.
• Waiting rooms have been rearranged so that chairs are 6 feet apart. 
• Patient check-ins and check-outs are now being done remotely.
• When possible, patients are asked to wait in their cars until they are called on their cellphone for their appointment. Patients will then be escorted directly to the exam room, bypassing the waiting room.

Patients in need of medical care can continue to travel to UChicago Medicine from states on the city's City of Chicago's emergency travel order quarantine list. However, patients from the city's list of high-risk states may have additional visitor limitations for portions of their hospitalizations.

In our outpatient clinics, patients returning from travel to high-risk states and international travel will continue to receive care in scheduled clinical areas provided they wear masks as required and follow our current policies. All patients will be screened at building entrances and those with COVID-19 symptoms will be referred to our Care Transitions Clinic.

All clinical care areas are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after every patient encounter. This has been UChicago Medicine’s practice long before the COVID-19 pandemic because of our commitment to providing the safest patient environment. 

In addition to keeping the entire medical center clean, our teams use products proven to sanitize rooms in between patients. In addition, there are dedicated staff working in areas where patients with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 are receiving care, which helps limit the spread of the virus.

Yes. Our surgeons are offering virtual video and telephone visits to help you plan for upcoming operations, answer your questions and prepare you for in-person visits to the medical center. Use the below link to find more information on each surgical specialty area.

Department of Surgery COVID-19 information

Valet Parking 

Valet parking is available, and the valet team is taking extra safety precautions, including:

• Wearing protective masks and gloves,
• Installing protective seat and floor board covers to all valet vehicles,
• Disinfecting all vehicle touch point,
• Changing gloves and washing hands between parking and delivery of each vehicle, and
• Social distancing throughout the valet process.

Self Parking

Self-parking options in Garages A and B are available. There are also free street parking options on the nearby Midway Plaisance.

Directions and parking garage information

Yes. Visit our dining options page to learn more about on-campus eateries. Please note: some options may only be available for carry out. 

Yes. For hours and location info, visit our pharmacy support and information page.