University of Texas at Austin

International Office

UT Family and Community Programs

Health Care

In this section you will find information about what to do if you or your family needs to go to the hospital, and information about immunization services. It is a good idea to check out the procedures before you get sick. You may find more information about insurance under the section called "Insurance."

If you need to go to the hospital

First of all, you must have health insurance and see to that before you go. Students are automatically billed for health insurance by the university and the family may also be included in the policy (MEGA Students Health Insurance). You can get more information from Insurance Advisor Louise Donnell, LouiseD@mail.utexas.edu, in the International Office.

When you buy insurance, you will receive an ID card and an information booklet. Always carry your ID card with you. If students are sick they may use the University Health Services. Dependents cannot, so they will have to turn to a doctor or hospital outside campus. If you have the Student Health Insurance, call Student Insurance Division (EFG) at 1-800-767-0700 and ask for preferred providers (PPO), doctors whose fees the insurance company will reimburse you for at the highest rate. You can also find this information in the information booklet about your insurance policy. If you have private insurance or insurance from your home country, it's the same procedure. Call your insurance company or find the preferred providers in the insurance information.

At the doctor's office or hospital, they may ask you to pay for medical services received.

Before you pay:

If you have paid a bill yourself:

Victory Medical & Family Care
4303 Victory Drive
Austin, TX 78704
462-3627
Hours:
M-F 8am - 7pm
Sat 9am - 5pm
Sun 1pm - 5pm
You can call before coming for an appointment, or just walk in.

Austin Regional Clinic on Far West
6835 Austin Center Blvd.
Austin, TX 78731
346-661
Regular hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 5:00 pm.
Access to Health Care 24 Hours

A convenient alternative when you cannot get a same-day appointment with your own physician for an urgent health problem. Call 346-6611 to make an appointment. It is open for patients 12 months of age and over. They accept UT insurance plans as well as self-pay.

An urgent health problem is any minor emergency that must be addressed immediately, such as accidents and falls, cuts and bruises, sprains, colds and flu, ear infections, fever and minor burns. After regular office hours - if you need health care at night or on the weekend, call Austin Regional Clinic's After Hours Clinic at 346-6611.
There are ARC family practice and pediatric doctors in the After Hours Clinic who are available for advice or an appointment. The After Hours Clinic is for non-critical appointments -- those symptoms that can not wait
until the next day when your regular doctor's office is open. Examples include a child with a high fever (103 F), fractures, deep lacerations, vomiting and/or diarrhea for more than 24 hours, and contagious diseases.
If the condition is more complex, there are specialists on call who can be called in to assess and treat as needed.

The After Hours Clinic is open seven days a week until 9:00 p.m. for appointments.
Pediatric Care: Monday - Friday 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
Family Practice: Monday - Friday 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
Weekend Hours: Saturday and Sunday - 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

In the middle of the night -- it's 2 a.m. and your child is very ill; what do you do? You call the After Hours number, 346-6611. Your call will go to the Medical Exchange, who will call the Night Triage nurse. He/she will call you at home and together you will decide on the most appropriate course of action -- page the doctor on call, direct you to the emergency room, offer home care suggestions (if appropriate), or have the doctor call in a prescription for you. If the on-call doctor suggests that you follow up with your regular doctor the next business day, the night triage nurse can make the appointment for you. The night triage nurses are very experienced nurses and are available to help you whenever you call!

For emergencies, call 911 - in the event of an extreme emergency (life-or limb-threatening), call EMS (911) or go directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.


Immunization Requirements for Children

To attend school your child must have record of current immunizations. Austin Independent School District, AISD, has the following requirements for children and these are the minimum requirements according to Texas state law.

DTP/TaP. Four doses required through age six. One dose must be in the month before, month of, or after the fourth birthday; no pertussis required after age five; TD every ten years after age four booster. Three doses required age seven and older; remaining requirements same as above.

Polio. Three doses required; one dose must be the month before, month of, or after fourth birthday; not required for age 18 and older.

Measles. Two doses required; one dose on or after first birthday (measles/MMR vaccine prior to date of first birthday not acceptable by state); second dose before fifth birthday (includes birth dates on/after 9/2/92). A physician-validation (serologic confirmation) of measles illness will substitute for the vaccine requirement.

Mumps. One dose required on or after first birthday (mumps/MMR vaccine prior to date of first birthday not acceptable by state). A physician's validation (serologic confirmation) of mumps illness will substitute for the vaccine requirements.

Rubella. One dose required on or after first birthday (rubella/MMR prior to date of first birthday not acceptable by state). Serologic confirmation of rubella disease or immunity will substitute for the rubella vaccine requirement; a physician-validation of rubella illness will not substitute for the vaccine requirements.

Tubercolosis Skin Test. One tuberculosis test (usually a skin test called PPD or Tine) with date and reading is required by AISD; any advance time prior to enrollment is acceptable. Students with positive tests (10mm/above) must show proof of evaluation. Tine tests must be read/validated by physician/clinic/school nurse. Cards for family reading are not acceptable.

Hepatitis B: Three doses are required for all students age five years and older who are born on or after 9/2/92.

All such histories and/or serologic confirmations must be verified by a physician’s written statement including the month, date and year.

New students entering from another school system: Immunizations must be started and/or completed. Students who have medical exemptions must have the exemptions reviewed annually by a medical doctor, or be unable to receive immunization due to a lifelong medical problem as per physician’s written statement.

If you want more information, go to www.tdh.state.tx.us/immunize/schmain.htm.

Make an appointment with your doctor or call one of these clinics for more information. At People's Community Clinic, they have free routine childhood immunizations. Call to confirm availability or pricing for adult vaccinations. At St. John Community Center they have walk-ins on Saturday only. Appointments required Monday through Friday.

Other Resources

WIC
WIC is the special supplemental nutrition program for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum Women, Infants and Children (WIC) up to five years old. WIC provides monthly coupons that you can exchange for nutritious food at area grocery stores. Individual and group nutrition education classes, breastfeeding education and support. Free immunizations for children. Referral to health services. To qualify for WIC you must meet their income guidelines and you must have a nutritional need. Find your nearest clinic and income guidelines at www.ci.austin.tx.us/health/hep_wic.htm. WIC Administration can be reached at (512) 972-4942.

Free information and referrals
211 is the telephone number to free information and referrals to health and human services. By calling 211 you can get connected with critical health and human services provided by nonprofit organizations and government agencies in your own community. 211 is a service for elderly people, people with disabilities, non-English speakers, anyone coping with a crisis or even just people new to the community who may have difficulty navigating the complex and ever-growing maze of human service agencies and programs. You can visit their web site at www.211.org.

Medical Library
If you go to www.medem.com/MedLb/medlib_entry.cfm, you will find a medical library from the American Medical Association.

Where to look
If you need a phone number for a certain hospital, look up "Hospital"s in the blue pages or in the yellow pages of the phonebook.