December 9, 2019
For the past two years, increasing access to care has been one of the central goals across the Texas Children’s system, resulting in several new programs and initiatives.
The most recent example was on December 2, when the Department of Surgery took yet another major stride in its effort to provide patients and families with even more access to Texas Children’s surgical care through the launch of the new After Hours Clinic for Surgical Care.
The After Hours Clinic is now open Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., on the eighth floor of Mark A. Wallace Tower, and is staffed by the Surgical APP Hospitalist Team, which currently cares for surgical patients in the Texas Children’s Emergency Center (EC) and inpatient areas.
This clinic provides access to care for post-surgical patients or those who need to be seen quickly for a large range of non-emergency or non-urgent medical issues.
“There are many situations, particularly in the early postoperative period, in which parents feel the need to have a surgical provider evaluate their child,” said Texas Children’s Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Larry Hollier. “Often this is just for reassurance or to provide additional instructions or guidance. The After Hours Clinic is designed primarily for families who feel they cannot wait to be seen until the following day.”
In addition to convenient clinic hours, patients and families will benefit from the relative low cost of clinic visits compared with visits to the EC or to urgent care. Usually a visit to the After Hours Clinic will cost the same as a regular clinic visit; and for post-surgical patients, it may even be covered within the global period.
Staff within surgical divisions can directly schedule patients to the After Hours Clinic in Epic. And in the coming months, pediatricians and families will be able to schedule as well by calling 832-822-2778.
After Hours Clinic for Surgical Care FAQs
When: Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Mark A. Wallace Tower, eighth floor
Who is eligible?
- New patients
- Postop patients
- Established patients
What types of conditions are treated?
- All postoperative concerns
- All wound concerns
- Minor burns
- Cast and splint issues (e.g., pain, swelling, wet or loose casts/splints)
- Suture, staple or glue concerns
- Cellulitis
- Hair tourniquet
- Gastrostomy button concerns
- Foreskin concerns (e.g., balanitis, phimosis)
- Fingernail infection (e.g., felon, paronychia)
- Non-displaced fractures (bones are still in proper alignment)
- Superficial lacerations (do not extend into the muscle or have exposed bone)
- Ear and nose foreign body removal
What kinds of patients should be sent to an EC?
- Patients who need EC resources, such as CT scans, sedation, etc.
- Congenital heart patients
- Patients with Ophthalmology concerns
- Patients with Neurosurgical concerns
Who sees the patients?
Surgical Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) on the dedicated Surgical APP Hospitalist Team. The Surgical APP Hospitalist Team is cross trained in Pediatric General Surgery, ENT, Urology, Orthopedics and Plastic Surgery. While surgeons and physicians are not physically present during clinic hours, they will be contacted as appropriate.
How is a visit to the After Hours Clinic for Surgical Care different from a Same Day/A+ Clinic Appointment?
These are patients with a surgical concern who would otherwise go to the emergency room.
How does a patient get on the clinic schedule?
Surgery clinic staff, schedulers and/or ambulatory service representatives can directly schedule patients into an after-hour visit type in Epic. The templates will have 20-minute time slots starting at 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Who can I contact with questions or for additional information about the clinic?
For additional information about the After Hours Clinic for Surgical Care, please contact Kris Marsack or Susannah Ferguson.