UCA continues its efforts to keep the safety of our patients and team members as our highest priority.  In order to comply with the order from the Jefferson County Department of Health most recent order, “Effective immediately, all elective dental and medical procedures shall be delayed until April 6, 2020. Prior to April 6, 2020, a determination shall be made [by the Jefferson County Department of Health] about whether to extend this provision.”, beginning Monday, March 23 – April 6^th, UCA will make the following operational changes.

Beginning Monday, March 23^rd, our Homewood, Alabaster, and Trussville locations will remain open daily. UCA Women’s Center, Princeton, and UAB West will be open only on days when a physician is present (schedules will vary over the next few weeks).  Our Grandview and St. Vincent’s Birmingham offices will be closed.

All non-emergent on-site office visits and surgeries will be cancelled until April 6^th. Our team of providers will be reviewing each case individually to determine if a patient can wait until after April 6^th.  We are working with local hospitals and urgent cares to alleviate urological emergency visits as they continue to see and/or admit patients with COVID19.  By leaving our appointment types open for these emergent cases, we are doing our part to continue to serve the community.   Below are examples of emergent visit types that can be seen in office:

• Symptomatic Kidney stones
• Symptomatic Gross Hematuria (Blood in urine)
• Urinary Retention (unable to urinate)
• UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) with Severe Symptoms. Physician will determine if the patient needs to be seen and if a culture is needed.
• Certain scrotal or testicular issues. Examples are scrotal abscesses and Testicular Torsion (twisted testicles).  Physician will use their discretion if patient needs to be sent to the ER.
• Priapism – persistent and painful erection of the penis.
• Penile Fracture

If there is any other urologic issue that you feel you need to seek urgent treatment for, please contact our office.

Patients that have already started Radiation Therapy will continue treatment.  At this time, we will not be starting any new radiation patients. UCA will continue some BCG and Gemcitabine treatments but no new starts during this period. We will continue to see some Oncology patients in office during this period.

Examples of procedures we feel can be safely delayed for the next two weeks are:  Botox, ADT Therapy, Vasectomies, Urolift, Fiducials (Gold Seed), Biopsies, Urodynamics, PTNS, Testosterone, and Testopel, to name a few.  Please note our secretaries are diligently making phone calls to patients with these procedures on the schedule to get them moved.

To continue to provide the quality care you expect from UCA and the UCA Women’s Centers, we will continue to offer telemedicine visits to our patients.  You may request an appointment, using our online form – https://www.urologycentersalabama.com/telemedicine/