University Health plays a unique role in Bexar County and South Texas. We are proud to be a resource for community and surrounding areas as we:

• care for the most critically ill and seriously injured adults and children as a Level I trauma center
• educate the next generation of medical providers as an academic medical center
• serve the region as a referral hospital for complex medical and surgical care

In partnership with UT Health San Antonio, we are consistently recognized as a leader in advanced treatment options, new technologies and clinical research.

  

University Hospital was designated as a High Performing Hospital in multiple specialties and procedures/conditions for 2024 by U.S. News & World Report. Since 2001, U.S. News has consistently ranked University Hospital among the best hospitals in Texas and the San Antonio region.

We are Bexar County and South Texas’ first health system to earn Magnet status. Only about 6 percent of U.S. hospitals have earned this prestigious designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Magnet hospitals offer patients reassurance they are being cared for by a team with a proven track record for providing excellent care and positive outcomes for their patients.

As one of the seven Texas members of America’s Essential Hospitals, we provide a complete range of medical services to the community. We play a critical role in regional disaster response, provide training to students in more than 50 healthcare professions, conduct research and help protect the public health.

YOUR ROOM

Each patient is provided a private room to ensure a comfortable and quite environment in which to heal. Your nurse will help you adjust your bed and provide additional blankets or pillows. We also provide plenty of space and furniture to accommodate guests and loved ones who wish to visit. Our staff will clean your room daily. If your room needs more attention, please ask your nurse to contact housekeeping or maintenance staff to address your requests.

CALLING YOUR NURSE

Your nurse will stop by your room about every hour to check on you. You may also press the call button attached to your bed at any time and your needs will be addressed by a member of your care team right away. At the start and end of each shift, your nurses will come into your room to discuss your condition and plan of care for the next shift. You may also be visited by a nurse manager to make sure that you are getting everything you need.

YOUR HEALTHCARE TEAM

Your care is being managed by an attending physician. You will also be seen by other members of that physician’s team or other specialty physicians during your stay. Other professionals who may make up your health care team are:

• Nurse technicians may take vital signs or provide other assistance to our Registered Nurses.
• Physical therapists, occupational therapists and/or speech therapists may be asked to consult by your physicians to help you get ready to continue your recovery after you leave our hospital.
• Case managers are nurses who help you with discharge planning, transfers to other facilities, arranging for home health care or medical equipment.
• Social workers can help with resources and referrals for funding and discharge needs.
• Chaplains are available to help you and your loved ones with any emotional or spiritual needs.

One of the primary missions of University Health is to teach the next generation of healthcare professionals.

During your visit, you may have students observing or providing part of your care under the supervision of their instructors, attending physician, or other employees qualified to do so. We appreciate your patience and guidance for these students. This experience helps them become the expert healthcare providers that we will need in the future.

University Health welcomes the presence and participation of loved ones and recognizes the therapeutic role they play in a patient’s healing. Visitors identified by a patient are permitted in most areas of the hospital 24/7. 

Each patient room has furniture that can accommodate one overnight visitor and the patient’s nurse can provide a pillow and blanket upon request. Guest food trays are available for purchase.

Guidelines for Visitors

Patients and their loved ones are encouraged to work with our doctors, nurses and staff to establish a visitor plan in the best interest of the patient. Please review the following guidelines:

• All visitors should practice good hand hygiene. Hands should be washed or sanitized before and after all patient contact. For your convenience, hand sanitizing gel is located outside each patient room and throughout the hospital.
• For your protection, if the patient’s room has “isolation” signage posted outside the door, please check with a nurse for instructions before entering the room.
• Always speak to the nurse before bringing any food for patients.
• If you think you may be sick, do not visit the patient until you are sure you are well.
• Smoking or vaping is not allowed on any University Health campus.

The number of visitors and length of visitation may be limited in specific care settings, such as intensive care units, pre-operative areas, surgical suites, post anesthesia recovery areas, and psychiatry units. Patients and visitors will be notified of these limits when they are admitted to one of these areas.

We respect the patient’s right to decide who visits and for how long at all times during their stay. Visitors may occasionally be asked to step out of the patient’s room so that staff can care for the patient.

Visitor restrictions can be put in place as needed to protect the health and safety of a patient for reasons including:

• Patient’s request
• Patients in custody of law enforcement
• Infection control concerns
• Intoxication or unruly behavior
• Interference with patient care, privacy, or rest

For privacy reasons, visitors may not photograph or record patients, staff or other visitors without permission.

Patient safety is our first priority. Everyone plays a vital role in providing quality patient care, including our staff, patients and visitors. Here are a few things you can do to help us keep you safe:

• If you have valuables with you, please give them to a friend or family member for safekeeping or ask your nurse to secure your items in our admissions closet. Your valuables will be returned to you upon discharge.
• Ask questions and make sure you understand the answers. It can be helpful to have a relative or friend with you to help with this.
• Make sure your doctor knows all the medicines you take, including nonprescription medicines and supplements. Tell us about drug allergies you have and ask about side effects of any new medicines.
• Ask for identification of everyone who enters your room.
• Ask anyone who enters your room to wash their hands.
• If you need help standing or getting to the bathroom, call for a nurse.
• Express any concerns you have about your care right away, so that they can be addressed

This document serves to inform you of your rights and responsibilities as a patient at University Health. If you are unable to exercise any or all of these rights, Texas law requires that your guardian, next of kin or legally authorized representative may exercise these rights on your behalf.

University Health prohibits discrimination based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.

Discrimination is against the law. University Health complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

University Health does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. University Health values the diversity and inclusion of our patients, their visitors, employees, physicians, volunteers, students and others.

LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE

University Health provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as:

• Qualified sign language interpreters
• Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formations, other formats)

Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as:

• Qualified interpreters
• Written information in other languages

If you feel Language Assistance Services have been denied, please call the Patient Relations Department at 210-358-0600.

If you believe that University Health has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with:

University Health Patient Relations Department
4502 Medical Dr., MS# 126-1
San Antonio, Texas 78229

Phone: 210-358-0600
Fax: 210-358-4460
Relay Texas: 711
Email: Patient.Relations@uhtx.com

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal. hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf, or by mail or phone at:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, D.C. 20201
1-877-696-6775, 800-537-7697 (TDD)

University Health is committed to keeping patient information private. It is essential for everyone to be respectful of the privacy of patients at all times. In support and consideration of privacy, please do not photograph or record patients, staff or visitors without permission. Anyone using social media is also encouraged to be responsible when posting information, particularly about sensitive topics such as a patient’s diagnosis or prognosis.

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

If, at any time, you have questions about information in this Notice or about our privacy policies, procedures or practices, you may contact the University Health HIPAA Officer at 210-743-6540 or HIPAAOfficer@uhtx.com.

Advance directives are written, legal documents that describe your wishes about your future health care. They can provide your loved ones and healthcare providers with instructions on how to best care for you allow if you are unable to communicate. Types of advance directive documents include Medical Power of Attorney, Directive to Physicians, and Out-of- Hospital Do Not Resuscitate orders.

What is a Medical Power of Attorney (mPOA)?

A medical power of attorney document is a legal document that allows you to choose and designate someone who will make medical decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself. The person you designate cannot make any medical decisions for you until you cannot make them yourself.

Who should I choose to be my mPOA?

Several things you should consider in this important decision about the person you choose:

• Are they someone you trust?
• Can they make difficult decisions in a stressful or emotional situation?
• Do they know you well and understand what’s important to you?
• Have you talked with them about what your wishes would be?
• Are they willing to accept the responsibility of making medical decisions for you?

How will my mPOA know what decisions to make?

It is very important that you share your wishes about your future medical care with your medical power of attorney early and often. This will help your medical power of attorney honor your wishes. You should also share this information with your physician and with loved ones who are involved in your care so they can support the decisions of your medical power of attorney.

What is a Directive to Physicians?

A Directive to Physician document is a legal document that allows you to put in writing your wishes about your future medical treatment in case you are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness or injury. This document helps your loved ones and healthcare providers know your wishes related to administering, withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining treatment when you are not able to tell them yourself.

When is the best time to complete advance directives?

Any time is a good time to complete an advance directive. Think of it as insurance: You hope you don’t have to use it, but if you become unable to speak for yourself, your advance directive provides your loved ones and your health care providers with a means to know your wishes about your medical treatment.

What happens after I complete advance directives?

At University Hospital, you will keep the original of all of your documents. We will make as many copies as you need, and we will keep a copy as part of your electronic medical record. You and your mPOA should each keep a copy in a safe and secure location where you can get to it if you need it, and you should share a copy with your primary care doctor.

How do I complete advance directives?

While at University Hospital, you can tell your nurse that you want to complete an advance directive, and your nurse will then make a referral to Care Coordination or Pastoral Care for assistance in completing a Medical Power of Attorney. If you want to complete a Directive to Physician or Out of-Hospital DNR, your nurse will notify the attending physician and make a referral to Palliative Care for assistance in completing the document.

Receive hospital-level care in the comfort and convenience of your home

Hospital at Home is a program that allows some patients to receive hospital-level care in their homes. Patients with certain conditions previously managed only during an inpatient hospital stay now have an option to be cared for in the comfort and convenience of their home.

Who can receive hospital-level care at home?

• If you and your doctor agree that Hospital at Home is right for you and your treatment plan, we will provide you with the tools necessary for your care.
• At this time, this option is only available for patients who live in certain areas of Bexar County.

What is the difference between treatment at home and staying in the hospital?

• You will receive the same excellent care at home as you would receive in the hospital, including medications, lab tests, physical and/or occupational therapy and oxygen therapy.
• Many patients who choose Hospital at Home say being cared for at home allows the, to be more comfortable and get more rest.

What is the cost of Hospital at Home?

• Hospital at Home care is provided to you at no additional cost. Your cost will be based on the care you receive and your insurance plan. While in the Hospital at Home program, a hospital care kit with medical equipment will be provided to you. These items must be returned after you are discharged from the program.

Can I leave my home while in the program?

• Just as if you were staying in the hospital, the level of activity you are permitted will depend on your individual condition and overall health. To ensure your safety, we ask that you stay home during your Hospital at Home admission. Your doctor will let you know when you may resume regular activities.

Founded in 1984, University Health Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing innovative practices and discoveries to the forefront of medicine. By bringing together partners and donors via philantrophy, together we are influencing long-term solutions that benefit the health and well-being of the communities we serve.

As our communities continue to grow, the patient populations that we serve will continue to grow. We are committed to improving the lives of these patients, families and communities by funding transformative care—saving and impacting more lives by advancing equity, access, and improved outcomes.

You can watch how theact of generosity leads the way to exceptional care—driven by innovation, compassion, excellence, collaboration and sustainability. This is the type of work that University Health Foundation proudly supports. We invite you to join the cause. To learn how you, your family, or business can become a partner in change, you can contact us at 210-358-9860 or foundation@uhtx.com.

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If you have a great story about the care you received at University Health, please let us know. You can email us at Corporate.Communications@uhtx.com