ARA Response to Coronavirus

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COVID-19 vaccines are not available to the public at ARA and ARA will not be serving as a distribution point for vaccines.

The ARA team is here for Central Texas.

When you visit our facilities

In order to assist in minimizing the spread of the COVID-19 in our community, we have made adjustments to our care processes. This includes screening patients and employees, enhanced cleaning services, and limiting visitors to the imaging centers.

Imaging center patient guidelines

Patients and staff will be surveyed upon entry for COVID-19 to ensure anyone entering is not at high risk for COVID-19 infection.

ARA will image all patients of all ages, even those experiencing fever with respiratory symptoms that are not suspected to be related to COVID-19. Exceptions are when a patient is:
- Positive for COVID-19 and has NOT completed the set recovery timeframe/criteria, which are:
  - 10 days after symptom onset or, if asymptomatic, 10 days after positive test results.
  - Resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of medication.
  - Improvement of other COVID-19 symptoms.
- Pending COVID-19 test results due to COVID-19 symptoms.
  - If pending test results are due to a requirement not related to COVID-19 (i.e. pre-surgery requirement), the patient will be imaged.
If patients are unable to be imaged at ARA due to the above COVID-19 scenarios, our staff will refer them to their primary care provider or a hospital for imaging.
All employees and patients are required to wear a mask. If you have your own mask, please wear it. For the safety of all, please do not wear bandanas, neck gaiters, or masks with valves.

Symptoms

Mild to severe symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

This list is not all possible symptoms. Other less common symptoms have been reported.

Visitor rules and caregiver screening

The imaging center lobby/waiting rooms are fully open. In order to allow seating for all patients and essential visitors/caregivers, we have made the following changes:

Any visitors who are not essential caregivers will be asked to remain outside the imaging center in the car. Exceptions are:
- Pediatric patients will be permitted to bring two parent visitors.
- Obstetric ultrasound patients will be permitted to bring one non-essential visitor.
- Breast Imaging consult patients are allowed one non-essential visitor.
- Evening exam patients are allowed non-essential visitors after 6pm.
Essential caregivers and approved visitors will be screened.

Imaging center status

All ARA imaging centers are currently open.

Austin Center Boulevard & Austin Center Boulevard Women’s Imaging	OPEN
Cedar Park & Cedar Park Women’s Imaging	OPEN
Children’s Imaging	OPEN
Dripping Springs	OPEN
Georgetown	OPEN
Kyle & Kyle Women’s Imaging	OPEN
Georgetown	OPEN
Manor	OPEN
Medical Park Tower	OPEN
Midtown/Austin Vein Center	OPEN
Quarry Lake	OPEN
Manor	OPEN
San Marcos	OPEN
Southwest Medical Village	OPEN
Southwood	OPEN
Westlake	OPEN
William Cannon	OPEN
Wilson Parke	OPEN

ARA Women’s Imaging Center at 38th and Jefferson is permanently closed. Please visit our updated Women’s Imaging Center at Austin Center Boulevard.

ARA screening exams:

Screening mammography
Bone densitometry
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
CT: Virtual colonography, CT calcium scoring, CT lung screening
Ultrasound: Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening, EVLT varicose vein screening, breast screening
MRI: Abbreviated breast MRI, MRA abdomen with elastography

We strongly encourage you to make your appointment now if you have put off your screening exam because of COVID-19. ARA has special protocols in place to keep you safe (see above) and you should take care of your health. Schedule your mammogram or ultrasound online now if you are a current ARA patient or call us at (512)453-6100 to talk to a representative.

A note from the Society of Breast Imaging about mammograms and the COVID-19 vaccine

Some women who receive the COVID-19 vaccine develop swollen lymph nodes under their arm on the same side as their vaccine injection. This is a normal reaction that subsides after a few weeks. However, since swollen lymph nodes are one sign of breast cancer, you may want to schedule your mammogram before your vaccine or wait at least 4 weeks after your second dose. If swollen lymph nodes are seen on your mammogram, your ARA breast imager may ask you to return for more imaging. Both your mammogram and your vaccine are very important for your health. If you are already overdue for your mammogram, please don’t postpone it because of your vaccine appointment. Get more information from the Society for Breast Imaging here.