Unexpected Illness and Medical Problems

If you are not feeling well between the hours of 8-5, Monday – Friday, please call the clinic at (205) 934-1917 and press Option 2 for the front desk. Ask to speak with the Sick Call Nurse of the Day. The nurse on call will speak with you about your health and determine what actions need to be taken. Do not call your regular clinic nurse as she may be in clinic and not able to return your call.

Assessing a Medical Emergency

Patients sometimes get sick between regular appointments, even when they get the best medical care available. Although this section cannot tell you every possible thing that can happen if you become ill, the Clinic doctors and nurses want you to call when there is a big change in the way you feel.

Some of the following acute conditions are of special concern and should be evaluated as soon as possible:

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fever that is uncontrolled with Tylenol
• Seizures or loss of consciousness
• Extreme headache
• Uncontrollable vomiting or diarrhea

During normal business hours of operation, call the Clinic nurse. If you experience a medical emergency at night or on a weekend, please call the UAB paging operator at (205) 934-3411.

Medical Care after Normal Hours

If you need to speak to someone about a medical problem outside regular office hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday), please call (205) 934- 3411 and ask to speak with the Infectious Disease Fellow on-call.

If for any reason you cannot reach the designated individual providing coverage, you should go to the Emergency Department at University Hospital, located on 18th Street South between 5th and 6th Avenues.