How to Prepare for Your UPMC Visit

Disclaimer: At UPMC HealthBeat, we strive to provide the most up-to-date facts in our stories when we publish them. We also make updates to our content as information changes. However, education about COVID-19 can shift quickly based on new data, emerging variants, or other factors. The information in this story was accurate as of its publish date. We also encourage you to visit other reliable websites for updated information, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and your state and local governments. 

At UPMC, we are fully committed to keeping our patients, staff, and community safe from COVID-19. We also are committed to providing the care our patients need.

It’s safe to make a doctor’s appointment and undergo a procedure. And you can do your part to keep everyone safe, too. Before coming to UPMC, you can take a few steps to make sure your appointment goes as smoothly as possible.

Never Miss a Beat!

Get Healthy Tips Sent to Your Phone!

Message and data rates may apply. Text the word STOP to opt out and HELP for help. Click here to view the privacy and terms.

What Should I Do Before My Appointment?

You can schedule your appointment by calling your doctor’s office or the UPMC Referral Line (1-800-533-8762) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Before the day of your appointment, make a plan for your visit, including arranging a ride if necessary. If you do need a ride, please note that UPMC is currently restricting visitors except in rare circumstances.

If you have questions about your doctor’s check-in process and other procedures, you should call in advance of your appointment. A staff member can provide you with the information you need to prepare for your visit.

Find Out How UPMC Primary Care Is Keeping You Safe

What Should I Wear to My UPMC Visit?

Following guidelines from local and state health authorities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UPMC requires everyone — including patients, essential visitors, and staff — entering one of our hospitals or facilities to wear a facemask.

If you do not have a face covering, we will provide a facemask for you before you can enter the building. The facemask should be worn throughout the facility and is mandatory in clinical and high-traffic areas.

What Else Should I Know Before My Visit?

To limit the spread of infection, we may recommend our patients not wait for their appointment in the waiting room. When you arrive at the facility for your appointment, we may ask that you remain in your vehicle.

Call the doctor’s office to let staff know of your arrival and to check in for your appointment. We will call or text you when it’s time for you to come in, and a staff member will guide you to your appointment.

You will also be screened for COVID-19 symptoms and/or exposure prior to your appointment.

More than ever, we’re working to protect you — and care for you. You can count on us.

About UPMC

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, UPMC is a world-renowned health care provider and insurer. We operate 40 hospitals and 800 doctors’ offices and outpatient centers, with locations throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, and internationally. We employ 4,900 physicians, and we are leaders in clinical care, groundbreaking research, and treatment breakthroughs. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside as one of the nation’s best hospitals in many specialties and ranks UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on its Honor Roll of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals. We are dedicated to providing Life Changing Medicine to our communities.