Patient Safety During the Pandemic

Yale Medicine remains committed to delivering first-rate medical care in the safest setting possible. Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial that people who require medical care still see their providers and get treatment. We have introduced a set of safeguards, all designed to keep our patients, visitors, and staff safe from exposure to the coronavirus.

This FAQ details the precautions Yale Medicine is taking to ensure a safe environment at all of our medical facilities.

Yale Medicine specialists are caring for COVID-19 patients and are conducting clinical research to learn more about the disease and how to treat it. Whether you are a patient, a family member or just gathering information, this page is a resource to provide information you need about COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and your options for medical care.

We encourage all Yale Medicine and Yale New Haven Health System patients to sign up for MyChart, a secure online portal that gives you access to portions of your electronic medical record. Not only does it allow you to manage and receive information about your health, it also enables telehealth visits (by phone or video), which is how Yale Medicine specialists are delivering most care not related to COVID-19.

Our Yale Medicine/Yale New Haven Health COVID-19 Call Center offers information on how to keep yourself and your family healthy. Health professionals are available to answer your questions, seven days a week, 7 am – 7 pm. Call 203-688-1700.

If you have concerns about symptoms and exposure, you should first contact your primary care doctor. Your primary care doctor can facilitate a specimen collection at a Yale New Haven Health System site, if needed.

COVID-19 has killed millions of people, and it has disproportionately affected communities of color. The good news is that we now have safe and effective vaccines that have been granted emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Getting more than 75% of the population vaccinated is our best chance of stopping the spread of the virus and ending this public health crisis. Get the vaccine to protect yourself, your family, and your community. Here are some frequently asked questions about the vaccines—and answers to them

• FAQ about COVID-19 vaccination