Schleicher County Family Clinic

Our family clinic offers a variety of services to take care of the whole family and is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with administrative staff being available from 12 to 1 p.m. for your convenience; however, each provider has a different schedule so for your convenience please call for an appointment. One physician and two physician assistants are here to serve your medical needs. Among the services we offer are annual check-ups, athletic physicals and well-child exams, sick visits, blood pressure maintenance and care, diabetes maintenance and care, blood thinner management, allergy injections, arthritis and orthopedic care, smoking cessation programs and Texas Health Steps exams and child vaccinations.

Emergency Room

The emergency room at Schleicher County Medical Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is staffed with highly-trained physicians, physician assistants and nurses certified in Advanced Trauma Life-Saving (ATLS). Designated as a Level IV Trauma Center by the state of Texas, our emergency room features a staff ready to respond quickly and compassionately to any medical emergency. We are also supported by dedicated emergency medical technicians (EMT), ambulance and fire department personnel.

Outpatient Services (Radiology, Laboratory, IV Therapy, Physical Therapy)

SCMC provides a wide array of outpatient services including abdominal and renal ultrasounds, carotid and echocardiogram studies, CT scans, full-body bone density scan, vascular screening, Procrit shots,  I.V. therapy, physical therapy and laboratory testing.  The results from these tests are delivered to your primary care doctor or specialist, no matter where they are located.

Our physical therapy department provides care to individuals who suffer from movement and functional difficulties from aging, disease, injury or environmental factors.  Our dedicated physical therapy staff works closely with the patient, their family and the physician to develop a plan that helps restore physical function and overall fitness. We accept orders from your physician or our providers.

We accept orders via fax at 325-853-3166 and patients may register with admissions in the business office.  

Radiology

Our radiology department offers a wide-range of X-ray and radiology services, including bone density testing, CAT scans, Doppler testing echocardiograms, as well as chest, head, spine and extremity X-rays in its radiographic room. 

CAT Scan (CT)

CAT scans use radiation going in a circle around a person. After the information is gathered from the X-rays a computer then puts the image together for viewing. The physics of this technology allows the physician to see the body in slices. This kind of exam takes more radiation but the images allow a better look at things that cannot be seen on regular diagnostic X-rays. CAT scans usually cost more because of the expensive technology, expertise of the operator, and work involved in doing a procedure. The computer allows the operator to manipulate the data in multiple ways so that different body parts can be looked at better by the physician. Many times a patient will already have finished and left before the procedure is done.

Diagnostic (X-rays)

Routine diagnostic exams use radiation aimed at a person with a digital plate, behind them. The image is made by any X-rays making it all the way through the body without hitting anything. The resulting image is stored on a computer so it can be reviewed by the physician.

Ultrasound (Sonogram)

Ultrasound uses sonic waves on a person like a submarine uses sonar in the ocean. The sonic waves go through the body and bounce back to the hand probe which can then create an image with that information. This technology is the safest to use since there is no radiation. Soft tissues are primarily looked at since the sonic signal travels well in tissues with the most water molecules. Contrast agents and exam preparation are techniques that help enhance the images so that a more sure diagnosis can be obtained.

Contrast

Barium is used to better look at the digestive tract on X-rays and CAT Scans by coating the walls of the stomach and intestine. Iodine based solutions (dye) are mostly used through an IV line or directly into a vein to help blood vessels show up on X-rays and CAT Scans. It is also good for looking at the urinary tract since the contrast leaves the blood through the kidneys.

Exam Preparation (When instructed by the Technologist)

NPO (Nothing By Mouth) means not to eat or drink for however long the technologist says. An Enema and Ducolax tablets are used to clean out the large intestine. Drinking water (6-8 tall glasses), without urinating, one hour before the exam will fill the bladder. Lab Test (BUN or Creatinine) are done to make sure the kidneys are working well so that the IV contrast can exit the body. Glucophage (Metformin) is a medication that you need to tell the technologist if taking. It will need to be stopped before the exam and monitored before resuming. The people working in the Radiology department are the Technologists and Radiologists.

Technologists

Technologists are workers who are commonly called X-ray Technicians. They are the ones that are seen in every exam making sure quality images are taken and achieved. The Technologists also provides radiation protection when needed and is a primary source of information for Radiology.

Radiologists

Radiologists are doctors who specialize in Radiology. They will perform the more complicated exams with the technologists helping. The Radiologist is the doctor who reads all Radiology exams and makes a report to the doctor who ordered it. They will bill for this service separate from the hospital.

Physical Therapy

Our physical therapy department provides care to individuals who suffer from movement and functional difficulties from aging, disease, injury or environmental factors. Our dedicated physical therapy staff works closely with the patient, their family and the physician to develop a plan that helps restore physical function and overall fitness.

Nursing Services

At Schleicher County Medical Center, our nursing staff comprises the heart of our patient care programs. Our compassionate nurses are highly-trained and certified in Advanced Life Support and Pediatric Life Support. All our registered nurses are trauma certified.

Swing Bed

SCMC's Swing Bed program is a short-term, extended-care program for those who have experienced a stroke, joint replacement, major surgery or other acute care situation and need additional time to strengthen and heal with the convenience of being close to family and friends. The program is also for patients who require stage 3+ wound care, IV therapy, strengthening and training, physical therapy, palliative care (as an alternative to Hospice) and/or teaching and training to care for a new condition/problem. In order to qualify for the program, the patient must have been an inpatient in a hospital for at least three overnight stays within a 30-day period and have a diagnosis that requires extended care and therapy.

After approval from our medical staff and coordinator, we accept Swing Bed patients seven days a week. Discharge planners should contact the Swing Bed Coordinator at 325-853-2507.

Business Office

SCMC is committed to providing quality healthcare and services to all patients; however, in order for us to do this, we must keep our hospital financially sound. We accept a wide variety of payment methods, including private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and self-payment. As a courtesy to patients and their families, our business office will submit hospital claims to insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid on behalf of the patient. To speed up the claims process, it is important that complete and accurate information be given when the patient is admitted to or registered at our hospital.

If you have questions about your account, please contact us at 325-853-2507, or if you would like to make an online payment to your account go to www.paythisbill.net. You must have your user name and password from your statement to complete the transaction.