Frequently Asked Questions
COVID-19
Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure: Fever or Cough or Shortness of Breath. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, call 302-224-6800 to discuss your symptoms before coming into the Westside Family Healthcare office.
If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and/or have develop symptoms, call 302-224-6800 to discuss your symptoms. If you are experiencing more mild upper respiratory symptoms (runny nose, congestion, cough) these can also be managed at home and with anticipatory guidance by phone or telehealth. Most people who are experiencing coronavirus symptoms do not need to go to the emergency department. Do not go to the emergency department unless you are experiencing symptoms that are severe or life-threatening.
At this time, our testing supplies are limited and only available for patients of Westside. We encourage you to reach out to your primary care provider or usual source of care for evaluated based on your symptoms. You can also call Delaware’s Hotline at 1-866-408-1899 or email at DPHCall@delaware.gov. Individuals with hearing impairment can call 7-1-1.
To protect our patients and staff, we are limiting the volume of people in our health centers. Patient caregivers is limited for in-person visits. If a patient needs a caregiver present for their in-person visit, please limit it to one person. In some cases, we may ask the caregiver to wait outside or in their car during the appointment.
CLICK HERE for instructions to log in to your virtual telehealth appointments. Telehealth uses video to connect you to health care providers.
Westside is encouraging our patients over the age of 60 to take additional measures to protect themselves. The CDC says early data suggests that people 60 and older are twice as likely to suffer a serious illness from coronavirus disease than younger people. We, and other health professionals, believe that it is important to limit how much you are in contact with other people, including other people in our office. If you have questions or concerns regarding your appointment, please call 302-224-6800.
Westside is encouraging our patients with serious chronic health conditions to take additional measures to protect themselves. We, and other health professionals, believe that it is important to limit how much you are in contact with other people, including other people in our office. If you have questions or concerns regarding your appointment, please call 302-224-6800.
Social distancing is deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. Staying at least six feet away from other people lessens your chances of catching COVID-19. Social distancing includes limiting any in-person interactions to include only essential and necessary interactions.
Visit the Delaware Coronavirus website for the latest information happening in Delaware. You can also visit the CDC Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
COVID-19 Vaccines
If you are immunocompromised, Westside is able to offer the vaccine 28 days after your second dose for the Pfizer vaccine only. Immunocompromised individuals are the following:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
In the State of Delaware, everyone aged 6 months and older is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. You can find more about the State’s plan and where to get vaccinated at https://coronavirus.delaware.gov/vaccine/.
Westside patients and non-patients ages 6 months and older can walk-in for a COVID-19 vaccine during vaccine clinic days. You can also get a vaccine from your primary care provider, employer, a pharmacy, or a vaccination clinic run by the State or its partners; visit the State’s website for more information.
You can call (302-613-5494), request an appointment, or walk-in for a COVID-19 vaccine during vaccine clinics.
If you are not a Westside patient and you are 6 months or older, you can walk in for a vaccine on our vaccine clinics.
Currently, three vaccines are approved for emergency use by the FDA that Westside can provide: Pfizer and Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines. Those aged 6 months-17 will receive the Pfizer vaccine.
Yes. All three COVID-19 vaccines approved by the FDA (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson) have been tested on thousands of people of different races and ethnicities. The FDA and CDC continue to monitor the safety of the vaccines to make sure they are not causing harm.
If you need assistance, you may bring a guest or caregiver to your vaccination appointment. To keep our patients and staff safe from COVID-19, please limit guests and caregivers to one person. In some cases, we may ask the caregiver to wait outside or in their car during the appointment.
Give yourself about one hour for the vaccine appointment. To help maintain social distance, please arrive as close to your appointment time as possible. After getting your COVID-19 vaccine, you will be monitored for 15-30 minutes by Westside staff. Please plan for this extra time before coming to your appointment.
I got a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine somewhere else, can I get an additional dose at Westside?
Vaccines given at Westside may be additional doses of vaccine depending on the vaccine type we have available.
Appointments
The more you know about your health, the better. Every time you talk with your health care team, ask these questions:
- What is my main problem?
- What do I need to do?
- Why is it important for me to do this?
Yes, all of our health centers have on-site parking.
Yes, you must have an appointment to be seen by a provider as we do not accept walk-ins. If you’re experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911.
Donate
Financial contributions from our sponsors play a significant role in helping us achieve our mission. We host annual events and fundraisers that provide several corporate sponsor opportunities. Please contact us at externalaffairs@westsidehealth.org for more information.
Visit our Donate page.
Financial Assistance and Insurance
Yes. We accept most insurance plans, including Delaware Healthy Children Program, United Healthcare Community Plan Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare, Screening for Life, Highmark Health Options, AmeriHealth Caritas and most private commercial insurance plans.
Yes, you can receive medical and dental care at Westside even if you do not have insurance. We have on-site Enrollment Specialists can help you determine if you are eligible for the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, or other insurance programs. For those who qualify, we offer our services on a sliding fee discount that is based on your income and the family size. Your proof of income helps us determine your discounted fees.
No. However, we have a sliding fee scale, based on income and family size, to help make your care more affordable. We never turn anyone away based on insurance status or ability to pay.
Medical and Dental Care
Yes. Please see the Telehealth Services page for more information on telehealth appointments.
If you have refills available, please contact your pharmacy directly to have your medication refilled. If you do not have refills available, please use our patient portal, MyHealth@Westside, to request refills electronically. You can call the medication refill phone line at our office (link to Locations & Hours). You will need: (1) your name, (2) date of birth, (3) name of the medication you need refilled, (4) the name of the pharmacy you use, (5) phone number of the pharmacy you use; (6) the number of days of medication you still have and (7) the phone number where you can be reached.
Yes, Westside provides behavioral healthcare services for patients at its Wilmington, Bear and Dover locations. See our Behavioral Health page for the services we offer.
Learn more about our family planning options and gynecological care on our Women’s Health page.
Yes, Westside’s Prenatal Program, called “We Deliver”, provides prenatal care and case management, onsite breastfeeding counseling, nutrition education, labor and delivery classes, and social services support. Westside provides care to expectant mothers from pregnancy testing to post-partum visits. Your baby can be a Westside patient too.
We have staff members that speak many different languages. We also use a telephone-based interpretation service and have video access to American Sign Language interpreters.
As our patient, you may qualify for certain prescriptions at significantly reduced rates. We are here to help you navigate these costs, please call us to make an appointment and we are happy to help you.
Yes. We have on-site dental services available at our 4th Street, Dover, Northeast, and Newark health centers. Westside provides a wide range of emergency, preventive, and restorative services, including teeth cleaning, simple extractions, and fillings. Adult patients must be established with our medical care teams before they can be seen in our dental offices. All children are welcome from age 1 and up, and do not have to be a medical patient. We accept most dental insurance plans. If you are uninsured, we offer a sliding fee scale based on family size and household income. For more information, please visit our financial assistance page.
To schedule an appointment at any of our locations, please call: New Castle County: (302) 224-6800 Kent/Sussex County: (302) 678-4622.
Yes, we are here to provide care to everyone in the community. As a community health center, Westside provides care for everyone who walks through our doors, regardless of ability to pay, immigration or citizenship status, national origin, religion, race, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Medical Records
Your medical records can be printed and picked up at you nearest office, faxed or emailed to you, or put on a CD for your convenience. Visit our Medical Records and Privacy Practices page for forms and to contact a member of the Health Information Management team.
Volunteer/Intern/Clinical Hours
Westside welcomes your company to partner with us for volunteer opportunities. We have several volunteer events and ongoing opportunities that may be appropriate for your employees. Please inquire on our Contact Us page about your interest.
Please contact our Human Resources office so you can be connected to the volunteer, internship or clinical hours opportunities, as they are available. Human Resources can be contacted at human.resources@westsidehealth.org.
