Patients, help us protect our high-risk patients - please wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms, a positive COVID-19 test, or COVID-19 exposure.
Effective 3/13/23, ARC transitions to optional masking for our staff and physicians, with required masking during specific situations. Read more.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a public health emergency (PHE) and passed a law that allowed you to automatically keep your Medicaid coverage (continuous Medicaid). Based on the new federal law, continuous Medicaid eligibility will end on March 31, 2023, so you need to renew your benefits when it’s time to ensure your coverage will continue if you are eligible.
Patients should look for notices from HHSC in YELLOW envelopes that say "ACTION REQUIRED" in RED lettering. Notices will come in the mail and/or via portal if clients chose electronic notices. They should respond quickly when they receive it.
If you don’t respond to renewal or information requests from HHS, you could lose your coverage.
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Como respuesta a la pandemia de COVID-19, el gobierno federal declaró una Emergencia de Salud Pública (PHE, por sus siglas en inglés) y aprobó una ley que le permitió a usted mantener automáticamente su cobertura de Medicaid (cobertura continua de Medicaid). Según la nueva ley federal, la elegibilidad para la cobertura continua de Medicaid se terminará el 31 de marzo, de 2023, por eso necesita renovar sus beneficios cuando se llegue el momento para asegurar que su cobertura va a continuar si usted todavía es elegible.
Pacientes deben buscar avisos de la HHSC en sobres AMARILLOS con el texto “ACCIÓN REQUERIDA” en letras ROJAS. Los avisos llegarán por correo y/o a través del portal en línea si los clientes eligieron recibir avisos electrónicos. Deberían responder con rapidez cuando lo reciban.
Si no responde a las solicitudes de renovación o de información de la HHSC, podría perder su cobertura.
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ARC MyChart downtime: Due to technical maintenance, ARC MyChart will be unavailable 7:00pm Saturday, April 1 to 7:00am Sunday, April 2. To schedule an appointment during this time, please call 512-272-4636 and press "1". You can reach all-night phone nurses by calling any clinic and pressing “4” to speak with a nurse.
Austin Regional Clinic (ARC) doctors, staff, and leadership are committed to providing our community with high quality convenient care. One of the ways we demonstrate this priority is through our online transparency.
You can review our provider ratings and comments on our web site with the confidence that they are all based on verified visits. We post all patient feedback relevant to the entire visit and only refrain from posting comments that are libelous, profane, or those that risk the privacy of our patients.
The below guide provides details about how we collect and share our patient feedback.
ARC partnered with Binary Fountain to collect patient feedback about their doctor’s visit. We gather feedback from text surveys that are sent after the visit. Binary Fountain is an independent third party customer feedback company that provides the technology to collect the feedback and display ratings and comments on our web site. All ratings are submitted by actual patients and verified by ARC.
Patients for whom we have a mobile phone number receive a text survey within two hours of checking in for their visit. Patients are asked to complete the survey and provide ratings and comments regarding their experience at different touch points of their visit. We use this feedback to recognize doctors and staff, identify issues we can correct, and enhance our care.
ARC posts all positive and negative patient feedback that is relevant to the entire visit. We refrain from posting comments that are libelous, profane, or those that risk the privacy of our patients.
ARC asks questions that touch on the overall patient experience related to their visit. Anyone seeking detailed information about each question can view the ratings for each specific question on the Reviews tab on the provider bio page on the website. We calculate our provider star ratings based on the responses to question number six below. We calculate our location star ratings based on the responses to all the below questions.
Since more recent data provides a more accurate picture, we require a minimum of 30 patient surveys per doctor in the last 12 months before we post a physician’s rating.
ARC physicians and staff review all comments and act to rectify issues. Since the purpose of the feedback is to allow us to improve the overall patient experience, we display the last 90 days of comments which are the most relevant for the practice.
No. Only patients having an outpatient visit by an ARC physician receive a survey. The results are based entirely from patients who have actually been treated by the physician in our clinics.
Comments are reviewed and approved prior to being published to the website. If a comment contains any personally identifiable information, that information will be removed from the comment.
Accepting new patients ARC Center Street Ages seen: 13 - 99 Languages: Spanish Joined ARC: 2022
Dr. Cowden was raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. When he is not at work, Dr. Cowden enjoys spending time with his friends in Austin, including hiking the Greenbelt, paddleboarding Lake Austin, catching concerts and trying new restaurants and watering holes. He says he loves sports – “particularly college basketball (Go Tar Heels!),” and skiing. Among his favorite area locales are Barking Springs, “anywhere along the Greenbelt,” New Braunfels, and Gruene.
I began my career in public health as an epidemiologist, conducting public health research with multiple organizations. Thinking about disease at the population level inspired an interest in taking care of patients, so I entered medical school. I was drawn to women’s health because I can serve women with a diverse set of medical needs across all stages of life. Obstetrics and gynecology also allows me to use my public health experience and skills to address health disparities and participate in health advocacy. I listen to the concerns and needs of my patients and offer solutions that are grounded in evidence-based medicine. I strive to create an environment in which patients feel heard and supported so that I may best help them make decisions for their health most consistent with their desires and values.
Contraception (birth control) is any activity, medicine, or equipment used to prevent pregnancy. There are many types of birth control available for women who do not wish to become pregnant. The choice of a birth control method is a complex decision; ARC provids information and supporting patients' decision-making about birth control methods through contraceptive counseling.
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Mammograms play a key role in early breast cancer detection and can help decrease breast cancer deaths. Often, a mammogram can detect cancer, noncancerous or benign tumors, and cysts before they can be felt. ARC offers both 2D and 3D mammography screenings.
Obstetrical care is a term used to describe the management of both normal and complicated pregnancy as well as the delivery and postpartum periods.
Endometrial ablation is a procedure to remove a thin layer of tissue (endometrium) that lines the uterus. It's done to stop or reduce heavy menstrual bleeding.
Flu vaccine can help prevent a flu-related visits to the doctor each year. CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated every flu season.
Hysterectomy is surgery to remove the uterus. In some cases, other parts of the reproductive system may be removed.
Intrauterine contraception is a minimal user effort method, and an IUD is safe in most women. It is especially a good choice for any woman who is trying to avoid estrogen hormonal therapy. IUD insertions are scheduled at your Ob/Gyn’s office. The best time for placement is toward the end of normal menstruation.
An ARC Ob/Gyn physician can help treat menopause symptoms and help prevent osteoporosis and will work with you to recommend lifestyle changes and possibly medicine.
Getting regular preventive care and screenings may help find cancer and other health risks early, when they are most treatable and more treatment options are available.
A pelvic ultrasound is a scan that looks at the organs and structures in your pelvic area.
STIs are infectious diseases passed from person to person through sexual contact. They may also be called STDs for sexually transmitted diseases.
Tubal ligation, or “tying your tubes,” is a surgical procedure that prevents you from becoming pregnant.
737-404-0347 Fax: 512-406-6295
Rating based on "Did the healthcare provider or doctor provide the care you expected?"
Everyone was nice, helpful
My appointment was at 2:50 I check in at 2:38 and I wasn't seen until 3:48 that was a long wait in the room
I love the Center Street location. Everyone is so kind and helpful. Dr. Cowden is a wonderful, kind and caring doctor. I highly recommend this location.
Y'all are amazing!!
Very helpful staff from the front desk to the doctors . Had to have a procedure and my primary ob wasn’t available Dr. Cowden was super helpful and eased any fears I had about the procedure . Was very detailed in his instructions about what he was doing and why and had a good sense of humor to boot .
The time the DR took to understand my issues and discuss options
We are happy to welcome Christopher S. Cowden, MD, MPH, Obstetrics/Gynecology (Ob/Gyn), to the team at ARC Center Street.
October 17, 2022 1 min read
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Dr. Cowden is currently accepting new patients at:
Children (ages 3-11) Adolescents (ages 12-18) Toddlers (ages 0-2)