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Health Services

The College Student Health Services provides care for full-time students  during the regular academic year. During the summer, we are open for administrative purposes with limited clinical availability.

Students are seen by appointments. Students with sudden onset of illness or injury should call for an appointment. We will do our best to accommodate  a same day appointment, but understand that it is not always possible.

 To make an appointment, dial ext. 7261 on campus or 410-778-7261 off campus.

Please do not email Health Services for urgent medical or counseling appointments, we would rather have you call so we can better understand your needs and connect you with the best resource.

Students will be seen by the Family Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, or Registered Nurse. You must present your college student ID card to receive services. All services are confidential and information cannot be released to administration, faculty, parents, etc., without your permission. Students requiring more extensive evaluation, testing or admission are referred to the local hospital,University of Maryland Shore Regional Health.

Students will be billed for a missed appointment fee of $40.00 if they fail to notify us less than 24 hours prior to their appointment with the our partner Psychiatrists/University of Maryland Psychiatry Associates. This fee will be billed directly to the student’s account.

 

Announcements

We currently offer Plan B at no charge to students for emergency contraception. Appointments are required.

We encourage all students to get an annual Flu shot. Please ask your primary care provider or pharmacist to vaccinate you early in the Fall.

 

schedule your flu shot at walgreens pharmacy

 

schedule your on campus flu shot with acme pharmacy

Take everyday steps to protect your health

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water especially after you cough or sneeze or use hand sanitizer available in highly trafficked areas of buildings throughout campus.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and then throw the tissue away and wash your hands. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper arm. Do not cough or sneeze into your hands.

Wipe down frequently touched surfaces such as door knobs, phones, key boards, etc. at least daily.

Maintain a distance of 3-6 feet from others especially if they appear ill or are coughing or sneezing.

Get enough sleep and eat a well-balanced diet. If you are run down you will be more susceptible to illness.

Monitor yourself for signs and symptoms of flu.

Signs and Symptoms of the flu

  • Fever of 100 or greater and at least one other symptom listed below
  • Cough
  • Sore Throat
  • Stuffy or runny nose
  • Body Aches
  • Headache
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

If you have these symptoms

Do not go to class, the dining hall or campus events. It is important that you notify Health Services at ext 7261 or 410-778-7261 as soon as possible for further instructions. If Health Services is not open please self isolate in your room and follow the instructions at the following web sites.

www.flu.gov

Students, faculty and staff with flu like illness will be advised to go home if possible to be cared for by family and to minimize the risk of spreading flu to others. Students, faculty, and staff should not return to campus until fever free for a minimum of 48 hours without the use of fever reducing medications. Arrangements will be made to assist students who are unable to return home.

Warning Signs and Symptoms for Adults with Flu

If you have any of the following symptoms or you are at high risk for complications contact your health care provider immediately.

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Blue or discoloration of the lips
  • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
  • Sudden dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Severe or persistent vomiting/ signs of dehydration such as absence of urination
  • Flu symptoms improve and then return with fever and worse cough

High risk conditions include pregnancy, asthma, heart disease, diabetes or any chronic medical condition that compromises the immune system.

In an emergency please call 911.

Get additional information about seasonal flu from the CDC

Frequently Asked Questions

The Health Center is located between Caroline and Queen Anne Dorms.

We are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Emergency Department at University of Maryland Shore Regional Medical Center at Chestertown is located directly behind Minta Martin and Reid Dormitories.

If you need assistance you can call Public Safety at 410-778-7810 (ext 7810 on campus) or 911.

There are a few urgent care clinics available for after hours/ weekends. They treat problems that cannot wait until the next business day but do not really need to be seen in the Emergency Department. There is no public transportation to or from these facilities. Public Safety may be able to help locally if available. Most of these require an out of pocket co-pay based on your private insurance. Some of them take your insurance while others do not. You should call and see if they accept your insurance:
   Eastern Shore Urgent Care, Chestertown, MD             (Does not accept CIGNA)
   Christiana Care-Middletown, DE
   Your Docs In- Easton
   University of Maryland Urgent Care: Denton,              Kent Island and Easton

Check with your RA for minor problems. Your RA keeps a first aid kit on the hall that contains bandages, Tylenol, Advil, cold medications, antibiotic ointment, etc.

Walk-in appointments are not available during the pandemic.

To make an appointment you can stop in or call 410-778-7261 (ext 7261 from a campus phone).

If you call in the morning you can usually get an appointment for the same day.

There may be charges when you visit the Health Center for tests done or medications given.

There is no charge for the visit.

Charges are billed back to your student account and will show up on the following month’s bill.

All women of childbearing age should be asked this question at every health care visit.

Irregular or missed periods can be a sign of underlying conditions that may be serious.

Many medications including over the counter medication should not be given if there is any chance of pregnancy.

Tobacco use and Smoking are dangerous habits and can cause many health problems.

We want to make sure we have the opportunity to educate students about the dangers of tobacco use.

The current trend is for college campuses to become smoke free, tobacco free and e-cigarette free.

Washington College has begun to explore this option. The college offers smoking cessation assistance for students.

All medications have side effects and can interact with other medicines and even foods.

It is important that you know what medications—including over the counter medications, vitamins and even herbal supplements—you are taking, how often you take them, and the dosage.

We want to make sure that what you are taking isn’t causing your symptoms and won’t interact with medicines we prescribe.

The Health Center is staffed with nurse practitioners (NPs), a certified physician assistant and a registered nurse.

The NPs can handle most problems you may have while on campus. They can perform exams, order labs and x-rays and write prescriptions.

 

Your visit to the Health Center is confidential.

We do not release any of your medical information without your permission. If you call your parents about your visit and then your parent calls us we cannot give them any information without your permission.

If you would like us to talk to a parent please give us permission before you leave the Health Center. We are happy to call and speak with them while you are here. If we think it is important to talk with a parent we may ask if you will call them while you are in the Health Center.

Health and Counseling  Services does not issue notes for missed classes. You should communicate directly with your professors.

If it is determined that you will miss 3-5 days of classes due to medical or mental health issues, we will make an administrative notification to the provosts’ office. You will need to communicate directly with your faculty about your absence and make up work plans. If it is determined that you are expected to miss 6-14 days of classes, this qualifies as a medical leave and the Provost’s office will notify your faculty members that you are on an approved medical absence. This applies for medical and mental health reasons.

*** If you are placed on a medical leave of 3-5 or 6-14 days, you are not permitted to attend classes, internships/externships or campus events including sports, clubs, SGA and Greek life events.

The Health Center can take care of most of the health issues you might have while at college such as:

  • Cold, Flu, and other minor illnesses
    Management of some chronic conditions
    Minor injuries
    Allergy shots
    Women’s contraceptive services - including no cost Plan B 
    Testing for sexually transmitted infections
    Smoking cessation.

Fees

There is no charge for your visit to the Health or Counseling Center.

We provide some over the counter medicine/supplies free of charge at out Self Help Shelf, for more details click here

However, we currently charge for the following types of items:

  • Prescription and over-the-counter medications
  • Gatorade
  • Protein bars
  • In-house lab tests such as:
    • strep tests
    • urinalysis and urine pregnancy tests
  • Procedure charges may include:
    • suturing
    • nebulizer treatments
    • removal of impacted ear wax
    • cryo-freezing of warts or lesions
    • nail trephination
    • fluorescein eye exam
    • removal of foreign bodies
  •  Medical supplies such as:
    • ace wraps
    • splints
    • slings
    • reusable hot/cold pack.

These items and services will be billed to your student account, there is no upfront copay or fees

Students have a choice of receiving a written prescription to take to a local pharmacy or to purchase prescriptions from Health Services for medications that we stock. For a list of our local pharmacies, click here

Students are financially responsible for the cost of any services performed outside of the College Health Center or prescriptions that need to be filled at a local pharmacy.

Please feel free to inquire about the amount of the charge before medications, tests or vaccines are given. These charges cannot be refunded after services are rendered.

We do not bill insurance companies, but are happy to provide you with a receipt if you need it to submit to your insurance carrier for reimbursement.