Preparing Your Student for a Healthy College Experience
The transition from high school to college is an exciting and somewhat intimidating one for both students and parents. Student Health Services is committed to helping ease that transition.
For many students, this is the first time they will be assuming responsibility for their own health and well-being. You, as a parent, can provide valuable information and guidance to your son or daughter to ensure that he/she takes the right steps to stay healthy
The following information may help you in this process:
- Health Information Requirements and Forms: Involve him/her in preparing for making health care decisions before he/she comes to the University. Part of this preparation can be encouraging your student to log into their Student Health Portal to complete their health history form and upload their immunization records and physical exam.
- Health Insurance Coverage: If your student is covered by your family health insurance plan, check with your insurer to see how coverage is affected during their time in Scranton and be certain that they understand that coverage. It is vital that every student have health insurance coverage because paying out-of-pocket for treatment of a serious illness or injury could have a financial impact. Treatment received at Student Health Services is provided at no additional cost and does not bill insurance. However, any services by community providers will involve insurance or private payment. Student Health Services can successfully manage most routine illnesses and injuries that occur in college students. However, we must utilize community resources for those services we cannot provide such as hospitalization, laboratory and emergency room services. Many private insurance companies offer student policies. For more information, uninsured students may refer to www.ehealthinsurance.com to search an appropriate policy. For information on the Affordable Care Act and Health Insurance Marketplace, go to https://www.healthcare.gov
- Healthcare on campus and other resources: Review all the information on our Web page with your student so that he/she is familiar with our location, services and hours and provisions for health care needs that may arise when Student Health Services is not open.
- Confidentiality: Be aware that once your student has graduated from high school and is enrolled in an institution of higher learning, he/she is considered an adult. This means he/she can make decisions regarding care and is subject to confidentiality statutes. In other words, under the law, we will need his/her written permission to speak with you about any contact or health care he/she has with Student Health Services (except in emergency situations). While we certainly encourage appropriate involvement of parents, maintaining confidentiality is of utmost importance in our gaining and keeping the trust of students.
- Medications: Any prescribed or other medications that your student takes regularly may be kept in a safe container/location in his/her room. You may want to consider arranging with a local pharmacy for renewal of maintenance medications, i.e., for diabetes or asthma. A list of local pharmacies is available on our Web site. Student Health Service does stock a limited number of prescription medications such as the most commonly used antibiotics which our healthcare providers may dispense at a low cost. Payment may include cash or Royal Card. Student Health Services cannot fill prescriptions written by outside providers. Limited amounts of over-the-counter medications are also available at no cost to the student.
A Final Note
We look forward to meeting with and helping your student maintain health and well-being while at The University of Scranton.
Thank you for helping us in this effort.
Sincerely,
The Staff at Student Health Services