Preparing Your Student for a Healthy College Experience
The transition from high school to college is exciting but somewhat intimidating for both students and their families. Student Health Services is committed to helping ease that transition.
For many students, this is the first time they will assume responsibility for their health and well-being. As a parent, you can provide valuable information and guidance to your son or daughter to ensure that they take the right steps to stay healthy.
The following information may help you in this process:
- Health Information Requirements and Forms: Involve them in preparing to make health care decisions before they come to the university. This preparation can include encouraging your student to log into their Student Health Portal to complete their TB Questionnaire, Health History, and verify their immunization records.
- Health Insurance Coverage: If your family health insurance plan covers your student, check with your insurer to see how coverage is affected during their time at the university. Be certain that they understand their coverage; 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 with 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 for 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 the information on our web page with your students so that they are familiar with our location, services, hours, and provisions for health care needs. When Student Health Services is not open, students can contact University Police for immediate medical assistance.
- Confidentiality: Be aware that once your student has graduated from high school and is enrolled in an institution of higher learning, they are considered adults under the FERPA Act. This means they can make decisions regarding care and are subject to the confidentiality statute. In other words, under the law, we will need their written permission to speak with families about any contact or health care they received from Student Health Services (except in emergency situations). While we certainly encourage appropriate involvement of families, maintaining confidentiality is of utmost importance in our commitment to the trust of students.
- Medications: Any prescribed or other medications your student takes regularly may be kept in their room in a safe container/location. You may want to consider arranging with a local pharmacy to renew maintenance medications, i.e., for diabetes or asthma. A list of local pharmacies is available on our website. Student Health Services stocks a limited number of commonly used antibiotic prescription medications, and our healthcare providers can dispense them at minimal cost. In addition, limited amounts of over-the-counter medications are also available at no cost to the student. Student Health Services cannot fill prescriptions written by outside providers. Payment methods for clinic-prescribed medications include Royal Card or cash.
A Final Note
We look forward to meeting with and helping your student maintain health and well-being at The University of Scranton.
Thank you for helping us in this effort.
Sincerely,
The Staff at Student Health Services