Can I schedule an appointment to see a practitioner?

Yes. Currently all women's health services and minor procedures are scheduled. We do offer a combination of scheduled appointments and walk in services for routine care but advise an appointment to decrease your wait time.

What type of information do I need to bring with me for an appointment?

New patients: Bring a pictured ID, either your school ID or driver's license and your private health insurance card if applicable.

Established patients: Current pictured ID and if your private insurance has changed, bring the new card or information.

Are you going to tell my parents that I came to Student Health Services?

No. Anyone 18 and older is considered an adult by law. We are not allowed to release any information to anyone without a signed consent by the patient. Once a release is signed, we can only release the information to the person the patient specifies and can only tell them what the patient specifies.
• Make sure if you're having your parent or a friend meet you    at the clinic that you notify us. If you're not in the waiting    room or they miss you for some reason, we won't be able    to tell them that you are/were at Student Health Services    at all.
• If you want a parent to speak to a practitioner about your    illness, make sure you sign the release of information    consent allowing them to do so. Otherwise, we cannot    discuss your case.

Do you prescribe birth control pills?

Our women's health program requires you to have a current well woman exam (within the last year). Once you've had your exam, the practitioner will discuss your contraceptive options. If you are a good candidate for oral contraceptives (birth control pills), she will prescribe them for you.
You must complete the following prior to scheduling a well woman exam at Student Health Services:

• Watch 4 DVD videos prior to your first visit only. The     videos take approximately 1 hr. to view. This will give you     the opportunity to hear discussions on women's issues;     several that may provide questions that could be     discussed with the clinician at the time of your visit.
•  You must pay the well woman exam fee before     scheduling. Please call the clinic for a current price.

After you complete your exam:

• If this is your first time on oral contraceptives:
   • You will be given a 3 month prescription.
   • You must schedule a return visit while you are on your       3rd pack of pills for a blood pressure and weight       evaluation. During that 3 month visit, you will be       given a 10 month prescription from the practitioner to       get filled at a pharmacy of your choice.

• If this is a continuation of oral contraceptives, you will be    given a one (1) year prescription.

I think I broke my ankle, can I be seen there?

Absolutely. Our practitioner will evaluate your injury and possibly send you for an x-ray. If there is a fracture (a break), we can make a referral to an orthopedic specialist for you.

Can I get a prescription filled there from my regular doctor?

All of our medications are prepackaged and labeled with our physicians' name. Only prescriptions written by our physician or nurse practitioner can be filled in our pharmacy. However, if you are currently on an oral contraceptive that we sell in our in-house pharmacy, we ask that you provide us with your pharmacy name and phone number. Your prescription can be transferred to our pharmacy and be filled here. If you are currently on an oral contraceptive that your private physician prescribed, but is not one of the brands that we sell here, you may have your doctor contact us if you desire to switch to a brand we sell here.

Can I go to Student Health Services to have my blood drawn for routine tests that my regular doctor ordered?

Yes. If you bring an order from your doctor for lab work, we can draw blood at Student Health and fax your report to your regular doctor for you. The lab work order should include a diagnosis, name of lab test ordered and your doctor's fax number.

Do you give out condoms?

We do not just give out condoms. We offer an assessment and counseling along with a few condom samples.

Can I have a pregnancy test done there?

Yes. You may call for current pricing.

Do you accept credit cards?

Yes. We accept credit and debit cards from these vendors: Master Card, Visa, American Express and Discover. At this time, we do not accept the Cajun Card.

Do you have a dentist?

No, but we will be happy to provide you with a referral.

Are general physicals done at SHS?

Yes, physicals for clinical requirements (nursing, health information management, nursery school, medical & dental school, etc) and CDL physicals are done here. Please bring your form(s) with you to the clinic because physical requirements vary within each department. Exclusions include orthopedic physicals, athletic physicals & immigration physicals.

Do you give the meningitis shot?

No, but you may get the vaccine at your local Public Health Unit if you are 18 years old or younger. You may also call your primary care doctor and inquire if this vaccine is given at their office.

Can I be seen at the clinic in the summer even if I am not in school?

Yes, if you were enrolled in the spring semester and will be returning in the fall. Please call SHS (482-5464) to discuss summer membership and insurance eligibility.

Do you offer mental health services?

Mental Health Services are offered free of charge to all UL students, faculty and staff through the Counseling & Testing Department. More information may be obtained at their website (www.louisiana.edu/Student/Counseling) or by calling their department (482-6480).

Is there parking at Student Health?

No. You may park in the Student Union pay lot and bring your parking stub into the clinic at the time of your visit. We will be happy to validate it at the end of your clinic visit. Parking is also available at the Taft Street parking garage. At this time, we are unable to validate those parking stubs.

What's your policy on giving doctor's excuses?

SHS will provide excuses only for students who have missed class while being seen in our clinic. Any extended excuse will be given at the practitioner's discretion. Excuses given for a prolonged period of time will automatically be reported to the Dean of Students.

My professor won't accept any doctor's excuses, even if I'm bedridden. What do I do?

Each instructor has their own absence policy which is given to students in their syllabus on the 1st day of class. If you have any difficulties and do have medical documentation, you can contact the Dean of Students office at 482-6276 and explain your situation. Should you need to go to their office, it is located in Martin Hall Room 211.

Will it cost anything to be seen at the clinic?

• There is a membership fee that entitles you to a medical    evaluation with a clinician. This includes assessments for    any illness, minor injuries and general physicals.
   • All students taking six (6) or more hours in the Fall or       Spring and three (3) or more hours in the Summer have       been assessed a student membership fee at registration       and are members.
   • Any student not meeting these hourly requirements       may purchase a membership for $25.00 per semester.
• There are billable services which include all office    procedures, lab work, pap smears, x-rays, referrals, IV    therapy, prescriptions & injections and are at the expense    of the student. If you would like information on current    prices for these services, please call or come by SHS.

I am a registered UL student. How do I know if I have a SHS membership?

Please refer to the previous question listed above for this information.

Can I get my medical records there?

Yes. You can obtain copies of your medical records here once we receive a written authorization from you.

Under Louisiana Law (LaRS40:1299.96), fees for medical record copies are:

•  $1.00 per page for the first 25 pages

•  $  .50 per page for pages 26-500

•  $  .25 per page thereafter

We will be happy to fax your medical records to other health care professionals at no charge to you.

I was in a car accident and am having problems related to the accident. Can I be seen there?

Student Health Services does not assess or treat any injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents. We advise seeking assistance at a local emergency room or contacting your private MD.

I injured myself while working at my place of employment. Can I come to the clinic?

SHS does not treat or assess work related accidents. You should notify your supervisor of the injury and follow the guidelines put forth by your employer of where to seek treatment.

Can I get STD testing done at the clinic and is there a cost?

•  Screening is advised for all sexually active individuals.

•  A consultation with one of our clinicians would give you the   opportunity to discuss any specific concerns you may   have.  

•  A fee is usually required for the following tests that are   done through SHS. Please call the clinic for current pricing.

1. Chlamydia & Gonorrhea - Screening may be done by     direct swab or urine collection.
2. AIDS - HIV screening via blood draw.
3. Syphilis - VDRL / RPR screening via blood draw.
4. Herpes - Culture of active lesion or Herpes I & II     Antibody (blood draw).
5. HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) - Pap Smear screening.

• The following organizations offer free testing:

1. Acadiana Cares: 337-233-2437
2. Lafayette Parish Health Unit: 337-262-5616

To fulfill my registration requirements, where do I turn in my immunization records?

All immunization records should be sent to the Admissions Office located in Martin Hall. Their phone number is 482-6287. If you should need an immunization form, go to: http://admissions.louisiana.edu/basics/brochures.shtml.

Where do I go to get a copy of my immunization records I turned in during my admissions process?

A copy may be obtained in the Admissions Office at Martin Hall. Their phone number is 482-6473.

© Copyright 2001 by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Student Health Services, P.O. Box 43692, Lafayette, LA, 70504-3692
Phn: 337/482-5464 ·Fax: 337/482-6428 · Email: shs@louisiana.edu
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