Frequently Asked Questions

Following are common questions and answers about Health Services.  If your questions are not answered here or you need more information, please call our office.

1. What should I do if I am ill or injured while on campus?
 You should call Student Health Services at 978-934-4991 and make an appointment to be seen by one of the nurse practitioners on staff.  Walk-in service is for emergencies only. 

2. What hours are Student Health Services open?
 SHS is open Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Tuesday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00p.m. during the academic year (except holidays and when the University is closed). Summer hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Walk-in service is available for emergencies only. Appointments are required for all other visits.

3. What if I become ill when Student Health Services is closed?
 If it is an emergency, call the campus EMTs at 978-934-2911.  If the problem is urgent but does not require emergency care and you have the university’s health insurance plan, go to one of the following Saints Medical Center Clinics:

Lowell Walk-In at 1230 Bridge St. (978)459-2273

           Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

           Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Chelmsford Walk-In at Drumhill Road at Parkhurst (978)458-6868

           Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  If you have health insurance other than the university's plan, please check with your own carrier, as to where you should go for after hours care.

4.     Is there a charge for visits to Student Health Services or do I need a referral from a primary health care provider?
 There are no fees for a visit at Health Services and because we charge no fees, students do not need a referral. However, if the nurse practitioner does any lab work or orders an x-ray then your insurance will be billed.

5.      I have an HMO. Will they pay for lab work done at Student Health Services or any diagnostic tests ordered by the nurse practitioners?
 This is a question you need to discuss with your own insurance company. Most HMOs will not authorize any diagnostic testing done outside their area or that is not ordered by your primary care physician. This can be a problem for students that are not able to get home to see their primary care physician.

 As of September 2002, Massachusetts law now states that if a student will be attending college outside the coverage area of their HMO, than they must take the university’s health insurance plan.  An option may be for the student to choose a primary care physician in the Lowell area. Family members do not all have to have the same PCP.

6.      What are some of the services offered at Student Health Services?
 We provide:

 · First Aid

 · Medical Clinic for Illnesses and Minor Injuries

 · Health Counseling

 · Laboratory Service

 · Women’s Health

 · Contraceptive Services  

 · STD Testing and Treatment

7.      Who staffs SHS?
 The staff includes nurse practitioners, a registered nurse, a medical secretary, an immunization coordinator and a school insurance representative.

8.      What is a Nurse Practitioner?
 A Nurse Practitioner is a Registered Nurse with advanced education and training in a health care specialty area. 

 Nurse Practitioners:

 ·  Obtain Health Histories

 ·  Perform Physical Assessments and Examinations

 ·  Order and Interpret Diagnostic/Laboratory Studies

 ·  Diagnose and Treat Common Illnesses and Minor Injuries

 ·  Make Referrals to Specialists

 ·  Counsel and Teach Health and Nutrition

 ·  Prescribe/Manage Medication Therapy

 ·  Provide Continued/Follow-Up and Coordination of Care

 Nurse Practitioners have prescribing privileges in Massachusetts.

9.      Do I have to have school insurance to be seen at Student Health Services?
 All matriculating students are eligible to be seen at Student Health Services regardless of health insurance.

10.   Is there a fee for Student Health Services visits?
 No. Visits are free of charge. However, any laboratory costs and or prescriptions are the responsibility of the student and his/her insurance coverage.

11.   Who do I ask if I have a question about school insurance?
 The insurance representative is available Monday, Wednesday,  and Friday from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm at Student Health Services.  She can also be reached at (978)934-4992 during her office hours or you can leave a voice mail and she will return your call.  You can also contact Koster Insurance Agency, Inc by phone at 1-800-457-5599 or on the web at www.gallagherkoster.com with questions.

12.   If I am ill and have school insurance, do I have to be seen at Student Health Services?
 It is recommended that you come to SHS first, but it is not necessary.   You may go to:

 Lowell Walk-In at 1230 Bridge St. (978)459-2273

       Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

       Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

 Chelmsford Walk-In at Drumhill Road at Parkhurst (978)458-6868

       Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  EMTs on campus can be reached at 978-934-2911, 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Emergency Room Visits are for emergencies only!  There is a $100.00 deductible for an ER visit with school insurance.
 Your RD or RA is an excellent resource.  Call him or her if you are injured or need help.

13.   Can my parents find out that I have been seen at Student Health Services?
 No.  There are strict confidentiality regulations which prevent health care providers from disclosing health information without the student’s written consent---even to parents.

 All medical care is confidential.  You have the right to expect that your medical records will be kept confidential, and that access to information about you will be limited to those legitimately involved in your care.  Medical information will be released only in cases of medical emergencies (including threats of harm to self or others), in response to a court ordered subpoena, or to persons you specify with your written consent.

 Also some communicable diseases must, by law, be reported to the State Department of Health.

14.   I missed a class, because I was sick, and my professor wants a “note.”  What should I do?
 You should make an appointment at Health Services if you are sick.  As a rule, the staff does not write "excuse notes" for missed classes.  If you are ill, you should notify your professor via phone or email prior to missing a class. In certain circumstances, a nurse practitioner may need to exclude you from class, for example; when you have a communicable disease.  Otherwise, no excuses are written.

If a student is too ill to attend classes and will have an extended absence of five or more days official documentation will be sent to the Dean of Students' Office.

 If you need more information about these or other related topics, please contact the Health Services office at 978-934-4991.  We will be happy to assist you.

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