Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions What is your Mission Statement?
What are the qualifications of your staff?
What is SHAC (Student Health Advisory Committee)?
Do you provide medical excuse letters?
What does it cost to receive services at UHCS?
What immunizations do you provide and how much do they cost?
Are you accredited?
Yes. University Health and Counseling Services is one among the ten percent
of college student health centers that are fully accredited. Our accreditation
is through the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, a national
organization that accredits some 2000 ambulatory health centers offering various
levels of care.
Do you have physicians?
Yes. We have a full time medical supervisor who is board certified
in family practice, plus a part-time family practice physician, and a limited-schedule,
a board-certified consulting psychiatrist. In addition, we have three
advanced practice nurse prescribers (also known as “nurse practitioners”). These
are nurses with graduate degrees who are certified by the State of Wisconsin
to provide health care, including writing prescriptions. Supporting them
are a cadre of registered nurses and medical assistants.
Who provides Counseling?
Our Counseling staff includes professional psychologists, licensed clinical
social workers, a licensed professional counselor, interns in the Counselor
Education masters program and a board certified consulting psychiatrist.
Do you have a laboratory?
Yes, we have a CLIA certified, COLA accredited high-complexity lab on site
that handles most routine tests. Less frequent tests, or those requiring
specialized equipment, are sent to major reference laboratories in Wisconsin.
Do you do x-rays?
In college health, x-rays are needed too infrequently to warrant maintaining
on-site equipment. We refer to local medical clinics and hospital where
we have ongoing relationships.
Do you have a pharmacy?
We stock and dispense medications that are most frequently prescribed by our
staff. If students need medications we do not stock, we write a script for their
use at a local pharmacy.
Can you fill prescriptions from my doctor at home?
No. Only a licensed pharmacy can fill these prescriptions. Since we operate
a dispensary, not a licensed pharmacy, we may fill only those prescriptions
ordered by our staff as part of a student’s course of treatment at UHCS.
Do I need an appointment to get
help?
We recommend appointments to reserve time for your needs. There are a
limited number of same-day appointments. Whenever possible, we recommend
calling ahead. For Health Services call 472-1300. For counseling, call
472-1305.
What are your hours?
We are open from 8:00 to 4:30, Monday through Friday, when classes are in session. Call
for other hours.
What should students do if experiencing a life-threatening
emergency?
In case of an emergency, do not try getting to a hospital on your own.
Call 911 for immediate and rapid transport to an emergency facility,
such as a hospital where the necessary equipment and resources are available.
The Whitewater Rescue Squad ambulance carries life support equipment to sustain
persons in transport. University Health & Counseling is NOT an emergency
facility.
Do you provide alternative therapies?
UHCS is a medically oriented and accredited service. Students wishing
to seek alternative health care are advised to consult the yellow pages for
Whitewater and surrounding areas. Massage
therapy can be scheduled by calling 472-1305. (Student pays massage therapist
directly.)
Do I need insurance to use your services?
No.
Should my student have health insurance?
We strongly urge all students to carry some form of health insurance.
Though there are no charges for professional visits at UHCS, medications, lab,
x-ray, and hospitalization are not covered. A hospital stay can put families
in debt for years. First, check your family policy to find out what coverage
you have. Usually, parents can purchase coverage for dependents over age
19 who are attending college. However, be sure you check how many credits
the policy requires of the student to be eligible. Also check what is
and is not covered away from home. If in doubt, we suggest you purchase
student health coverage from
Will UHCS bill my insurance when I receive service?
No. Over 100 different insurance companies cover our students. Billing
so many companies would add considerably to cost. Upon request, we can
provide students with a receipt that contains information required by most insurers.
Students can use it to apply for reimbursement from their insurance company.
Are there hidden charges of any kind?
There are no hidden charges, but sometimes there is confusion about laboratory
charges. Some laboratory tests are paired, meaning further testing may
be done of a specimen depending on results of an initial test. We put
through charges for the first test, but must bill you separately if a follow-up
test is done. Our providers order only those tests they consider necessary.
We bill you, the student, at cost for laboratory work, well below typical charges.
Are you an HMO provider or preferred provider?
Our students are covered by HMOs and other health insurers around the US and
overseas. We cannot possibly enter into so many provider relationships.
Many HMOs reimburse their members for health care away from home. To be sure,
check with your plan.
What do you do if a student has an ongoing condition, say
asthma, allergy, or diabetes?
Students with ongoing conditions are welcome to use UHCS services. While
the student is on our campus, we collaborate with their home provider.
For example, we provide allergy injections for students, using allergens supplied
by their allergist. We order laboratory tests per request of the specialist,
reporting the results back, and saving the student special trips. The
fact that UW-Whitewater is UW System’s designated campus for students with disabilities
gives us opportunity to become well acquainted with complex disabilities.
We are one of the few student health services with a physical therapist on staff.
What do students have to say about your services?
Last year, 98% of students responding to health or counseling satisfaction surveys
rated their experience “good” or “excellent.” 100% said they would use
the service again. "I thought that the overall visit to the Health
Center was very good, and I would recommend it to anyone who has a problem because
the service was very good compared to most health centers I have been to"
UHCS Patient.
Do I need to have a physical before coming to campus?
No. Physicals are not required. We do encourage you to become current
with your immunizations and to bring your immunization record with you.
If you have a medical condition for which you regularly see a physician, authorize
that physician to provide a medical summary for University Health & Counseling.
The summary will help us coordinate your care. Parents and students
having questions about specific health needs are encouraged to talk directly
to a professional at UHCS. This can be done by calling 262-472-1300 (Health
Services) or 262-472-1305 (Counseling) and asking to speak with a professional.
Who may see my health or counseling record?
This is a question frequently asked at University Health & Counseling Services
(UHCS). First, the law protects the privacy of medical and counseling records.
Except in the highly unusual circumstance like a court order or an emergency,
no one can see your health or counseling record unless a written authorization
is signed by you, your parent if you are a minor, or your legal guardian. Apart
from these circumstances, your records at UHCS are not available to your parents,
teachers, administrators, or anyone else. Even with an authorization signed
by the parent of a minor, there is some clinical information that will not be
released. We train our staff to pay careful attention to the handling and storage
of health and counseling records. Counseling and Health Services records are
stored in their respective departments. Some students receive services both
in Counseling and in Health Services. Becasue we are an integrated service,
providers in both services may view your records for the purpose of coordinating
your care. You will be asked to provide this authorization ordinarily during
your first visit to UHCS.
May I take my records with me when I leave school?
Your health care and counseling records belong to UHCS. However, you have the
right to determine who has access to the information, except in the highly unusual
circumstance like a court order or an emergency, the right to know what the
record contains, and the right, with a properly signed authorization and payment
of any fees, to obtain a copy. UHCS cooperates in sending information to others,
for instance, other providers, health centers, or insurance companies, provided
we have written authorization.
What information is kept in my health or counseling record?
There are some differences in the formats followed between the Health Service
and Counseling Service records. The standard format in the Health Service lists
the chief complaint or reason for the visit, the history of the present illness,
the objective findings, test results, diagnosis, recommended treatment and progress
notes on your treatment. Relevant history may be included in your Health Service
record. The standard format in the Counseling Service record includes an initial
assessment covering your presenting problem(s) and relevant background, relevant
aspects of your history, substance use, assessment of your current psychological
functioning, problem identification and, as indicated, a diagnostic impression.
Counseling Service records ordinarily include a treatment plan and progress
notes of your treatment. Some records may contain information from other providers
that we have received with your authorization.
What is done with my health or counseling record when I leave school?
We keep your records for 10 years. They are held in a secure area within our
building behind two sets of locked doors. Only authorized staff have access
to the keys. After 10 years your records are shredded.
We, the staff of UHCS, respect you and your health care needs. We work hard to safeguard your confidentiality. Should you have questions about the confidentiality of your record not covered here, please feel free to talk to your provider, therapist or the UHCS Executive Director at (262) 472-1305.
More information about our privacy practices
online or ask a Health Center receptionist for printed copy of our Notice of
Privacy Practices
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University Health & Counseling Services
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