Health Services

University Health and Counseling Services is not an emergency facility. In case of emergency, call 911.

Services Available

• Where to get health services when UHCS is closed
• Examinations and treatment for illnesses and minor injuries
• Treatment for mental health concerns
• Laboratory tests and medications
• Allergy Injections
• Immunizations
• Pelvic exam and Pap Test
• Wisconsin Family Planning Only Services
• Contraceptives including morning after pill
• STD and HIV antibody testing and counseling
• Individualized smoking cessation sessions
• Limited Physicals
• Travel Medicine
• University Non-Emergency Transportation (UNET) is available
• Phone Consultation
• Rehab Nursing and Physical Therapy for students with disabilities
• Practicum Training Site
• Massage Therapy

You may continue to receive care at the UHCS after your last semester at UWW up to (but not including), the first day of classes for the new semester or summer session or the second Monday in June for those leaving UW-W after spring semester. Continuing students not enrolled in summer session may pay a summer fee to receive health services over the summer. . While we offer this service to avoid disruption of your care, it is important that you begin to make arrangements for care with alternate providers before you lose eligibility. Our staff can help you examine your options.

We especially urge students with ongoing, chronic, or episodic well care needs to plan in advance. Depression, contraception, and follow-up care for abnormal laboratory findings are a few examples. Since no one can predict when the need for care will arise, making advance plans about who you will see for routine as well as time sensitive/emergent care is essential.

Oftentimes a student may be covered by a family health insurance plan, which will terminate upon or soon after graduation or loss of student status. You can purchase interim coverage from the current University of Wisconsin System health insurance vendor or purchase interim coverage through your family’s insurance agent. What’s important is that you continue some form of insurance protection.

Did You Know...? More details on the various health services UHCS offers

Policy on providing medical excuse letters.

Information on Chicken Pox

What Our Patients Say About Us

MRSA Information

Strains of community acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have emerged in the past several years. Unlike hospital MRSA, community MRSA is currently still sensitive to a number of antibiotics. It is, however, resistant to the antibiotics we usually use for skin infections including methicillin, but also Keflex, dicloxicillin, Augmentin, erythromycin, azithromycin. These are still the best antibiotics for most skin infections but will be ineffective for MRSA.

The infection is spread by direct contact in most cases. You can help prevent spread of any skin infection, including MRSA by:

• good hand-washing
• not sharing personal care items such as razors, towels
• keeping wounds covered
• appropriate cleaning of sports equipment surfaces after use.

The initial lesion in a skin infection can look like a pimple or insect bite. If this is not getting better over 3-4 days by keeping the area clean with soap and water and using a topical over-the-counter antibiotic cream, or if it seems to be getting worse rapidly or if you begin to run a fever great than 100.5, you need to be seen by a medical provider.

If you have questions or concerns, or wish to make an appointment at the Health Service, please call 262-472-1300.

• More information on MRSA
• Tips for Teens with Diabetes
• Information on influenza and prevention
• Information on influenza from Wisconsin DHSS

Flu Immunization

Who is at high risk of flu complications?

• People who are 50 years old or older. Even if you are active and in good health, you have a higher risk of complications if you get the flu. Each year about 36,000 people in the U.S. die because of the flu.
• People with chronic (ongoing) or long-term health problems. You may look and feel healthy, but if you have a condition like diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or asthma, you are more likely to have complications from the flu. If your immune system is weakened by long-term problems like cancer or HIV/AIDS, you need a flu shot (the flu shot is safe for people with weak immune systems).
• Women who are pregnant during flu season (typically November through March). Pregnant women are at risk of complications and hospitalization if they get the flu. The influenza vaccine is safe for pregnant women and their babies. Protect yourself and your baby by getting vaccinated.
• Children under 5 years old. Children under 5 years old have a high risk of emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to flu.

Influenza (flu) is a serious disease of the nose, throat, and lungs. It can make you sick for a week or longer with coughing, fever, aching, and more. And it can lead to pneumonia. Get your flu shot.

If you live with or take care of people like these, you should get vaccinated too. When you protect yourself, you help protect your family and friends.

Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Avian Flu update
Pandemic Influenza Planning for Individuals

UW-W Pandemic Flu Information

HPV Vaccine Available

Gardisil, the vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer and other diseases in females caused by certain types of genital Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is now available at UHCS. A total of 3 shots is needed over a 6 month period. See Fees page for price. Call 262-472-1300 for an appointment. HPV Vaccine Questions and Answers

Smoking Cessation sessions

Students, staff and faculty can receive free individualized help to quit smoking from UHCS.

The first session lasts about 40 minutes and helps you identify your triggers and develop a comprehensive quit plan encompassing several strategies. Prescription medication, if appropriate, can be dispensed to students for a reasonable fee. (Staff and faculty need to see their own MD for prescriptive medicine).

E-mail follow-up to give support and problem solve is offered. If desired, 20 minute follow up support sessions may also be scheduled.

Call 262-472-1300 to schedule an appointment.

Allergy Injections

Students receiving allergy desensitization's at the Health Services must follow these regulations:

1. Provide diagnosis, allergens and written instructions from allergist. There is no allergist on staff at UHCS. The first injection must be given by student's allergist.
2. Allergy injections are given when a physician is present at the Health Service at specified times by appointment. A chart with medical history and signed allergy agreement form must be established first.
3. A waiting period of thirty minutes is required after every injection. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in discontinuing allergy injections here at the Health Service. Before leaving you must check with the nurse who administered the injection.
4. The prescribed schedule should be followed faithfully. If a phone call to your allergist is required, your appointment may be lengthy or even postponed.
5. Allergens should be picked up before vacation periods during Health Service hours. University Health & Counseling Services is not responsible for allergens left during vacation periods.
6. You are responsible for keeping an adequate supply of your allergens at the Health Service. If you have them sent directly to the Health Service, we will not call to notify you of its arrival.
7. There will be a charge for single and multiple injections/allergens. See List of Fees
8. Students under age 18 years need a signed parental consent form.
9. Students listed as "allergic to epinephrine" may not receive allergy injections at UHCS as this is the medication on hand to treat severe reactions.

Treatment for Mental Health Concerns

The Health Service at UHCS is staffed by a psychiatrist, two MDs and three nurse practioners who provide the full range of student health care. All of these providers care for students with mental health concerns. In providing care they can coordinate with counselors in our Counseling Services that the student may be seeing.

Health care staff commonly deal with the whole range of mental heatlh concerns students experience including depression, anxiety, as well as other less common concerns.

Staff can also assist students to get medication to treat these problems. After evaluating the student (this may include a review of records from other providers), the medical and nurse practitioner staff at UHCS can write a prescription for medication to be obtained from local pharmacies, can dispense one of the moderately priced medications we have in our dispensary and/or can help students apply for a patient assistance program to receive medication at no cost directly from the pharmaceutical company.

What Our Patients Say About Us:

Last year 99% of surveyed students who used the health service rated it as excellent or good and 100% said they would use it again if needed.

"I've come here throughout my four years and have always received great assistance!"

"Really nice, helpful and cheap if you need to buy anything out of pocket!"

"The Health Center was great. I was in and out in no time and everyone was very kind."

"I love the Health Center, everyone was very helpful and very nice."

"I am always able to get an appointment in a timely manner. I feel I have been helped to the best of the staff's abilities. I choose UHCS over any other place every time."

"The front office staff was wonderful! Their smiles and concern for my care completely brightened my day!"

"I really enjoy being able to keep consistency in the doctor I see."

"I was very thankful this exists. I do not have insurance so it helps to be able to have a place to go where many things are free and what's not is cheaper. The healthcare providers are all very nice and willing to help."

"Staff is concerned and nice. They do what they can to try and assist you with your needs. Dr. and staff try to get to know you on a personal level and make you feel more at home/relaxed"

The majority found their visit to the Health Service helpful in their academic performance/attendance.

"The staff is always very friendly, Most of the time I am seen right at my scheduled appointment. Really has improvved my schoolwork and attitude on life."

"The doctor was very helpful in explaining what I had and what treatment was available. Also, the free samples were great for my college budget."

"The staff is always very freindly and helpful. They listen to your concerns and do their best to help, offering assistance and advice on how you can help yourself."

"I think you do a great job! I like how you seem to always get people in to see someone ASAP."

"Very helpful and fast service. Way better than any previous doctor's appointment that I've had anywhere else. Thanks!"