Emergency consultation services (322-2427) are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the regular school sessions. On-call nurse practitioners take phone calls from home (not on site at SHC) to assist students and RA’s in making decisions about acute or urgent illnesses, injuries, and the use of emergency services. The Vanderbilt Emergency Department staff handles calls between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. In the case of obvious severe injury or illness, students should go directly to the Emergency Room.
SHC is staffed by nurse practitioners and physicians. We are able to meet both the acute (sick, injured) and chronic health care needs of our patients. The most efficient way to access the services of SHC is to make an appointment, preferably with the same provider each time, thereby allowing continuity of care with a person who gets to know you and your health care needs. Typically, a phone call to the appointment desk (322-2427) in the morning will allow you to be seen that day or the next for acute care.
If no appointments are available at the time that you call, our “walk-in” or acute care clinic is available on a first come, first serve basis for your urgent health care needs. However, using the Walk-In Clinic as a matter of routine is similar to using an Emergency Department for primary care— the waits are much longer and it is unlikely that a patient will see the same health care provider at each visit (responsibilities in the Walk-In Clinic are rotated).
Students who wish to speak to a nurse regarding whether his/her problem is appropriate for the walk-in area or an appointment, may call 322-2427 to speak to the charge nurse.
