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Campus
Resources
STUDENT
HEALTH CENTER
Medical Director: Louise Hanson, M.D.
(615) 322-2427
The Zerfoss Student Health Center serves the primary care needs of the
Vanderbilt student community. Its comprehensive care includes many services
that can often only be found in a hospital or specialist offices in most
communities. There are no office copays for routine visits, and all
registered students are eligible for care, regardless of insurance
coverage.
Important deadlines
The health
questionnaire was due to Student Health on May 15. If your student has not
completed this yet, please visit the Immunizations
Requirements page to learn more about the required
shots and to gain access to the online immunization portal.
The required annual waiver of the Gallagher student health insurance plan
is due August 1.
If you do not waive the offered plan by that date, your student will be
enrolled in it. Learn more about the health insurance requirements and the
waiver process by visiting this link.
Student Health FAQs
What are the hours
for the Student Health Center?
Monday through Friday: 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8:30 a.m.–noon (during academic year)
What should my
student do if she needs medical attention after hours?
If a student develops an urgent injury or illness after the clinic is
closed, a health care provider is available for telephone consultation at
(615) 322-2427. This answering service will take a message and forward it
to the on-call provider, who will give health-related advice and can help
the student determine if it’s safe to wait until the next business day for
care or if the student should proceed to the emergency department or local
acute-care clinic.
If your student experiences a severe illness or injury, he should go
immediately to the emergency room.
What services are
available at the Student Health Center?
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Acute
care
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Routine
physical exams
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Women’s
health exams and colposcopies
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Chronic
disease management
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HIV
and STD testing
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Allergy
shots
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Routine
immunizations
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Comprehensive
travel medicine services
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Specialty
services: sports medicine, nutritionists
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Ancillary
services: lab services, on-site dispensary, IV infusions, nebulizer
treatments
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How much will a
visit cost at the Student Health Center?
There is no charge for office visits because the Student Health Center
receives its funding through a tax on tuition. Students may be charged for
in-house diagnostic testing (e.g., strep test, UA), procedures (e.g.,
colposcopies), vaccines, medications and supplies. These are provided to
students at the health center’s cost and are almost always less expensive
than copays that would generally be incurred at a clinic that bills
insurance.
Please be aware that the Student Health Center does not bill insurance
companies, and the providers are not members of any insurance provider
panels. If tests such as labs or X-rays are done at the Vanderbilt
University Medical Center, then the Medical Center will bill the student’s
insurance plan.
How can my student
pay for charges incurred?
Students may pay for any charges incurred at the Student Health Center by
using cash, credit card or their Commodore Card.
What is the student
health insurance requirement?
Vanderbilt University is committed to promoting good health and meeting the
medical needs of its students. The unexpected occurrence and expense of a
medical condition can interrupt a student’s academic career. That’s why
Vanderbilt offers the Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan provided
by Gallagher Student
Health Insurance and Special Risk
. Vanderbilt University requires all eligible students to be
covered by a health insurance plan that is comparable to or exceeds the
Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan.
If you choose to waive the Gallagher plan, you must provide proof of other
comparable insurance each year. The waiver
is due August 1.
How long is the
waiver valid?
One year. The Gallagher plan must be waived each academic year by August 1.
This assures that all students are adequately insured during their years at
Vanderbilt.
How do we decide
between our family’s plan and the Gallagher insurance plan?
There are many considerations for families as they think about their student’s
health insurance coverage while away at college. Some considerations
include:
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Do the Gallagher benefits meet our needs?
The Gallagher plan is in full compliance with the current health care
reform regulations. The Gallagher plan has unlimited benefits for
prescriptions, illness and injury. Individual plans have different
requirements under the Affordable Care Act, and therefore may have less
robust coverage than a group plan such as the Gallagher plan.
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Will my family’s plan cover my student at Vanderbilt
University Medical Center, and are specialists at the Medical Center
included on our panel of covered physicians?
If Vanderbilt University Medical Center is not included on a family plan,
then a student may need to obtain hospital or specialist care at another
local hospital, which is less than ideal for the young undergraduate
student who does not have a car.
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Does our family plan have extensive pre-certification
requirements (for tests or specialty referrals) that may potentially be
difficult to navigate and potentially delay care?
Gallagher requires referral from the Student Health Center but requires
no pre-certification from the insurance company itself.
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Which plan makes the most financial sense for our
family?
The Gallagher plan costs approximately $2000 a year and has an annual
deductible of $350 ($250 for hospital/specialist and $100 for prescriptions).
Many private or employer plans have very high deductibles and less robust
coverage for medications. In some cases, adding a student on a family
plan costs more than the Gallagher plan.
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Can my student get
prescriptions filled at the Student Health Center?
The Student Health Center stocks a number of commonly used medications that
our providers prescribe. These are provided to students “at cost.” Our
dispensary is not a pharmacy, so we cannot fill prescriptions written by
providers outside the Student Health Center unless the student is
established with a Student Health provider.
What pharmacies are
near campus?
There are several options:
Vanderbilt Outpatient Pharmacy: 1301 22nd Ave. S., (615) 322-6480
CVS Pharmacy: 426 21st Ave. S., (615) 321-2590
Rite Aid Pharmacy: 2416 West End Ave., (615) 321-4505
Walgreens Pharmacy: 3010 West End Ave., (615) 269-9881
What if my student
needs a referral to a specialist?
The Student Health Center providers maintain close relationships with
Vanderbilt University Medical Center and community specialists and can
provide students with referrals.
What if my student
has a pre-existing condition?
The Student Health Center encourages students with any type of chronic
condition to establish a relationship with a physician at the Student
Health Center. This physician can then help the student with ongoing
management of chronic illness and referrals to specialists as needed. The
Student Health physicians are faculty members in the Medical Center’s
Department of Medicine and are trained to take care of a wide variety of
medical conditions.
Psychological and Counseling Center
Director: Catherine Fuchs, M.D.
(615) 322-2571
The PCC team of clinical professionals includes psychologists, licensed
counselors including substance abuse specialists, and psychiatric medical
providers. The center provides mental health assessment, support and
treatment for all students enrolled at Vanderbilt. Our highly skilled and
multidisciplinary staff collaborates with students to provide
evidence-based treatment plans tailored to each individual’s unique
background and needs. The PCC has an outreach and prevention coordinator
who works with students and campus leaders to provide education about
stress management and mental health. Her focus is on enhancement of coping
skills and decreasing risk factors for mental health problems. A specific
area of education is suicide risk and prevention; the staff provides
workshops for students and faculty at the undergraduate and graduate levels
to promote mental health awareness and to introduce skills for guiding
students toward help.
The center also functions as a training facility for graduate practicum
students, pre-doctoral interns and post-doctoral residents. They are
supervised by our staff of licensed professionals.
We understand that the transition to college is difficult for parents, as
well as students. We have developed a brochure for parents providing tips for
facilitating this transition.
We encourage you to make contact with the PCC prior to the start of the
school year if your student has a history of mental health care needs. This
will help facilitate the transition of care and ensure that your family is
fully aware of our resources.
PCC FAQs
What services does
the PCC offer?
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Immediate
Crisis care
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Individual
therapy
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Group
therapy
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Biofeedback
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Alcohol
and drug evaluations and treatment
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Psychiatric
assessment and treatment
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Assessments
for ADHD and learning disabilities
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Consultation
to students and faculty by phone as well as face-to-face contact
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Mind
Body Lab
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Workshops
about academic support, relationships, coping skills
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Are PCC services
confidential?
Confidentiality for students is protected under HIPAA and FERPA laws.
Parents are encouraged to discuss communication with your student prior to
coming to campus. Students may choose to sign a release of information form
to allow communication when indicated. If your student has a pre-existing
condition that requires treatment at the PCC, we encourage you to discuss
the PCC with your student and to contact us during the summer to identify
resources and plan ahead.
Who does the PCC
work with?
We work closely with campus partners such as the Student Health Center to
coordinate care when indicated. We work with the Office of Student Care and
Community Support to collaborate in wellness programs.
How much do PCC
services cost?
There is not a charge for most PCC services, as services are provided
through a portion of student tuition. There is a charge associated with
ADHD and Learning Disability assessments.
What are the PCC’s
hours?
Monday through Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
We provide an on-call crisis response line nights and weekends.
What if my student
has a pre-existing condition?
If your student has a pre-existing condition that requires treatment at the
PCC, we encourage you to discuss the PCC with your student and to contact
us during the summer to identify resources and plan ahead. If there is
academic or psychological testing available, we encourage your students to
bring that to the first appointment or to mail to the PCC in advance.
Please see additional information on this topic on the Parent Information
page of the PCC website.
Office of Student Care and Community Support
Director: Christy Russell, Ph.D.
(615) 322-0480
The Office of Student Care and Community Support works closely with the
Psychological and Counseling Center, the Student Health Center, the Office
of Housing and Residential Education and other campus partners, including
the academic deans, to help provide emotional, physical and social support
services for students on campus. Student Care and Community Support seeks
to nurture a community of belonging and flourishing for all Vanderbilt
students by working closely with our colleagues throughout the campus to
provide health and wellness educational opportunities for the entire
community and coordinated services for students at particular points of
need.
Student Care and Community Support at Vanderbilt is committed to
coordination of various levels of support to reduce health and behavioral
risks while enhancing opportunities for academic and interpersonal
flourishing within the Vanderbilt student community.
We offer a comprehensive approach to alcohol and other drug abuse
prevention. Vanderbilt participated in the National College Health
Improvement Project and its Learning Collaborative on High-Risk Drinking,
along with several peer institutions. Implementation of the most effective
strategies, developed through this collaboration, are being administered
throughout campus.
First-year students are required to participate in educational training
before arriving at Vanderbilt through AlcoholEdu. AlcoholEdu is an online,
science-based, non-judgmental education program that all first-year and
transfer students are required to complete. Parents are also encouraged to
take the AlcoholEdu course. You will receive a letter with instructions on
how to access AlcoholEdu in mid-July.
AlcoholEdu Part 1 is accessible from Monday, July 20, to Monday, August 17.
Part 1 takes approximately 2 hours to complete.
Part 2 becomes available to students 45 days after Part 1 is completed. The
deadline for Part 2 is Monday, October 19. Part 2 takes about 15 minutes to
complete.
Throughout the year, numerous alcohol-free events are held both on The
Ingram Commons and on the main campus. The Office of Wellness
Programs and Alcohol Education also
hosts campus-wide programming such as Alcohol & Other Drug Awareness
Week and Safe Spring Break Week. Those students in recovery from alcohol
and other drug use, or in the contemplative stage, can connect with
Vanderbilt Recovery Support, a support system for students, which is
offered through this office. Our goal is for all students to make safe and
healthy choices about alcohol and other drugs while enjoying the college
experience.
The Psychological and Counseling Center houses an Alcohol and Other Drug
(AOD) team. This team of clinical professionals provides assessment,
treatment and advocacy for students dealing with either current or former
clinically problematic substance use. They work with your student to
develop a harm reduction and relapse prevention model. This is done in
collaboration with the wellness programs provided by our campus partners.
Student Care and
Community Support FAQs
How are health and
wellness defined at Vanderbilt?
Health and wellness can be viewed as a continuum ranging from wellness
promotion to prevention to treatment. An emphasis on prevention and
wellness increases the likelihood that more students will be healthy, and
fewer will require treatment services for a variety of mental or physical
health conditions. Our emphasis on wellness facilitates skill development
that can promote prevention of psychosocial concerns such as sexual violence,
as well as alcohol-related incidents.
How can the Office
of the Dean of Students help me?
On the Healthydores website there is
information to help you determine how to access immediate help for a
student in distress.
What if my concern
is an emergency?
If the concern rises to an emergency level and you need to speak to someone
immediately, please dial 911.
How are reports
about concerning behaviors a student might exhibit handled?
Once a week during the academic year, representatives from Student Care and
Community Support, Residence Life and Housing Services, and the academic
deans of the specific undergraduate schools and other relevant campus
representatives meet to review students of concern. Representatives of the
Student Health Center and the Psychological and Counseling Center are
present to hear the concerns and to provide consultation on potential
resources that are available for the types of concerns presented. The
health care professionals provide consultation on risk assessment as well.
This collaborative team is referred to as the C.A.R.E. (Campus Assessment
Response Evaluation) Team. In extreme cases, the Director of Student Care
and Community Support will request an urgent meeting with all concerned
parties including academic deans and any relevant campus partner for review
of a student at risk. An action plan appropriate to the situation is agreed
upon and implemented.
Does Vanderbilt have
a protocol for evaluating students who are returning to school after taking
a medical leave of absence (MLOA)?
Yes. The Office of Student Care and Community Support works with the
Student Health Center, Psychological and Counseling Center, and the
academic deans to review materials a student submits requesting a return
from leave of absence, which includes documentation from a treating
provider. The dean outlines recommended conditions for reentry (if
returning from MLOA) and may request the student to seek continued care
based on C.A.R.E. Team recommendations. PCC and SHC can assist with
appropriate referrals based on level of care recommended in the
documentation by the treatment provider. Students will be referred to the
Office of Student Care and Community Concern to ensure compliance with the
recommendations.
What is Vanderbilt
Recovery Support?
Vanderbilt Recovery Support (VRS) provides caring and encouraging support
services to assist students who are in recovery from substance use issues,
and who are working toward success in their academic, social, personal and
professional lives. VRS convenes weekly student-led recovery support
meetings on campus and holds off-campus social and service events. Members
have 24/7 access to the VRS lounge, which offers a comfortable space for studying,
relaxing and/or socializing with fellow VRS members.
In the Fall of 2014, Vanderbilt began offering Recovery Housing. More
information is available here.
Are there special
requirements for Recovery Housing?
Students interested in Recovery Housing must have six months of sobriety
and be involved in a recovery community. A completed application is required
along with an agreement of the terms set forth in the Recovery Housing
Participation Agreement.
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