Is a Physical Exam required before
entering EKU?
NO
Do I need to provide the SHS with records of my
immunizations?
NO. But it would be helpful to the medical staff if you obtained a copy
from your current health care provider, and brought it with you to your
first visit to the SHS.
What shots are required for entrance
to the University?
The University does not require any shots in general. Some programs, however,
such as nursing and occupational therapy for example, require evidence of
immunization against certain diseases - measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis
B. Please check with your program director regarding immunization requirements.
Can the health care providers at the SHS take
care of all my medical problems, or should I establish a relationship with
a local doctor?
The staff physicians, RN’s, and the CMA’s at the SHS can take
care of the majority of acute problems that students bring to us. However,
for chronic medical conditions that require regular monitoring and close
follow up, we recommend establishing a local doctor who will be familiar
with you and be available to you 24/7 should an emergency situation arise
while the SHS is closed (after hours, on weekends, on holidays, etc.) Examples
of chronic medical conditions include Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Asthma,
Seizure disorder, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, to name just a few. Students
with complicated medical conditions that require a specialist’s expertise
also would benefit from establishing a local doctor at the outset.
Should I get copies of my medical
records from my Doctor?
If you have a complicated medical history or an unusual condition, I would
recommend that you get a copy of your medical records for the SHS as well
as one for the local physician who is going to be following you while you
are here in Richmond.
Do you need special permission to treat my student
who is less than 18 yrs of age?
We cannot treat underage students without the parent’s or legal guardian’s
consent. It is best to anticipate this, and fill out a “Consent to
Treat a Minor” form at the beginning of the year, and have it available
at the first visit to the SHS. We generally do not have a chart made for
the student until the first visit, but we can create one earlier if you
want records and consent forms to be maintained at the SHS instead of in
the care of the student.
Can I get allergy shots at the
SHS?
Yes. We do need you to provide us with the serum as well as the instructions
from the allergist detailing the dosing schedule and adjustments necessary
for reactions, late or missed doses, etc. We do require that students remain
in the SHS for at least 20 min following a shot, and be checked out by a
staff member before leaving; if a student refuses to do so, we will be forced
to discontinue giving him/her allergy shots. We also expect students to
adhere to their schedule and show up when the shots are due; too many missed
doses increases the dangers of a reaction and reduces the effectiveness
of immunotherapy.
What about charges for Student Health visits?
All in-house services provided to students are free except Meningitis and
Hepatitis B Vaccines. Thus, doctor visits, lab tests, medications administered
at the clinic, crutches loaned out, treatments/procedures performed at the
clinic are all free to eligible students (eligible = those currently registered
and taking classes; those on campus to start classes, up to 4 weeks before
classes begin; those who have graduated, up to 4 weeks following graduation.
– Ineligible = those who have withdrawn or have been dismissed from
school, or are beyond the 4 weeks following graduation.) Cost of Meningitis
and Hepatitis B vaccines is based on our purchase price; please call SHS
859-622-1761 for current prices.
Do I need Health Insurance?
For all services not available at SHS, students needing these are referred
to the appropriate outside provider, e.g. to Pattie A Clay Hospital for
outpatient labs, Xrays, and other sophisticated diagnostic tests such as
EKG, EEG, Ultrasound, CT and MRI scans, etc., to specialists for consultation
on difficult cases, to physical therapist for treatment, etc. The charges
for these outside services are billed directly by the providers to the student
or his/her insurance company. It is, therefore, very important that adequate
health care coverage be maintained.
Does the University offer a Health Insurance
Plan?
As of this year, the University will no longer offer a single, specific
Health Insurance Plan. Instead, it hopes to provide students and their families
with information on how to choose a good health insurance policy from a
reputable and dependable company, and will provide helpful web based resources
and contact information. The University would like to offer its students
and their families as much freedom of choice as is possible in tailoring
the policy/plan to their specific needs and financial situation. Please
look for mailings on this subject through the summer.
Does the SHS provide medications?
The SHS does not include a licensed pharmacy. Therefore, it cannot dispense
medications. It can only administer a single dose of a medication ordered
by the physician while the student is in the clinic, e.g. Tylenol or Ibuprofen
for fever or pain. All medications that require regular dosing over several
days, once prescribed by our physicians, have to be purchased at the local
pharmacies, of which there are several in town.
Do you recommend the Meningitis
and Hepatitis B vaccine for students?
Yes. Meningitis due to Meningococcal bacteria occurs six times more frequently
amongst freshmen living in residence halls compared to the general population
or the same age group not living on college campus. Living in close quarters,
sharing of personal items, and the social lifestyles of these folks makes
them more susceptible to this potentially very serious disease. It can be
prevented to a large extent by the use of Meningitis vaccine. A single dose
offers protection for 3 to 4 years (longer with the new Menactra), to 90%
of its recipients, starting 10 days after the vaccine is administered, against
four of the five most common strains of the Meningococcal bacteria that
cause disease in the US. Taking the vaccine two weeks before moving into
the Residence Halls is highly recommended. Talk to your own doctor, your
local health department, or visit a travel clinic to get a meningitis shot.
The SHS offers the Meningitis vaccine starting Aug 1st, at a cost of $80
for this year.
The Hepatitis B virus causes acute liver disease. In some folks a chronic
form develops which, over time, can progress to liver failure and even liver
cancer. It can be prevented to a large extent with the Hepatitis
B vaccine, a three dose series given over a six month period. It is also
given at the SHS at a cost of $30 per shot.
