FAQ
- Essentials to Bring to College
- What services are included in my health fee?
- What services are not included in the health fee?
- When should I make an appointment to see a doctor or nurse practitioner?
- MRSA
- Allergy Injection Policy
- Insurance Claims
- Treatment of Pregnant Patients
- Excuses for Class
For Parents and Students - Essentials to bring to college!
We suggest the following items to be sent with your student to have available in their room for after hours and weekends:
- Thermometer
- Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen
- Antibacterial ointment
- Band aids
- Hand sanitizer
- Over-the-counter allergy, cough and cold medicine (your preference)
- Any routine medications that your student takes
- If your student has asthmas, please send their rescue inhaler and that it is within its expiration date
- Copy of your insurance card
Services included with student health fee:
- Health service physician/nurse practitioner/nurse visits.
- In-house lab work.
- Short term medication included on Pharmacy Formulary.
- Allergy injection administration – students must furnish serum prescribed by allergist.
- Tuberculin skin test.
- Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis immunization.
- Minor suturing.
What services are not included in the health fee*?
Immunizations - must be prepaid before they will be given
- Hepatitis B (per injection, series of 3) $30.
- Meningitis (Menactra. Must be preordered through pharmacy) $89.
- Gardisil (per injection, series of 3) $150.
Prescriptions not included on the Pharmacy Formulary or for long-term conditions.
Xrays - not available at Farber Health; provider will order and send patient to Radiology Associates.
Lab Tests - sent to outside lab.
- Pap smear $18.90
- STD testing 16.30
- HIV test 19.65
- Hepatitis Panel 26.30
- Herpes - Blood 20.00; Culture 42.00
*Prices subject to change
When should I make an appointment to see a doctor or nurse practitioner?
Persistent fever greater than 101 degrees.
Cold symptoms not improved or worse after 7 – 10 days.
Abdominal pain or vomiting.
Severe headache not relieved by Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or other over-the-counter (otc) medicine.
Stiff neck.
Ear pain or drainage from ear.
Sore that has signs of infection (redness, drainage, swelling, pain).
Eyes with redness, drainage (eyelids stuck together when awakening). Or eyes that are painful.
Sudden vision changes.
Urinary frequency, urgency, burning.
Unusual vaginal/penile discharge. Odor?
Abnormal bleeding.
Abnormal lump.
Rash for 3 or more days.
Changes in mole or freckle.
Injury related to fall or trauma causing pain and swelling unrelieved by otc medications and impedes normal activities.
Deep cuts or lacerations that may need sutures. Need to be seen before 8 hours after injury.
Auto accident (for documentation).
Chest pain, at any time. If very painful call 911.
(Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)
The "Superbug"
Some germs that commonly live on the skin and in the nose are called staphylococcus or "Staph" bacteria. Usually they do not cause harm, but sometimes they can get inside the body through a break in the skin and cause an infection that is usually treated with antibiotics. Not all staph infections are MRSA.
MRSA is a Staph infection resistant to treatment with penicillin, and some other antibiotics. Because of this resistance, it can lead to more serious infections of the body. It used to be seen primarily in hospitals, and in those individuals with weakened immune systems. Recently it has become more common in community and competitive sports settings. This is a nationwide trend, and it has also been seen locally. The treatment is longer and more complicated than with many other skin infections.
The spread of MRSA is not airborne. Rather, it is transmitted through direct contact with the bacteria. This can be through skin-to-skin contact, sharing of towels, personal items, or equipment. A break in the skin, such as a scrape or cut, would increase the possibility of getting the infection. Any draining wound should be regarded as a potential MRSA infection and should be covered.
Prevention:
- Cleanliness. Hand washing. Shower after working out, sports practices and competitions.
- Do not share personal toiletry items - razors, deodorant, lotion.
- Use liquid antibacterial soap. No bar soap.
- Use a barrier (such as clothing, or a towel) between your skin and shared gym equipment.
- Report all skin lesions. Have it evaluated by a health care professional. The earlier the treatment, the better. It can help prevent the infection from getting worse.
What does MRSA look like?
- A sore or skin lesion with symptoms that may include redness, warmth, skin tenderness, painful boils or blisters, pus or drainage..
- They may look like spider bites.
- MSRA infected lesions can change from the skin surface to abscesses beneath the skin.
Treatment:
- Take antibiotics as prescribed, and until completed. The lesion may be cultured for identification of the bacteria and a sensitivity done to determine which medications it will respond to.
- Keep all wounds covered.
- Wash hands before and after changing bandaids and bandages.
- Place soiled dressings and disposable items that have come into contact with infected sites in separate trash bags and close before placing in common garbage.
- Change towels and linens daily.
- All clothing and linens should be handled separately from that of other household members. Place in separate bag or hamper.
- Laundry items with hot water and bleach. Dry on hottest possible settings.
- Tell your roommate and close friends so that they may take precautions.
Hand washing is the single most important behavior in the prevention of infectious disease.
For further information visit www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/ARESIST/mrsa.htm
Allergy Injection Policy
The Student Health Center will administer allergy injections for students that are under the care of an allergist and have allergy serum prescribed for them. To insure that these injections are given according to the physician’s protocol and realizing that each may differ, basic information is required before administering allergy injections.
Each patient must receive their initial shot(s) and have had no adverse reaction at their allergist’s office. Any student that has an adverse reaction at this clinic may be asked to get subsequent injections at their allergist’s until no reactions are exhibited.
Each vial of antigen should be adequately labeled by the prescribing physician with the patient’s name, contents of vial, strength or dilution of serum, and expiration date. Serum not properly labeled will not be administered to students.
A record of past injections with the date and amount is required.
Schedule for Shots
One shot per week:
Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday
8 am – 12 pm, 2 – 4 pm
Two shots per week:
Monday + Thursday
Due to heavy scheduling on Fridays, no shots will be given on that day.
Insurance Claims
Farber Student Health Center currently provides nearly 99% of all its services at no additional cost to the students of Valdosta State University. Services that require additional expense for the students are lab fees that require processing through an outside facility, x-rays, and prescriptions not on formulary. Also, referrals to other health care providers as well as emergency room visits are not covered by the student health fee.
At this time, we do not process insurance claims for students. Our intention is to provide the best quality care without burdening the student with additional expenses. The health center is currently not equipped with the personnel or the systems necessary to provide this service. However, students are not required to pay the customary deductibles, co-pays or percentages that would be expected if insurance were to be processed. This policy also avoids penalizing students who do not have access to personal insurance.
We regret any inconvenience this might cause particular students, but we feel that this policy benefits an overwhelming majority of the students.
Treatment of Pregnant Patients
The Health Center does not treat pregnant patients, but refers them for treatment to their obstetrician.
If the patient is found to be pregnant through testing, or if the patient identifies herself as pregnant, she will be referred to another facility for further evaluation.
The Student Health Fee for the semester may be refunded. Provide written documentation of proof of pregnancy to the Director or Assistant Director of Auxiliary Services, who will then notify the Bursary that a refund may be given.
Does the Health Center write excuses for class?
The Health Center does not write excuses for class. If a student has missed classes due to illness and wishes to medically withdraw, then verification is needed. The student may sign a HIPAA form for a release of a copy of their medical record.