Student Health Service

Mission Statement

Our mission is to advance the health of our students in order to support their academic success and social growth at Lesley University. We are committed to the primary prevention of illness, to the easy and equal access to services for all resident students, and to our role as advocates for a healthy campus community. We see our contact with students as an opportunity to educate them about pertinent health problems and lifestyle behaviors, to help them participate in their own care, and to assist them in becoming educated consumers of health care.

This fall, preparing for a new academic year also means planning for an expected resurgence in cases of the H1N1 influenza virus. All public health agencies are planning for an increase in flu cases, and at Lesley we are staying in touch with those agencies as we strive to keep the Lesley community healthy through the flu season.

For more information on Lesley's Flu Information, please visit http://lesley.edu/info/H1N1

H1N1 Flu: Resources for Colleges and Universities - Institutional Resources for Higher Ed- http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/

The best defenses -- both for yourself and those around you -- is in personal behavior geared to prevention and education. We urge everyone to consult the Centers for Disease Control website to obtain the latest information about the H1N1 virus.

Services

The Lesley University Student Health Service provides basic primary health care services to all full-time undergraduate students of Lesley College, The Art Institute of Boston, and the Threshold program. Enrollment in the SHS is automatic for students living in Lesley University housing, and is optional for full-time undergraduate students living off-campus or for full-time graduate students living in university housing.

To sign up for this optional service, you must go to SHS before the third week of classes and sign a Contract for each semester you wish to enroll. The $400.00 fee will be charged to your student account and is non-refundable. Please Note: This service is NOT health insurance.

Services include professional care by nurse practitioners and a supervising physician for illnesses and minor injuries. A Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist is also available on campus by referral from the Student Health Service staff and the University Counselors. A local pharmacy makes daily deliveries to the SHS, where prescriptions can be picked up each afternoon on business days.

Services are subject to change.

Privacy

Medical confidentiality is assured for all care and services at SHS, except in cases where the safety of the student or others is at risk, or as required by law (such as mandated reporting of certain infectious diseases and abuse). This means that no detailed information will be transmitted to others without the student's written consent or direction, except as noted above. The Student Health Form information may be shared with appropriate University personnel on a need to know basis.

Contacting Us and Scheduling Appointments

The Lesley University Student Health Service is located in the lower level of Mackenzie Hall, below the McKenna Student Center.

phone 617.349.8222; dial x8222 from campus locations
fax 617.349.8225

Questions

For further information and questions, please contact:

Sally Strawn, RN, MS, Director of Student Health Service

phone 617.349.8942
email sstrawn@lesley.edu

Virginia Delani, Administrative Assistant

phone 617.349.8222
email vdelani@lesley.edu

Hours of Operation

The Student Health Service is open from September through May commencement, on the same schedule as the residence halls. Business hours are Monday - Tuesday from 8:30am until 7:00pm, and Wednesday - Friday from 8:30am until 4:30pm. Office visits are generally by appointment. Same day appointments may be available at the start of each day for urgent needs.

After Hours

Urgent problems that cannot wait until the next business day and all medical emergencies will be cared for by local hospital emergency rooms and walk-in clinics.

In the event of an emergency while on campus, students should contact their Community Advisor or Campus Security (617.349.8888 or 617.491.4444). In life-threatening situations, students should call 911 for an ambulance, then call Campus Security so they can assist the ambulance in finding the student. Campus Security also has a first aid kit and defibrillators available.

Mount Auburn Hospital is the closest hospital to the Lesley University campus. Mount Auburn is a Harvard-affiliated teaching hospital located just outside of Harvard Square in Cambridge, at 330 Mount Auburn Street. The main telephone number is 617.492.3500.

The Mount Auburn Hospital Walk-In Center is open Monday-Friday from 8:00am until 7:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am until 5:00pm. The phone number for the Walk-In Center is 617.499.5065.

The Mount Auburn Hospital Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year round. The telephone number for the Emergency Department is 617.499.5025.

Knowledge of your health insurance coverage is very important for accessing all medical services. Each student should have their insurance cards with them.

Insurance

Health insurance  is required by law for all full-time and three-quarters-time students. Students need to be aware of what their health insurance coverage is and how it works. Some insurance companies require prior approval for services (especially HMO coverage). Students will usually use their health insurance to pay for laboratory tests obtained at the Student Health Service, such as throat cultures, blood tests, or urine tests. These tests are performed by Quest Diagnostics, a large local reference laboratory. If the student does not wish to use his/her insurance for any reason, they will be given the option of being billed directly by the laboratory and will be fully responsible for the charge. Prescriptions can be filled at any pharmacy; the cost is the responsibility of the student.

Immunization Law

Proof of immunization is also required by law in Massachusetts for all full-time students and ALL international students. Immunization requirements include:

• 2 MMRs (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) given after the 1st birthday, and at least one month apart
• Tetanus/diphtheria (TD) booster or Tdap within 10 years
• Hepatitis B series of three immunizations. Blood test showing positive immunity to hepatitis B is an acceptable alternative.
• Meningococcal vaccine for bacterial meningitis: students who will be living on campus are REQUIRED to either document that you have had the vaccine within 5 years, or sign the official waiver form stating that you understand the risks and choose not to receive the vaccine.
• Chicken pox/Varicella: 2 doses of vaccine, date of diagnosed illness, or immunity by blood test is acceptable.

Immunizations must be completed before arrival on campus. Massachusetts law allows only a 30 day grace period for complying with the requirements.