Student Health Services (SHS) is a nurse-directed clinic. Our medical director is an off-campus medical physician.  Treatment in SHS is limited to acute, ambulatory care only. We are not set up or staffed in a manner that can facilitate chronic, long-term illnesses. 

Our facility is open on weekdays only, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.  The clinic is closed in the evenings and on weekends with no on-call staff.  Physicians are on campus only two hours weekly (on Wednesday afternoon). There are no provisions for overnight care of sick students, or isolation of students with communicable diseases. Students requiring these services will be encouraged to return home for the duration of their illnesses. Assistance in making necessary arrangements will be offered if home care is not an option. 

Other nearby healthcare facilities are Floyd Medical Center, located within 3 blocks, Urgent Care is across the street from the university, Harbin Clinic and Redmond Medical Center are within a 5 minute drive from Shorter University. A listing of other healthcare facilities is available in Room 219A, Fitton Student Union.

IMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATION

Shorter University Student Health Services follows HIPAA guidelines. The HIPAA guidelines are on pages 3 and 4 of the health immunization form that all incoming new students must complete and sign. There are copies available in the clinic as well. To insure confidentiality of health records, a student’s written consent is required before releasing information.

Download the REQUIRED Health/Immunization Form

Click here for more information on required immunizations

Important notice regarding Meningitis

Drug & Alcohol Treatment

Here is a list of local and national drug and alcohol prevention programs.  Although Counseling Services does not provide treatment services for alcohol and drug use/abuse, the Director of Student Support Services will meet with students seeking such treatment for a brief time to provide support, assess the students’ needs, and assist them with referrals to off-campus resources.

FLU INFORMATION

Flu season lasts through the fall and winter months. More than one kind of flu viruses can spread in a flu season. That is what happened in the 2009 flu season, which included seasonal flu and the 2009 H1N1 flu, most commonly referred to as the swine flu.  Should a flu outbreak occur on campus, a team of Shorter University personnel, including top administrators, health and safety personnel, and faculty representatives will plan for appropriate responses.

Learn more on how to prevent the flu>

CLINIC HOURS FOR 2011-2012

Student Health Services
Fitton Student Union, Room 209 A
Physicians - Wednesdays from 2 pm to 4 pm
Clinic Hours - Monday through Friday - 8:30 am to 4 pm

Fall Semester 2011 Physician Visits

August 24 and 31
September 7, 14, 21, 28
October 5, 12, 19, 26
November 2,9,16, 30
December 7

Spring Semester 2012 Physician Visits

January 2012 –
January 11, 18, 25
February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
March 14, 21, 28
April 11, 18, 25
May 2

MAILING ADDRESS

Shorter University
Student Health Services
Box 37
315 Shorter Avenue
Rome, GA  30165

Telephone: 706-233-7278
Confidential Fax: 706-236-1519
Fax: 706-233-7378
Email: mssmith@shorter.edu

Location: 2nd Floor, Fitton Student Union

CLINIC STAFF

Dr. Frank Don Diego, MD
Medical Director

	Mary Shotwell Smith, MA, BSN, RN, SANE Director, Student Health Services mssmith@shorter.edu
	Mrs. Gerry Schlitz Certified Nurse Assistant gschlitz@shorter.edu
	Mrs. Jan Sidwell Administrative Assistant jsidwell@shorter.edu

Shorter Student Support Online Resource

An online resource to provide information, support, advice, news, insight and inspiration. Here you will find articles, tips and thoughts regarding mental and physical health and education and career support.

REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS

A completed health/immunization form must be received in Student Health Services prior to registering for classes.

Required Immunizations as of June 1, 2007
2 MMRs
Tetanus injection less than 10 years old

It is recommended you receive the following immunizations and screening:

Meningococcal vaccine                                                                                                                                                                                                  
Hepatitis B (Series of 3)                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Varicella (Chickenpox)                                                                                                                                                                                                            
PPD (Tuberculosis screening within 1 year)                                                                                                                                                                              

NOTE to nursing majors: Shorter University’s School of Nursing requires the Hepatitis B series, tuberculosis (annual Mantoux skin test) and varicella vaccine for admittance to the BSN program.

Click here for more information on required immunizations>

All daytime traditional, non-traditional, commuter and residential students must complete a health form and it must be received prior to registration.  The Health and Immunization form is available online by downloading the form at the top of this page or by contacting the Office of Admissions.

In addition, proof of insurance for students is necessary or your registration will be considered incomplete.  Proof of insurance should be sent with the Health and Immunization form to:

Shorter University
Student Health Services
315 Shorter Ave.
Rome, GA 30165

STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE

Student health insurance for domestic non-athletes is available through United Healthcare. Follow the link below to learn about the plan, receive an instant quote, apply and pay for coverage online.

United Healthcare Medical Insurance>

Our goal is for all international students to receive proper medical care. Due to the uncertainty of acceptability of international insurance in our facilities, all international students are required to have the international insurance provided through Shorter University.

As for international students who are also athletes, in addition to the medical insurance, there is a required athletic insurance through the Athletic Department (see below).

In addition to personal health insurance that all international and domestic athletes must have, there is also the required athletic insurance. To learn about the insurance requirements for athletes, please use the following link:

http://goshorterhawks.com/information/sportsMedicine/index

At the website, select options in the following order:

• Inside Athletics
• Scroll down to Sports Medicine
• Select FAQ

WELLNESS EDUCATION

Wellness Education involves empowering students with the necessary knowledge to take better care of themselves throughout their lifetime. This can be as simple as learning how to make wise choices resulting in an appropriate decision concerning their health or as complex as discussing serious health conditions.

Wellness Education comes in various forms. It can be in lecture form before a classroom or a one-on-one conversation with a student in the clinic. Printed materials on men's and women's health, acute illnesses, sports wellness and physical fitness are available to the students. In addition, Student Health Services provides information on smoking cessation, drug use and abuse, nutrition, exercise and other health promotion/maintenance issues. 


PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT

A Registered Nurse is available to give a general assessment of the student. If a more complete assessment is needed, the student is referred to the campus physician (on campus one afternoon per week) or to a local medical doctor. 

There is no charge for a visit to the campus nurse or the self-care area of the clinic.  There is a $10 charge to see the physician in addition to a $10 charge for certain screenings (strep, urinalysis, pregnancy, HBG, mono, blood glucose, PPD) and immunizations (tetanus, influenza when available) performed in the clinic for a small fee.  These charges are billed to your campus account or may be paid directly to Student Health Services. 


SERVICES

Physician visits - 2 hours weekly, Wednesdays 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, walk-ins accepted

Self-care Sections (Two available - one outside the clinic door and one in the clinic's reception area)
Illness visits - (walk-in)
Diagnosis
Treatment
Referrals as needed

Screenings include - strep, urinalysis, mononucleosis, pregnancy, HBG, blood glucose, PPD, hearing and body composition using the Tannita Body Mass Analyzer.

Click here for a health services price list

HELPFUL LINKS

1. For information on nutrition: http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/;
2. For information on alcohol: http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/quickstats/general_info.htm;
3. For information on quitting smoking: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/index.htm;
4. For information on controlling weight: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/index.html.

Annual, pre-employment, school (appointment only as physician’s limited schedule allows).  Due to the limited number of hours that the physicians are on campus and the large number of campus athletes, sports pre-participation physical exams are referred to outside medical facilities such as Urgent Care, Family Practice, and the student’s primary care physician. The Athletic Department requires physical exams to be completed prior to arrival at Shorter University.

IMMUNIZATION CLINIC

Immunizations available through Student Health Services are influenza, tetanus and PPD (tuberculosis screening). Other immunizations can be received at Floyd County Health Department or Harbin Clinic Infectious Diseases.

Student Health Services does not give allergy injections. If a student needs to continue allergy injections while in college and cannot get to their allergist, it is recommended that they use the following procedure.

• Students who have been tested by a board-certified allergist, will need make an appointment with a physician at Rome Allergy and Asthma Clinic (706) 234-0094, 14 Riverbend Drive, Rome, GA 30161.
• The student must bring a copy of the following for the doctor to peruse at the first visit:
• The student’s allergy record;  
• The extract;
• The extraction records;
• The results of the skin test done by a board-certified allergist;
• The student’s insurance information;
• A co-pay.

If the skin tests were done by a board-certified allergist , the student will not have to be retested at Rome Allergy and Asthma Clinic. After the visit, they can start the student on a regimen. However, if the physician was not a board-certified allergist, the student will need to be retested by Rome Allergy and Asthma Clinic’s staff in order to take their allergy injections.

Student Health Services does not file for insurance reimbursement.  Medical information is confidential and will not be released without the patient's written consent, except as required by law. 

FIRST AID TRIAGE

All emergencies are treated first. Upon assessment, if the nurse finds a situation needing a physician or emergency medical assistance, the student is referred to our clinical physician or a local physician. Minor injuries can sometimes be treated in the clinic, but all diagnostic tests such as blood tests, x-rays, MRIs will be referred to off-campus.

ACUTE ILLNESS CARE

There is a self-care center as you enter the clinic area. If further help is needed, a Registered Nurse is available during clinical hours. Small quantities of over-the-counter medications are available for colds, sinus problems, cuts, headaches and pain. Upon assessment, if the nurse finds a situation needing a physician or emergency medical assistance, the student is referred to our clinical physician or a local physician.

ANNUAL HEALTH FAIR

The Shorter University’s Wellness Committee will sponsor a campus-wide health fair in Fall 2011.

Shorter University's Student Health Services supports each of the following observances on campus.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National AIDS Day
National Heart Month
Great American Smokeout Month
Alcohol Awareness Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month

MEMBERSHIPS

The Nurse Director in Shorter University's Student Health Services is affiliated with the following organizations:

American College Health Association
Southern College Health Association, Board Member
American Nurses Association
Georgia Nurses Association
Sigma Theta Tau International (Honor Society of Nursing)

MYSTUDENTBODY.COM

Shorter University has a strict no alcohol and other drugs policy. MyStudentBody.com is one preventive program that Shorter University uses to help our students understand the risks involved with alcohol and other drugs. 

MyStudentBody is a complete alcohol, drugs, and student wellness program for colleges and universities. It is used by leading public and private universities across the nation. MyStudentBody also serves as a general wellness resource addressing tobacco use, nutrition, stress, with motivational self-assessments.

Click here for detailed login instructions

STUDENTS AND PARENTS!
IMPORTANT NOTICE ON MENINGITIS!

As of January 1, 2004, Georgia Law requires all college students living in campus housing to be vaccinated against meningococcal disease or sign a waiver stating they have received information about the disease and have elected not to be immunized.

In order to ensure that students in Georgia are planning to attend college are vaccinated in accordance with state legislation, Student Health Services sponsors an immunization clinic which includes meningococcal vaccine on campus during the Immunization Clinic in the fall semester. Students can receive the vaccine at Harbin Clinic, Infectious Disease control Clinic, 1825 Martha Berry Blvd., 706-295-5331, from their personal, or from the physician of their choice.

* Meningococcal disease is a serious disease that can lead to death within only a few hours of onset; one in ten cases is fatal; and one in seven survivors of the disease is left with a severe disability, such as the loss of a limb, mental retardation, paralysis, deafness, or seizures;
* Meningococcal disease is contagious but a largely preventable infection of the spinal cord fluid and the fluid that surrounds the brain;
* Scientific evidence suggests that college students living in dormitory facilities are at a moderately increased risk of contracting meningococcal disease; and
* Immunization against meningococcal disease will decrease the risk of the disease.
* The meningococcal meningitis vaccine can prevent 4 types of meningococcal disease, including two of the three types most common in the United States and a type that causes epidemics in Africa. Meningococcal vaccines cannot prevent all types of the disease, but they protect about 90% of the people who get the vaccine.
(Resource – DHHS, CDC, 01/28/2008)