STUDENT HEALTH CENTER QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

What do I do if I get sick?

  • You call the Health Center for an appointment the phone number is 276-6287. All visits are confidential, no one, not even your parents will be told about the visits.

    When is the Health Center open?

  • During the school year, the Student Health Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am – 5:00pm, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00am – 2:00pm. During breaks and between semesters 8:00am-4:30pm. Remember call for an appointment 276-6287.

  • Medical appointments are available 7 days a week. Call 276-6287 for an appointment.

  • Counseling appointments are available Monday – Friday. Call 276-6479 for an appointment.

  • During the summer, the Student Health Center is open 8:00am – 4:30pm, Call 276-6287 for an appointment.

  • The Counseling Center is open during the summer from 8:00am – 4:30pm and during the school year from 8:30am – 5:00pm. Call 276-6479 for an appointment.

  • What do I do if the Health Center is closed and I feel sick?
  • If it is a real emergency and you cannot wait until the Student Health Center opens in the morning, you may seek 24-hour emergency care at Samaritan Hospital, located on Burdett Avenue.

  • What is an emergency?
  • “Unexpected onset of an injury or sickness which requires immediate or urgent medical attention, which if not provided, could result in loss of life or serious permanent damage to a limb or organ or pain sufficient to warrant immediate care. A Medical Emergency does not include elective or routine care”.

  • Ex: You have had a sore throat all week, but you have been very busy with your schoolwork, now it is Friday night and you feel really bad. You should wait until Saturday and call for an appointment.

  • If you go to the emergency room for care and it is not an emergency you will be billed for all the charges. It will be VERY expensive.

    What do I do in case of an emergency?

    • If you cannot wait until the Student Health Center opens in the morning, you may seek 24-hour emergency care at Samaritan Hospital, located on Burdett Ave.

    Under what circumstances would I call for an ambulance?

    • If your situation is a true emergency and you cannot get to the hospital on your own, and you live on-campus, call Public Safety at 276-6611. If you live off-campus you should call 911.
    • Most insurance plans do not cover ambulance transportation to the hospital unless the problem is a true emergency. Be sure to only use this service if the situation is truly an emergency.
    • For more information go to the Student Health Center homepage Student Health Center

    What do I do in a case of emergency when I am out of the capital region?

    • Call an ambulance – usually 911 – or go to a nearby hospital.

    I am young, and I never get sick, do I really need Health Insurance?

    • Yes, it is mandatory, everyone needs health insurance. No one can predict when he or she will get sick or have an accident.

    If I need a band aid can I get it from the Health Center?

    • If you make an appointment to see the Doctor then the answer is yes. If you want to just drop in and get a band aid and leave the answer is “NO”.

    Where can I get a prescription filled? How much will it cost?

    • Students can have prescription filled at any/all local pharmacies. Campus shuttle buses provide transportation to these pharmacies. The cost will vary.

    What if my home government supplies me with a Health Insurance Plan? What should I do?

    • You can purchase Rensselaer’s also. But if you do not want to do that then you must apply for a waiver of the insurance within the first two weeks of school at the Health Center. Otherwise, you will be billed for it. You will have to apply to waive the Rensselaer’s Health insurance every year. If you waive the Rensselaer’s Health Insurance then you cannot change your mind for one year.

    If I need a specialist, will my insurance cover it?

    • With a written referral from the Student Health Center, the Rensselaer Student Health Insurance Plan will cover visits to a specialist.

    For more information about the Student Health Center, please read the Health Center brochure or go to our web site at Student Health Center

    For more information about the Rensselaer Student Health Insurance Plan, please read the plan booklet. Available on line at studenthealth.rpi.edu or at Aetna Student Health

    IF YOU GET SICK OR INJURED

    Eating right and exercising will help prevent illness, and being careful will prevent some accidents. Frequent hand washing is also a great way to prevent the spread of illness. You should see a doctor if:

    • You have a fever of greater than 100.4F (38C) that does not get better with
    • You have severe pain that is unexplained – not caused by a muscle injury, tension headache, or menstrual cramps.
    • You are having upper respiratory problems. If you have been coughing for several days, cough syrup does not help and your chest is getting sore, or if you are short of breath and can’t take a deep breath.
    • You have suffered burns or cuts that need more than a band-aid.

    Have a first aid kit ready because sooner or later you will get sick or injured and chances are it won’t be during normal business hours. A lot of routine things can be treated with a well-stocked first aid kit.

    FIRST AID KIT CHECKLIST:

    • SOMETHING FOR A HEADACHE: You can get brand names, or buy generic medication, which are generally just as good and a lot cheaper. The ones are acetaminophen (the key ingredient is Tylenol). Ibuprofen (found in Advil or Motrin) and Naproxen (found in Aleve). Before you buy, read the labels. Some pain relievers do not mix well with alcohol and can damage your liver. Others can irritate your stomach. Aspirin is not good for some people, like flu patients, because it may cause undesirable side effects. Also, aspirin goes bad quickly if not used for a long time.

    • ANTISEPTIC TOWELETTE: To cleanse any affected skin area before applying some kind of medication.

    • ANTISEPTIC & BURN CREAM: For minor burns, scalds, small wounds, scratches, cuts and abrasions.

    • ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENT: To prevent infections.

    • STERILE BANDAGES/PADS: Get a multipurpose box, with a variety of sizes (many times called BAND-AIDS). Cover affected area after cleaning and applying medication.

    • COTTON BALLS, TISSUES, SWABS, TWEEZERS, AND A SEWING NEEDLE: for splinter removal.

    • THERMOMETER: If you do not know how to use one, please ask.

    • SCISSORS

    • MEDICAL TAPE

    • TISSUES (like Puffs)

    !!!!REMEMBER TO WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY!!!!

Last modified: Dec 22, 2010

International Services for Students and Scholars, Phone: (518) 276-6266, Fax: (518) 276-4839