Earlham College Health Services
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Where is Health Services and what hours is Health Services open?

A: You will find Health Services in Olvey-Andis Hall at the south end of 1st floor. . We are open 8:00AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday when school is in session (Shorter hours during mid-term breaks and May term). We are closed in the summer and during winter break.

Q: How much does it cost to go to Health Services?

A: Office visits to Health Services to see a nurse or the doctor or nurse practitioner are free for registered undergraduate students. Graduate students from the MAT Program, Bethany, and Earlham School of Religion are charged $25 per visit to see the nurse, and $30 per visit to see the nurse practitioner or the doctor. We do charge for medical supplies, medicines and lab work. These expenses can be charged to your personal student account.

Q: When is the doctor at Health Services and how do I make an appointment?

A: Dr. Howard Deitsch, a Family Practitioner, sees students during Doctor's Clinics Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30-9:30AM. Students make appointments by coming to Health Services or by calling extension 1328 and speaking to one of our nurses. Appointments can also be made to see Dr. Deitsch in his office (There is a fee for visits to his office.) Referrals to other local clinics can be made when Dr. Deitsch is out of his office.

Q: Can I get my allergy shots at Health Services?

A: Yes. Allergy shots are given only during doctor's clinic. You must bring your own serum and the instruction sheet from your allergist. We can store the serum in Health Services. See link for more info.

Q: When is Women's Clinic and what services does it offer?

A: Women's Clinic is offered twice a month to provide routine pelvic and breast exams and assessment of more acute concerns (yeast infections, STDs, menstrual irregularities...). Exams are done by Marianne Barrett RN, MSN, CS. Call Health Services (x1328), or come in to find out the date of the next clinic and to make an appointment. There is no fee for the appointment, but we do charge for any labs that are done.

Q: What do I do when I get to Health Services?

A: When you arrive at Health Services to see a nurse or for an appointment or allergy shot we ask you to sign in and go to the waiting room. Students are seen in the order in which they sign in or in the order of their appointments unless you have an emergency. In that case please let us know right away!

Q: Can I get medicine without seeing the doctor?

A: Yes. We stock over-the-counter remedies for colds, headaches, sore throats, etc. Nurses can assess students for certain clear-cut ailments such as strep throat and urinary tract infections.

Q: Where else can I find Health information?

A: Each dorm has a wall rack in the lobby with health information pamphlets on a variety of topics. There are also links from this web page to general health sites on the web. You can always come in to Health Services and talk to one of the nurses even if you "just have a question."

Q: Where can I get tested for STIs (STDs)?

A: Local HIV and STD Testing Sites

Hotline numbers:

• National AIDS Information Hotline 1-800-342-AIDS

Wayne County Health Department
Located in the red brick building just east of the National Road Bridge. Sign says "Wayne Co. Government": 765/973-9294

• HIV testing is FREE for students. Call for an appointment at 973-9294.
• STD Clinic: Thursdays: walk-in, no appt needed. Women 8A-11A and 1P-3:30P, Men 10:30A-11A and 3:30P-4P. Average cost for students is $39 for women and $13 for men and can include HIV testing if you want. Testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, Hepatitis and for Trichomonas and gardnerella can be done. No appt. needed. (Take a book. People are seen on a first come first served basis).

Earlham Health Services

• Women's Clinic By appointment, held twice a month, provides testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea ($55), trichomonas, gardnerella and yeast as well as routine exams.
• Men and Women may be seen in Earlham's regular Doctor's clinic M,T,TH and Fri with advance appts necessary. Testing for Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomonas, gardnerella and yeast can be done if indicated. Treatment for genital warts can also be done.
• Free HIV, Hep B and C and syphilis testing is offered twice a month on Friday afternoons courtesy of Wayne County Health Dept. Call ext. 1328 for appointments.

Q: Can I buy condoms/dental dams/lubricant on campus?

A: Yes. Health Services has latex condoms, dental dams and lubricant at wholesale prices which can be purchased for cash or charged to your account. Free condoms are also available.

Q: What if I think I might be pregnant?

A: Pregnancy testing can be done at Health Services. Bring in a sample of your first urine of the day. You can get a container from Health Services the day before or use your own clean container. You can discuss birth control options with the nurses anytime, whether you're pregnant or not.

Q: Foreign study. What vaccines do I need and when should I start getting them?

A: Look up your destination on the Center for Disease Control web site. You should try to finish all of your vaccines 4 weeks before you arrive at your destination. If you have not had the Hepatitis B vaccine series, you should keep in mind that you need 6 months to complete the three doses. (If you are going on a fall program, you should start that series no later than January of the previous semester.) Health Services can order vaccines for you even if the travel is not an Earlham program.

Q: How do I order my vaccines from Health Services?

A: Come in to Health Services to discuss your itinerary and your personal vaccine history with one of the nurses. Vaccines are ordered individually, except for routine vaccines like tetanus which are on hand all of the time. If you are going with an Earlham program, one of our nurses may come to one of your group meetings to discuss what is recommended and to take orders. You are responsible for coming in to Health Services for your shots when you are notified that they have arrived. Once you have ordered them, your account will be charged.

Q: How do I make an appointment for counseling?

A: Counseling Services has an Internet based appointment scheduling system in place. You can make an appointment with any of the counselors any time of day from any computer with Internet access. Make an appointment with one of the Earlham counselors.

Q: What do I do with the insurance paper that Health Services sends to my mailbox?

A: Some charges from Health Services might be covered by your home or student insurance (prescription medications, lab tests, off-campus visits). Because every plan is different, we send a report to your box of these charges and you are responsible for sending these to your insurance. If you have Earlham student insurance, these forms should be taken to the Business Office in Carpenter Hall to be filed. Do not throw them away. Your parents do not get a copy unless you send it to them.

Q: Can my parents get information about my Health Service visits?

A: Except in life threatening emergencies, your medical information will not be released to your parents without your permission. On occasion, Health Services receives telephone calls from parents about your medical care. If you are over 18 years of age, the health care providers are unable to release any medical information to your parents without your explicit verbal or written permission.

Earlham College · 801 National Road West · Richmond, Indiana 47374-4095
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This page last updated: September 1, 2005