Student Health Center
The Goucher Student Health Center is a primary health care facility that provides comprehensive medical care for acute and stable chronic illnesses, preventative medical care, and health education services. The Student Health Center is not an urgent care center.
The center is located on the first floor of the main lobby of Heubeck Hall.
Appointments are strongly preferred as walk-ins appointments cannot always be accommodated. Please use the contact information below to make an appointment.
Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m, Monday-Friday when classes are in session (Fall & Spring Semesters)
Contact: nurse@goucher.edu or 410-337-6050 *Please note, the front desk is not staffed with a receptionist, so please leave a message and a member of the clinical staff will call you back as soon as possible.*
General Information
Student Health Portal
Medicat is used to submit your required health forms, message your provider in the Student Health Center, and to access their immunization records or test results.
Log in to Medicat Patient Portal
How to make an appointment
Appointments are strongly encouraged, as walk-ins cannot always be accommodated. To make an appointment or if you have a question for the nurse or nurse practitioner, email or call us. The front desk is not staffed full-time, so please leave a voicemail if no one answers, and we will call you back as soon as possible. If you have a question related to your health forms, please email health.forms@goucher.edu.
Appointment reminders
Please ensure you are on time for your appointments or call the office if you will be late. If you are more than 10 minutes late, we cannot guarantee you will get seen during the original appointment time.
Please note that there will be a $10 fee for students who do now show up for a scheduled appointment or if you are more than 10 minutes late to your appointment.
To schedule an appointment for counseling, please fill out their appointment request form or visit their website for more information.
Eligibility
All Goucher undergraduate and postbac pre-med students are eligible to use the Student Health Center. Students have unlimited office visits at no cost.
Statement of Confidentiality
Patient confidentiality is important to us as well as to you. Your medical records will be seen only by those involved in providing care for you. Except in life-threatening situations, no information will be released without your oral/written permission.
You, the student, are our patient. Information we receive in the Student Health Center will not be released to your parents or other offices on the Goucher campus without your written consent.
Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Patient Rights
- You have the right to receive considerate, respectful, and compassionate care in a safe setting regardless of your age, gender, race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status
- You have the right to know the names and qualifications of your healthcare providers
- You have the right to request a specific provider for your visit
- You have the right to ask for a chaperone during any type of exam
- You have the right to be told by your provider about your diagnosis, benefits and risks of treatment, and the expected outcome of treatment
- You have the right to participate in decisions about your care, treatment, and services provided, including the right to refuse treatment
- You have the right to give informed consent before any treatment or procedure begins
- You have a right to receive a copy of your medical records
- You have a right to voice your concerns about the care you receive. If you have a problem or complaint, please talk with your provider or nurse. Additionally, you may request to speak with the Associate Director of the Student Health Center and/or the Director of Student Health and Wellness. If your concern is not resolved to your liking, you may also file a grievance. Please refer to the Student Grievance Policy (PDF) for more information.
Patient Responsibilities
- You are expected to provide complete and accurate information about your health and medical history, including present condition, past illnesses, hospital stays, medicines, vitamins, herbal products, and any other matters that pertain to your health including perceived safety risks
- You are expected to ask questions when you do not understand information or If you believe that you are unable to follow through with your treatment plan, you are responsible for telling your provider. You are responsible for the outcome if you do not follow the care, treatment, and service plan
- You are expected to actively participate in your care plan and to keep your providers informed of the effectiveness of your treatment
- You are expected to treat all Student Health Center staff with courtesy and respect; abiding by all college policies
- You are responsible to keep your appointments, be on time, and to notify the Student Health Center if you are unable to make it to your appointment
- You are personally responsible for all costs/fees associated with your visit to the Student Health Center
Medical Excuses
Health services are offered to students on a confidential basis. The staff does not issue medical excuses from academic obligations. The Student Health Center staff do not excuse students from classes or academic work. If a student authorizes it, the staff will verify that a student has been treated at the Student Health Center.
Students who miss class because of illness or other emergencies should contact their faculty by e-mail as soon as possible to make the necessary arrangements to complete missed assignments. Faculty members who wish to verify that a student was treated at the Student Health Center may contact the health center staff.
In the event of a serious illness or injury requiring hospitalization or extended absence from classes the Dean of Students should be notified. The Dean's office will assist the student or their family in notifying the faculty.
COVID-19 Information
MPOX (monkeypox)
Mpox is a contagious illness caused by a pox virus. The virus is in the same family of viruses as the virus that causes smallpox. Mpox causes milder illness than smallpox, but some symptoms can be severe. The mpox virus spreads from close personal contact but can also spread from animals to people.
What are the symptoms of Mpox?
Typical symptoms of Mpox start 3-17 days after exposure and can last two to four weeks.
The most common symptom is a rash or sores that can look like pimples or blisters,
which may appear all over the body or just in certain places, such as inside the mouth,
genitals, or anus. Some people also have flu-like respiratory symptoms, such as fever,
swollen lymph nodes, and muscle pain.
What can I do to reduce my risk of exposure?
- Asking people whom they share close physical contact with, especially sexual partners, whether they have a rash or other mpox symptoms.
- Avoiding skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a rash or other mpox symptoms or has been diagnosed with mpox.
- Not sharing bedding, towels, clothing, utensils, or cups with a person with confirmed mpox.
- Washing hands, masking, and disinfecting surfaces in shared spaces with a known case, particularly after caring for skin lesions.
What do I do if I have concerns regarding Mpox?
Please call or email the Student Health Center to speak with a member of our staff.
Testing for students with Mpox symptoms is available.
*Goucher College continues to closely monitor the CDC and local Health Department
websites for ongoing updates*
Overview of Health Services
Primary Care
Acute and chronic general medical services are provided by our nurse practitioners. Consultations with and referral to appropriate specialists are available as needed.
Sexual Health Care
Confidential testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases are available as is emergency contraception. Additionally, we offer comprehensive contraception options and confidential pregnancy testing to students.
Sensitive exams are performed with a chaperone.
The Student Health Center partners with Star Track from the University of Maryland to provide monthly free STI screenings (Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, HIV) for Goucher college students in the Student Health Center. These screenings are processed without insurance involvement. Please see the Events calendar for dates.
General STI testing is available by appointment throughout the school year. We send these lab tests to LabCorp or Quest and they will bill your insurance directly. If you have a high deductible insurance plan, or prefer not to go through insurance, contact the Student Health Center for testing options.
Gynecological Care
Listed below are the sexual and gynecological health services offered at Goucher's Student Health Center. Where applicable, we've included links to information that we think will be valuable in enhancing your health care, education and decision making.
Annual gyn and breast exam and pap
Contraceptives
Emergency contraception ($35, no appointment necessary)
Pregnancy testing
Treatment of gyn problems
Physical Exams
Physical exams for sports, travel, pre-employment, or school can be scheduled with the Student Health Center nurse practitioners and are covered by the Student Health Insurance Plan. The cost of any elective physical without the student health insurance plan is $30.
Equipment
Certain medical equipment is available such as crutches, ace bandages, and ice packs at a reasonable cost. The student health center has a wheelchair and two knee scooters available to rent (for students only).
Immunizations
The Student Health Center offers limited vaccinations on-site and partners with Safeway Pharmacy to offer annual flu shots and COVID-19 boosters. Check the Events calendar for details. Please see the Immunization Policy for more information about specific immunizations required by Goucher.
Pharmacy
The Student Health Center keeps a small supply of prescription medications. For convenience, students may purchase medication prescribed by a Student Health Center provider in lieu of having to pick up a prescription at a pharmacy off-campus.
Medical Transportation Program
The Medical Transportation Program provides free transportation to non-emergency physical or mental health medical appointments through Uber. Please visit the Medical Assistance & Transport page for more information.
Health Forms & Policies
Please note: The online forms referenced below can be found in the Medicat Student Health Portal.
Required Health Forms
In order to provide the best possible medical care, Goucher requires each incoming first- year or transfer student to complete the following required forms. These forms are due in mid-July each year and are communicated to students by the Onboarding Team.
Medical History (online form)
TB Screen (online form) - if a student screens high-risk, they must have their health care provider complete the Additional TB Testing form (PDF).
Physical Examination (PDF) – completed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant within one year prior to the enrollment date. Please use the form provided by Goucher College.
Immunization Record (PDF) – Goucher’s immunization requirements follow guidelines set by the American College Health Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Immunization requirements may vary from state to state; we therefore recommend that your health care provider review our form carefully, assess your status, and update your immunizations as needed to fulfill our requirements. Please see Goucher’s immunization policy for more information.
Insurance Form (PDF) – Goucher requires all incoming students to have adequate health insurance to cover their needs while at school. If your health insurance plan changes while you are a student, please update your Medicat account and submit a new form.
Student-Athletes
Student-athletes who are competing on an intercollegiate varsity athletic team are required to submit additional documentation, including what is listed above for all students.
NEW student-athletes (first year and transfer students)
Medical History Form (online form)
Acknowledgement of Risk/Consent to Treat (online form)
Sickle Cell Trait Information – this includes uploading results of your positive or negative test to your Medicat portal
Concussion Fact Sheet Acknowledgement (online form)
RETURNING student-athletes (if you were on a team last year)
Annual Student-Athlete Returner Form (online form)
Miscellaneous Health Forms
Authorization for Release of Confidential Records and Information (PDF)
Authorization for Treatment of Minors - If you are under 18 years of age, you will need to download this form and have your parent/guardian sign it, then upload it to your Medicat account.
Vaccination Exemption Form
If you are seeking a vaccine exemption, you can download the exemption form from your Medicat account. Personal belief exemptions are not accepted. Medical and religious exemption forms must be accompanied by a letter from a physician/NP/PA or clergy member.
Immunization Policy
Goucher’s immunization requirements follow guidelines set by the American College Health Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Immunization requirements may vary from state to state; we therefore recommend that your health care provider review our form carefully, assess your status, and update your immunizations as needed to fulfill our requirements. Please see Goucher’s Immunization Policy for more information.
Please note, students who have not turned in vaccination records for the mandatory vaccines (MMR, tetanus, & meningitis) will not be permitted to move onto campus. Medical and religious exemption forms, which can be downloaded from your Medicat account, must be accompanied by a letter from a Physician/NP/PA or clergy member. Personal belief exemptions are not accepted.
State law requires that any individual enrolled in a Maryland institution of higher education who resides in on-campus housing must be vaccinated against meningococcal disease, or sign a waiver, which can be completed on the student’s Medicat account.
Events
- December 5, 2024
Free & confidential STI/STD testing for students through Star Track. Insurance and appointment not required.