COUNSELING CENTER

www.rwu.edu/undergraduate/student-life/health-and-counseling/counseling-center

Individual counseling and group counseling appointments are available at zero cost to full-time RWU undergraduate, graduate, and law students. Counseling is offered to students for a wide variety of personal concerns.

We offer both in-person and telemental health treatment (i.e., synchronous video) appointments. Appointments are scheduled by calling the Center at 401-254-3124 or by visiting our spaces on the 2nd floor of the Center for Student Development building. Email is not an effective way of contacting the Center.

During the academic year, we are available Monday through Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm on non-holidays. During spring, summer, and winter breaks, we are available Monday through Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm on non-holidays.

Center Administration: Christopher Bailey, Ph.D., Director/Psychologist and Maureen Minarik, Ph.D., Assistant Director/Psychologist

Description:

The Counseling Center staff are a team of professionals comprised of psychologists, a social worker, postdoctorate fellows, a part-time consulting psychiatrist, doctoral psychology interns, and support staff. The clinical staff assist students with a wide variety of personal concerns and support students in enhancing their resiliency. Our staff has a strong commitment to working with students from diverse backgrounds. Our services are confidential in conjunction with ethical guidelines and legal standards of Rhode Island. Staff cannot share information about whether or not a student has visited the Center, or any information about meetings without a student’s written permission.

Services Offered:

• Counseling: Individual and group counseling is provided in a confidential manner. Counseling tends to be short-term with the goal of helping students effectively manage personal difficulties. Appointments are initiated by a student and not by others, and are typically scheduled in advance of the appointment time.

• Outreach: Staff offer presentations and trainings on a variety of topics such as anxiety, depression, eating concerns, happiness, and time management.

• Consultation: Administrators, faculty, family members, friends, and university staff can consult with Center staff regarding students who they have concerns about. Concerns are often more effectively communication and addressed through information available on the Student Life website: https://www.rwu.edu/undergraduate/student-life/about-student-life/supportingstudents-concern-or-emergencies.

Center staff also collaborate with other university personnel through committees.

• Emergencies: For life-threatening emergencies, Public Safety (401-254-3333) is available on-campus and East Bay Center (401-246-0700) is available off-campus. Both are accessible 24/7/365.

Health Services

Location: Center for Student Development, 2nd floor. Phone: (401) 254-3156

Fax: (401) 254-3305

Email: health@rwu.edu

Clinic Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM by appointment. Health Services is closed on weekends and all University holidays. Limited clinical services are available during the summer.

General Information

Health Services is an appointment-based clinic designed to manage acute episodic health problems and the flare up of chronic problems. Students who become acutely ill or injured outside regular clinic hours should contact call Public Safety directly. Emergency Medical Technicians will assess the situation and will coordinate transportation to a local urgent care or emergency room for treatment if indicated. For non-emergency medical care after hours, Bristol Medical Center Walk-In Clinic is located 3.5 miles from campus. Transportation options available to get to the walk-in clinic include RWU zipcars or Uber Health.

The clinic is staffed with three full-time Nurse Practitioners, a part-time Physician, a Registered Nurse, two Medical Assistants, and a Medical Secretary. We are committed to providing quality health care and educating students on their health and well-being to enhance their personal and academic success.

Health Services is available to all full-time undergraduate students (residents or commuters). Student fees cover the cost of clinic visits. Additional fees may apply for medications, lab work, immunizations, as well as referrals to specialty providers. Students do not have to have the Roger Williams University Health Insurance Plan to receive care at Health Services. Health insurance is necessary for laboratory tests, diagnostic studies, local walk-in clinic visits, ambulance transport, emergency room visits and specialty provider referrals. These costs may be covered by the student’s own insurance carrier. All students need to understand how health insurance works. For additional information on insurance, visit the Insurance section of our website: https://www.rwu.edu/ undergraduate/student-life/health-and-counseling/health-services/insurance.

Health Insurance

Roger Williams University requires all full-time undergraduate, Masters of Architecture, and international students (residential and commuter) to have comprehensive health insurance. Students may be covered by a private health insurance plan or may choose to use the University-sponsored student health insurance plan.

Student Health Insurance Plan

To be eligible for the University-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan, you must be enrolled in nine (9) or more credit hours. All full-time Undergraduate students (residential and commuter), all Master and Architecture students, all first and second-year School of Law students, all Master of Law students, and all International students are automatically enrolled in this insurance plan unless proof of adequate health insurance under an existing plan is provided by completing the online waiver form located on the following link: http://www.universityhealthplans.com/rwu.

Failure to complete the online waiver form by the deadline, August 15, 2022, will result in your mandatory purchase of the University’s Student Health Insurance Plan without the possibility of later waiver, refund, or cancellation. All full-time Graduate students with six (6) or more credits (non-Master in Architecture) and third-year School of Law students are eligible to enroll in this insurance on a voluntary basis. Please refer to the following link for detailed information: http://www.rwu.edu/ campus-life/health-counseling/healthservices/insurance.

Before Waiving the University’s Health Insurance Plan, Consider Your Current Plan

One of the many decisions to be made in preparation for the upcoming academic year is whether your current insurance plan will provide adequate coverage while attending Roger William’s University. Not all plans provide comprehensive coverage in Rhode Island such as certain HMO and PPO plans and outof-state Medicaid plans. We find that many students arrive on campus with insurance that is inadequate due to restrictive provider networks, high deductibles, or limited coverage for services received outside of a health plan’s service area. It is your decision to enroll or waive the Roger Williams University Student Health Insurance Plan, but here are some questions to think about and see if your current health plan covers before you waive the University-sponsored health insurance plan:

• Does my plan cover full-time students attending school out-of-state?

• Does my plan provide adequate coverage for emergency services, local urgent care facilities, diagnostic x-rays, laboratory services, mental health coverage, prescription drugs, and hospitalization?

• Does my plan have participating in-network health care providers in the Bristol, RI area?

• Does my plan have a high deductible that needs to be met before full coverage begins?

Health Form Requirements

All incoming students must complete required health forms by June 15th for students starting in the fall and by January 1st for students starting in the spring. The required health forms are located on the Health Services Patient Portal which can be accessed here: https://www.rwu.edu/undergraduate/ student-life/health-and-counseling/health-services

Health forms must be submitted through the patient portal. Forms cannot be faxed, emailed, mailed or dropped off. Students must be in compliance with Rhode Island immunization requirements. If proof of immunizations is not available, a serology test showing proof of immunity is acceptable.

IMPORTANT: If required health forms are not received by the deadline, a hold is placed on the student’s account until the requirement is met. A hold will result in the student not being able to add or drop courses, see their grades, or register for next semester classes. Students receive a weekly email reminder letting them know what they are missing.

Immunization Requirements

Rhode Island state law requires that all students (graduate and undergraduate) provide documentation of:

• 1 Tdap (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis) vaccine; last dose of Td or Tdap must be within the last 10 years

• 2 MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella) vaccines OR proof of immunity by positive titre OR confirmed history of measles, mumps, rubella.

• 3 Hepatitis B vaccines OR proof of immunity by positive titre.

• 2 Varicella vaccines OR proof of immunity by positive titre OR confirmed history of chicken pox

• Meningitis vaccine – one dose of meningococcal conjugate (MCV3) vaccine is required for students previously unvaccinated (under 22 years of age). A second booster dose is required if the first dose was given before 16 years of age

• Hepatitis A and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccines are strongly recommended but not required.

Requests for medical exemptions may be granted if there is documentation from a health care provider stating the reason(s) that these vaccines are contraindicated. Requests for religious exemptions may be granted in accordance with Rhode Island state law governing immunizations. In the event there is an outbreak of any of these vaccine-preventable diseases, students who have been granted exemptions will be required to leave campus and will be allowed to return when the period of communicability has passed as determined by the RI Department of Health.

At Health Services, we respect and preserve the privacy and confidentiality of all students. All information a student shares in a medical visit and any information contained in a student’s medical record is considered confidential. This information will be released only with the written consent of the student or as required by law. On occasion, Health Services receives telephone calls from parents about student’s medical care. If the student is over 18 years of age, Health Services is unable to release any medical information to parents without the student’s explicit permission.

There may be times when transfer of medical care to another health care institution or specialty provider is necessary. In order for medical information to be released, a written release of medical information must be signed by the student.

Health Services Frequently Asked Questions

1. Health Services is available to help students obtain proper care, information, or accommodation information for a number of medical conditions. Health Services can provide you with recommendations for on-campus or local community resources that provide services for issues such as tuberculosis treatment, sexually transmitted infections, eating disorders, psychiatric care, or certain disabilities. We encourage students to contact us directly with their specific needs.

2. When a student has a chronic illness such as diabetes, epilepsy, eating disorders, etc., we will need a summary from your health care provider. In consultation with your health care provider, we can monitor you, as needed, while you are at school.

3. We can arrange for the transfer of your medical records/immunization records to another school.

4. Referrals can be made to the Roger Williams University Counseling Services.

5. Health education counseling and wellness information is offered to discuss diet, exercise, stressmanagement, and disease prevention.

What Do I Do If I Am Sick?

If you are not feeling well, you should call Health Services at 401-254-3156 to schedule an appointment with a health care provider or use online self-scheduling on the Health Services Patient Portal. The provider can diagnose and treat many of the common health problems of a student on a college campus. Our providers are licensed to prescribe prescription medications as well as dispense over the counter medications. A physician is also available on a part-time basis to see students with more complex problems.

Students will receive an email the evening before their scheduled appointment reminding them of their appointment date and time. If a student needs to cancel or change their appointment, they are advised to call Health Services as soon as possible. There will be a $25.00 charge for all no-shows.

Can a nurse come to my room if I am too sick to come to Health Services?

No, unfortunately we cannot send staff to the residence halls as that would leave the clinic understaffed. We can assist you with getting transportation via Public Safety or if you are too ill via ambulance to an emergency room.

What do I do about meals when I am too ill to go to the dining hall?

The ill student can have his friend or roommate pick up a takeout meal. The friend or roommate should bring the ill students ID card with them.

What do I do if I am too ill to attend classes?

It is the student’s responsibility to contact professors if unable to attend classes. It is preferred that you contact your professors as soon as practical to make arrangements to make-up work. If you wish to be seen by Health Services, you must call and schedule an appointment. Health care providers will not provide medical excuse notes or speak to professors regarding a student’s visit.

Can I get my immunization at Health Services?

Some immunizations are available at Health Services for a fee. Health insurance does not cover the fee for immunizations. CVS or Walgreens is another option for obtaining immunizations.

Can I get a physical at Health Services?

We do offer routine well physicals and pre-participation sports physicals at Health Services for an additional fee. We highly encourage pre-participation sports physicals to be done prior to the start of the school year by the student’s primary care provider.

What if I have to have lab work or x-rays, or see another provider?

Most laboratory tests can be collected at Health Services. These specimens are then sent to an outside laboratory for processing. If you need x-rays or other diagnostic testing, they can be scheduled for you at local facilities. Laboratory tests sent for processing and diagnostic testing done outside of Health Services are billed to your medical insurance.

For student convenience, we will draw blood for tests ordered by outside providers. The student would need to bring in the order for the lab test or have it faxed to Health Services. Lab results will be faxed to the ordering provider who will be responsible for managing the health concern.

What if I am referred to an outside specialist?

If you are referred to an outside specialist for consultation or further treatment, a list of specialists in the local area are available and you will be assisted with making the appointment. Referral appointments are billed to your insurance. If you are unable to keep the appointments, please notify Health Services and call the specialty clinic to cancel your appointment. Failure to cancel the appointment may result in a noshow fee.

IMPORTANT: Health insurances vary in their coverage for each of the above items. It is important to always present your insurance card and be aware that your insurance may or may not cover the cost of the test or appointment.

Is there a pharmacy at Health Services?

Pharmedix offers convenient in-office dispensing of several commonly used prescription medications for a nominal fee that cannot be billed to the student’s health insurance. If a student does not wish to use this service, the health care provider can put in an electronic prescription that can be filled at one of the local pharmacies. Many over the counter medicines (i.e., Tylenol, ibuprofen, Benadryl, Cough Medicine, Mucinex, Zyrtec, Pepcid, emergency contraception) are available at Health Services for a nominal fee. Students do not need to have a clinic appointment to purchase these items.

Does Health Services store medications?

Students who arrive to Roger Williams University with prescription medications are responsible for keeping those medications with them in their residence hall rooms. There is no available space to maintain student medications. We encourage students to bring a lock box with them to store their medication.

What first aid supplies should I bring with me?

Each student should come with some knowledge of how to treat minor medical problems. These are a few basic health care supplies we recommend students bring to campus:

• First aid kit containing band-aids, antibiotic ointment, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin), Robitussin DM, murine, allergy medications (Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec), decongestants (Sudafed), cough drops.

• Digital thermometer.

• Chemical cold pack to keep in freezer to reduce swelling.

• Chemical warm pack to heat in microwave for muscle ache.

• Any other home remedy that does not violate Residence Life Policies.

What if I have a disability?

Students having any medical or physical disability are encouraged to contact Health Services as early as possible before enrollment to ensure coordination of comprehensive medical care and adequate insurance protection. Accommodations are made in coordination with the Office of Accessibility.