Important Information
Beginning with the Fall 2006 semester, incoming freshmen must be vaccinated against the meningococcal disease (meningitis) to enroll at any Louisiana public or private college or university. The requirement is the result of Acts 251 and 711 of the 2006 Regular Legislative Session. The legislation mandates that all first-time freshmen attending postsecondary institutions show proof of having received the meningococcal vaccine or provide a wavier/exemption to register. A student’s registration will not be complete until the have complied with the meningococcal vaccination requirement. Please complete the Proof of Immunization Compliance form and submit this to University Health Services as soon as possible to avoid any holds on your registration into classes for the upcoming semester.
Download–Immunization Compliance
Welcome
Welcome to the new University Health Services (UHS) website! UHS is located in the Betsy Cheramie Ayo Hall with its entrance across from University Police. The department is closed on weekends, holidays, and other campus closing.
You can visit UHS for acute health problems, medical information, and injuries–just as you would your doctor’s office. A nurse is available during UHS hours. The nurses assess and can treat students with specific over-the-counter medications per our physician’s standing orders. The physician or nurse practitioner is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. during the summer semester.
Additionally, UHS monitors immunization compliance for all students, administers the Hepatitis B vaccine (3-injection series @ $40 per injection=$120 total), the Menactra Vaccine ($89), and the Tetanus (Td) vaccine ($20), and conducts the TB skin test ($5).
AN APPOINTMENT IS NECESSARY. A student ID is necessary when you come for a visit. Once you enter as a patient, a confidential chart will be kept secured within the department.
All students with 7 hours or more (during fall and spring) or 4 hours or more (during summer) are automatically covered on the student insurance policy and other students may purchase the insurance if they wish. Your deductible per illness/injuries is $50. This is waived, though, when UHS is visited first. A full description of student insurance is available in brochure format in UHS.
Tips for Using UHS
- If you think that you need to see the MD (medical doctor) or NP (nurse practitioner), call to schedule an appointment. You should allow approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour for your visit.
- Complete the Medical Questionnaire in advance.
- If it is suggested that you return to UHS for a follow-up visit or to see the MD or NP, make every attempt to do so. The nurse, MD or NP may suspect a further health problem or may want to be sure that the method of prescribed treatment is helping. Help us to help you!
- If given a prescription for antibiotics or any other medication, take the entire prescription according to the directions (unless complications arise). If you stop an antibiotic before the indicated time, the illness may return and may be worse than before. You may feel better, but still complete the prescribed regimen. Also, remember that it may take 48-72 hours (2-3 days) before you can expect improvement from your antibiotic therapy.
- There are some illnesses that cannot be treated with prescription medication, I.e. the common cold. Antibiotics do not affect viral infections. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections; therefore, don’t expect a prescription for antibiotics every time you are ill. If antibiotic therapy is used inappropriately, diseases may become resistant to therapy.
- A class excuse is one of the more common requests we receive. We have an “Appointment Verification” form that informs your instructor of the date(s) and time(s) you were seen in UHS. UHS has no basis to give a student a medical excuse if they were not seen by UHS.