Health Center offers many resources

Health Beat

Whether a freshman, a transfer student or someone who isn't familiar with the University Health Center, several resources and services are offered under the supervision of its professional staff.

Services include, but are not limited to, psychiatric counseling, birth control, nutritional counseling, free anonymous HIV testing, sexually transmitted infection testing, pregnancy testing, allergy injections and flu shots, according to Ann Simmons, coordinator of health promotions at the Health Center.

Board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, a psychologist, a registered dietitian, a lab technician, clinical assistants and health educators form the professional staff at the Health Center.

"Students can speak with a nurse about a specific health concern, a health educator about a general topic, or use any of the books and videos in our resource room," Simmons said.

Visits are confidential. "No one has access to patient information or visits without a written release from the student," Simmons said. "This includes parents."

Sophomore Jenny Wood said, "I think it's good students can get things like STD testing and birth control, and your parents don't have to know."

Junior Lisa Zimmerman said parents not being privied to that information is "necessary in a lot of cases, like [in] sexual assaults and sexually transmitted disease."

Zimmerman also said she likes the appointment setup because she doesn't have to wait in line long, unlike most doctors' offices, and it's cheap. Appointments can be made by contacting the Health Center at x 8-6178.

All visits to the Health Center are free of charge because university fees go toward these services. However, specific lab tests and treatments require small fees, according to Simmons.

Strep, mononucleosis, pregnancy, chlamydia and tuberculosis tests range from $6 to $15. Urine and HIV tests, including counseling, are free of charge, according to the Health Center Web site, www.jmu.edu/healthctr/new/index.html.

The Health Center leads educational events, awareness weeks, instructional programs such as Reality Educators Advocating Campus Health, a peer educator's group and Choices, a women's health program.

Women seeking birth control via the Health Center are required to take one 45-minute session prior to their appointment.

"I think the birth control class is good" to have before appointments, Wood said.

The Health Center will provide written prescriptions for Plan B emergency contraception pills, counseling and a follow-up, according to its Web site.

Phone numbers and costs for pharmacies that will fill the prescription also are on the site.

Senior Brandon Cline said the Health Center is "very helpful. [People who work there] seem knowledgeable and willing to offer information," he said.

The Health Center staff encourages students to call or stop by with any questions or concerns.

Health Center hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, according to the Health Center Web site.