Important "Back to School" Information from the Student Health Center

• Health Requirements
  Early in September, your student may have been notified, via college e-mail, they are not in compliance with college health requirements. This means they are missing either a complete physical examination, New York State required immunizations or both. The deadline for submitting health requires was July 31, 2011.
  
  Students must submit required information by September 28, 2011. New York State requires Canisius College to cancellation registrations for those missing immunizations and to remove students from college housing.  Student missing a physical examination will be unable to register for the spring semester.
  
  Be advised that many immunization forms were submitted without a physician signature and many physical examination forms were incomplete.
  
  Talk with your student about these deadlines and if needed assist them in obtaining missing health information.

• Health Center Appointments
  Student Health believes that all students should have same day access to a medical provider on campus. To achieve that goal both Student Health and our students must work together. Students should schedule appointments as soon as possible when they are sick or injured and not put off getting medical care early.  Students can schedule their Health Center appointment, on line, 24/7 using GriffMed, the student only on line appointment scheduler.  A link to GriffMed is found page at www.canisius.edu/student_health. Appointments are also available by calling the Health Center at 716-888-2610.  It is best to call early in the day for greater appointment availability and provider options.
  
  If your student is very ill and you believe they need immediate medical evaluation and can not wait for the next available Health Center appointment, please call Public Safety at 716-888-2330 or 711 on campus.  An officer will respond to your student's location and evaluation the situation. Officers are in touch with the Student Health Center nursing staff.

• After Hours Care
  If your student is sick or injured during the evening, on weekends, over breaks and holidays, when Student Health is closed, students should call Public Safety at ext.2330 or 711.  An officer will transport or arrange for transportation to a local hospital.
  
  Students can also access an on call nurse or go to an urgent care clinic. Information on urgent care centers and the phone number for the on call nurse is found on the Student Health Center web page.

• Flu Shots
  Flu shots will be offered on campus, Wednesday October 19, 2011 by the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA). There is a fee for the vaccines. The VNA accepts some insurances.  More details about flu shots will sent to students in early October.

• Releasing Medical Information to Parents
  Student Health staff cannot share any student medical information with parents, if the student has reached their 18th birthday. If you want to speak with the provider, who treated your student, your student must sign an authorization to disclose health information to you. Without that release, Student Health cannot discuss care and treatment issues.
  
  Student Health will make every effort to return parent calls quickly.  Return calls are generally made at 11:30am and 3:30pm or if when there is time between students.

• Emergency Contacts
  Be sure your student has listed an you as the emergency contact if you wish to be called in the event of a medical emergency.  Students often list other relatives or friends and not the parents as emergency contacts assuming the parents will be called first.
  
  It is also important to remember that new phone numbers, addresses and contact information be updated as quickly as possible.

• Health Insurance
  All Canisius students should have health insurance and carry their health insurance card with them at school.  Please discuss the plan with your student and advise them of any co pays, authorizations, provider networks etc that are unique to your plan.  Student Health does not obtain needed authorizations, referrals, etc for students.
  
  Students needing health insurance can purchase a plan offered through the college. Information about that plan is found on the Health Center web site.

Information you may want to keep on hand to provide to your student:

24/7 HEALTHCARE AT CANISIUS EMERGENCIES on Campus - Dial 711

STUDENT HEALTH CLINIC HOURS

Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(when undergraduate classes are in session)

For Appointment:

24/7 Nurse Help Line

1-800-850-4556

URGENT CARE

(evenings, weekends, holidays)

Med First                              Lifetime Health

3980 Sheridan Drive                           1185 Sweet Home Road

Amherst NY                                      Amherst NY

(716) 929-2800                                (716) 689-0040