Helping Your Child Stay Healthy: Resources and Advice from the Wellness Center

It's a very exciting time of year for parents who are helping students prepare to leave for college for the first time, or to return for another year of school. Hovering in the background of many parent's minds are concerns for their student's physical health and wellbeing. Parents can relax about the health and wellness of their students, knowing that the Wellness Center on the main campus stays on top of health needs and trends on campus and provides excellent basic health care and counseling services to students. Most of our care is without additional charge. Procedures and labs may have a small fee which is applied to student's accounts. Our ability to provide excellent care to your student depends on your student partnering with us, asking for help when they need it and submitting the preliminary paperwork we need to provide quality care and meet those immunization requirements.

The Health History is completed by the student and gives us the background we need to be able to provide excellent clinical care should they need our services. The Certificate of Immunity documents the immunizations required by the state for student to enter the classroom. Failure to comply with requirements will result in fines and legally the state could prohibit entry to class. If your student has an existing record of immunizations signed by a health professional, either from a prior school or doctor's office, they can fill out the top half of the Certificate of Immunity and send a copy of their existing record which will be equivalent to the bottom half of the Certificate of Immunity. This is a ‘must do' before classes start. If you have questions, call Katie Rauh, RN 708.524.6508 or 6229.

Confidentiality: The Wellness Center at Dominican is prepared to take good care of student's physical and mental health when they arrive on campus, so we coordinate student's health records, including their health history, immunization records, the Student Health Insurance Plan as well as any records of their care here. All student health records are treated as PHI, (personal health information) and are treated with the same confidentiality as in any other health care facility. These records are kept separately from student's university records and unless there is an emergency, any release of information requires the written consent of the student. Wellness Center staff is always available to advise parents and answer questions but a release of information is required before they are able to share a student's PHI. This is part of our mission to empower DU students to become responsible consumers of health care and take charge of their own health and wellbeing.

Student Health Insurance: ALL incoming students must complete the waiver process to document their decisions about health insurance. Because coverage for college students is in a state of flux for many students and families, we have created a FAQ to help families and students make decisions about how their student is covered. Health and Human Services have also recently opened a website to help at HealthCare.gov. We strongly believe basic health insurance coverage is important for every student even though it is not mandated by the university. Dominican's student health insurance plan is available through AIP for students who need insurance and is designed to balance coverage with affordability. Whether your student purchases Student Health Insurance, stays covered by your family plan, or takes a chance on going without - they MUST document their choice by submitting the printed or online waiver form here. There's a link to purchase student health insurance, or to key in your existing insurance information or to explain how uninsured students will handle medical expenses if they arise. The dedicated staff at 800-452-5772 (AIP) can answer all of your questions about costs and coverage.

We look forward to helping you support the health and wellness of your student. Encourage them to stop by the Wellness Center, pick up a free bottle of sanitizer and meet our staff. Remind them to call or come by when they don't feel well. And be sure to remember that we are here to answer your questions as well!

Elizabeth Ritzman, LCPC
Director, DU Wellness Center
Lower level Coughlin Hall
Phone: (708) 524-6520