Student Health Services
605 S. West Street • Box 19329 • 817-272-2771 www.uta.edu/health_services/health.html

Student Health Services (SHS) is an on-campus, out-patient facility whose mission is to maintain the optimum physical and emotional health of U.T. Arlington students and designated faculty/staff through the provision of quality, accessible, comprehensive and cost-effective primary health care.
SHS is staffed and equipped to care for most routine health needs. Many services are free. A reasonable fee is assessed for services such as medications, x-rays, laboratory tests, etc. Financial support is partially funded by a Medical Services Fee.

SHS and facilities are available to all enrolled students. A student who chooses not to enroll for a semester, but who plans to enroll the following semester, may receive treatment during the missed semester. Enrolled students who hold a position that requires student status as a condition of employment, and their dependents 12 years and older, who are covered by the U.T. System Insurance, may receive treatment, and the insurance company will be billed for services rendered. Faculty/staff may receive treatment at SHS for urgent care and other selected services on a fee for service basis, by appointment (817-272-2745).

Staffing: The staff includes full-time physicians and registered nurses, pharmacists, laboratory and x-ray technologists, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, a substance abuse specialist, a student development specialist, and related personnel. SHS provides medical services during those times when the University is open. Services are not available during scheduled University holidays. During these periods, medical care received from another source will be the patient’s financial responsibility.

Services Available
General Medicine: Students with common medical problems are diagnosed and treated on a walk-in basis. Elective minor surgical procedures such as removal of cysts, moles, and warts, are available. Appointments are required for both the initial evaluation and the surgery.

Administration of Allergy Antigen Injections: Patients must provide the antigen and have their physician provide SHS with details of their allergies and the proposed program of treatment.

Women’s Clinic: Diagnosis and treatment of most diseases of the female reproductive organs are provided. Consultations, routine Pap smears, diagnostic tests for the various sexually transmitted diseases, and breast examinations are done by appointment (817-272-2713). The various forms of contraception are discussed with students who seek advice of this nature.

Mental Health Clinic: Mental health services are available to students and faculty/staff by appointment (817-272-2713), and no referral is necessary. Services available include psychological and psychiatric assessment and treatment. Referrals to health agencies or other professionals are made when indicated.

Laboratory: The laboratory is equipped to do all routine determinations. For more sophisticated procedures, specimens are obtained and sent to a reference laboratory for testing. Outside physicians’ requests will be honored. Laboratory test results must be given by the clinician.

Pharmacy: The pharmacy dispenses medications at a reduced cost and provides medication counseling to all students and faculty/staff. The pharmacy is a provider for the student health insurance plan and is also a network pharmacy for the faculty/staff prescription plan. Prescriptions from any licensed physician may be dispensed.

X-ray: All routine x-ray studies are done. After an initial reading by SHS physicians, the films are sent to a radiologist for final interpretation.

Medical Records: Since medical records are protected under patient/physician confidentiality provisions, only the patient has access to their medical records. These records will not be released to anyone without written authorization by the patient or as provided by law.

HIV/AIDS: HIV/AIDS education/testing are available for students and faculty/staff. Information is given on a one-to-one basis, or, upon request, to campus/related groups. HIV antibody testing is anonymous and requires pre- and post-test counseling. Clients are referred to appropriate off-campus facilities, if needed. The U.T. Arlington brochure, “Policy and Guidelines on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)” is available at SHS.

Substance Abuse Prevention: A variety of services are available to students and faculty/staff. Programs to assist individuals in making appropriate decisions regarding the use of alcohol and other drugs are available. The emphasis is on education, programming, support, intervention and short-term counseling. Referrals are made to Metroplex resources when a person is identified as being chemically dependent. The U.T. Arlington brochure, “Information Regarding Illicit Drugs and Alcohol Abuse” is available at SHS.

Peer Education: The Peer Education Program trains students to educate U.T. Arlington students, faculty/staff members and members of the Arlington community to make healthy life choices. Under the supervision of the coordinator, peer educators can earn three elective credit hours or participate on a volunteer basis. Peer educators conduct presentations and health fairs and promote awareness activities. Topics may include substance abuse, eating disorders, healthy dating, acquaintance rape, STDs, HIV/AIDS and stress.

Education: In the spirit of this educational community, it is hoped that students will also use SHS as a resource for information on health-related issues and preventive medicine.

Patient Rights: SHS recognizes its responsibility to ensure that every patient, regardless of sex, race, age, beliefs or handicap has the right to be treated with respect, consideration and confidentiality. Patients should take the initiative to communicate their concerns and questions about problems related to their health condition or medication, unclear procedures and previous health history. Patients have the right to seek a second medical opinion, to change primary or specialty physicians, and to be informed of and refuse to participate in experimental research.

Transportation: SHS is an out-patient facility, and, as such, provides only ambulatory medical services. Patients are responsible for their own transportation to SHS. For true emergencies, or when the seriousness of the patient’s condition is uncertain, call the University police at 817-272-3003. The police will dispatch officers to the site, and call an ambulance, if needed. These officers are trained in CPR and first aid and can stabilize the patient until an ambulance arrives. This procedure should be followed even when SHS is open. Indebtedness: It is the student’s responsibility to satisfy indebtedness to SHS with reasonable promptness. Upon payment, receipts will be issued which can be used by the student for submitting claims to personal insurance companies.

Health Insurance: SHS is not equipped to perform the more extensive diagnostic procedures and services offered by a general hospital. Therefore, all U.T. Arlington students are strongly urged to have adequate medical insurance coverage.

Students on non-immigrant visas are required to carry health insurance and must show proof of coverage at the time of registration.An optional system-wide student health insurance plan is available through an insurance carrier by contract with the University. For more information about the student health insurance plan, contact SHS at 817-272-2771. Insurance brochures and applications are available at SHS.

Blood Reserve Fund Plan: U.T. Arlington, in cooperation with Carter BloodCare, sponsors a blood reserve fund plan for students faculty and staff. To participate in the reserve fund, members are requested to donate regularly during semiannual blood drives held on campus. SHS coordinates the release of blood credits. EX.C.E.L. Campus Activities sponsors the campus blood drives.

---