FAQs
What if I haven't received the incoming student health report form in the mail?
You can download it here.
Do I have to get special shots to be enrolled at Northeastern?
Massachusetts law mandates proof of immunity for certain communicable diseases including measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, and meningitis.
Is there another immunization not required but recommended?
Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine and flu shots are recommended but not required except for students in the health sciences doing clinical rotations –— see below.
What is Clinical Clearance?
Students in Bouvé College of Health Sciences are required to provide a specific clearance form to their programs for clinical rotations, which includes documentation of immunity to additional infectious disease and PPD testing (testing for exposure to tuberculosis).
What if I get sick during the night, or I have an emergency and UHCS isn't open?
A nurse at New England Baptist Hospital will facilitate necessary care after hours. Call (617) 754-5544. If there is an emergency on campus, call (617) 373-3333, NU’s Public Safety Division emergency line, or 911 if you are off campus.
May I use UHCS if I have not selected NU’s student health insurance plan (NUSHP)?
All full-time undergraduate students are eligible for primary care at no cost at UHCS, no matter what their insurance status. Graduate students are eligible if they enroll in NUSHP or pay an annual health center fee.
Will UHCS bill my parents, my insurance, or me?
There is no charge for primary care visits at UHCS, and we do no billing. However, laboratory tests sent out to our referral laboratory are billed to your health insurance or to the responsible party. Any testing done outside the Health Center (x-rays, ultrasounds, etc.) is also billed to insurance.
Do I get an insurance card?
You will receive your own card if you enroll in NU's Student Health Plan (NUSHP). If you are covered by another plan, ask your insurance company for a card, or keep a copy of the subscriber's (usually a parent's) card. Please click on NUSHP for additional information.
What is a PCP?
PCP stands for primary care provider. UHCS PCPs are nurse practitioners, physicians, and physician assistants.
How long do I have to wait for an appointment?
We try to accommodate students as quickly as possible. You are generally seen for an acute illness within a day or two, depending on the severity of the problem. Alternatively, you may choose to call the nurse line to discuss your problem by phone. When scheduling a routine visit for a physical exam or annual GYN exam/pap smear, you may wait a longer period of time. If you have an urgent mental health problem (stressed, depressed) we are able to see you the same day you call.
Where can I be tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
Men and women may schedule an appointment here for confidential STD testing.
Can I get a prescription for birth control at UHCS?
Our clinicians will discuss family planning options with you and will prescribe most types of birth control including barrier (diaphragm), injectable (shot), oral (pill), and transdermal (patch). Referrals can be made to a specialist for other methods including IUDs, if desired.
Are there special hours for GYN?
All GYN services, including annual gynecological exams, are considered primary care, and the appointment process is the same as for all other types of health service.
May I get a physical at UHCS?
If you are an NU undergraduate, or are a graduate student who has selected the health plan, you may have an annual "well check."
What if I need a prescription?
All of our PCPs are licensed to prescribe medications. Simply schedule an appointment for a new medication or prescription renewal. There are a number of pharmacies in the area that can fill your prescription for a fee, which is usually charged to your insurance. You may also be required to make a co-payment at the time of your purchase.
How do I get a referral?
If you need a referral for a specialist our clinicians will assess the problem and make the referral. Our Insurance and Referral Coordinator will assist you in understanding what your insurance requires you to do for coverage of the cost of a specialist.
How do I get a copy of my medical record or immunizations?
Since all your medical records are strictly confidential, you must provide us with a written request specifying information desired and where you wish it to be sent. This form may be downloaded at Release of medical information (PDF). Fax to: 617-373-2601.
This request of information (ROI) must include:
- your name and address
- telephone number and e-mail address
- school ID number
- dates attended (including when you left and whether or not you graduated)
- your signature
When you have graduated, send us a ROI and we'll send your records to the office of your new primary care practitioner.
Please allow at least two weeks to process the request. If there is an urgent need for medical records for clinical care, please call us at (617) 373-3275 to let us know the request must be expedited.