Health Center

Health Center

Student Health Center lobby

 

Welcome 

IF you have an EMERGENCY, please call 911.

Student Health Service is run on an appointment basis.

If you are a registered SUNY New Paltz student and need assistance with a non-emergent medical issue or have questions for Student Health Service, please call 845-257-3400 between the hours of 8:30 to 4:30 while classes are in session. (8:00 to 4 during intersession and Summer.)

For medical issues, your contact information will be collected and given to a triage nurse to return your call. This nurse will discuss your concerns with you, collect needed information and provide guidance or schedule an appointment as indicated.

When you arrive for your appointment check in with the front office staff and have a seat in the waiting room.  A nurse will bring you to an exam room.

 

MISSION STATEMENT

Provide quality medical care in a compassionate environment.

Interact with students in a manner that will teach them how to interact with the healthcare system in the future.

Communicate to students how to make healthy choices regarding diet, exercise, sleep, relaxation, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, and vaccinations.


 

 

CLICK HERE FOR NEW STUDENT HEALTH FORMS - Click the top link titled "Health Report"

 

COVID Vaccination 

Starting Summer 2023 SUNY New Paltz students are NO longer required to show proof they completed a COVID-19 vaccination series before they can register for in-person, on-campus classes. 

 

Student Health Service COVID-19 Update SPRING 2024

On March 1st, 2024, the CDC dropped their recommendation of isolation for 5 days after a positive COVID test, the NYS Department of Health made the same recommendation on 3/7/24.

The new recommendation:

  • Stay home when you are feeling sick from a respiratory virus (COVID-19, Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or an influenza like illness).
  • Return to normal activities when you are feeling better and have been fever free for 24hrs.

The following is an excerpt from the CDC update for added information:

As part of the guidance, CDC provides active recommendations on core prevention steps and strategies:

  • Staying up to date with vaccination to protect people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. This includes flu, COVID-19, and RSV if eligible.
  • Practicing good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
  • Taking steps for cleaner air, such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.

When people get sick with a respiratory virus, the updated guidance recommends that they stay home and away from others. For people with COVID-19 and influenza, treatment is available and can lessen symptoms and lower the risk of severe illness. The recommendations suggest returning to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication.

Once people resume normal activities, they are encouraged to take additional prevention strategies for the next 5 days to curb disease spread, such as taking more steps for cleaner air, enhancing hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitting mask, and keeping a distance from others.

“The bottom line is that when people follow these actionable recommendations to avoid getting sick, and to protect themselves and others if they do get sick, it will help limit the spread of respiratory viruses, and that will mean fewer people who experience severe illness.”  cdc.gov

Student Health Service:  

If you become ill or develop a medical concern the Health Center is open Monday through Friday.  An appointment can be made by calling 845-257-3400.  A Triage nurse will call you back.  Based on this encounter you may be advised one of the following:

  • Self-care measures
  • Offered an in-person appointment
  • Offered a telemedicine appointment with a physician
  • Directed to an Emergency Department in the unlikely case your symptoms warrant this referral

A triage nurse is available Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm (summer M-F 8am-4pm).

If an in-person appointment is scheduled, wear a face covering to the appointment and be on time.

When you arrive for your appointment check in with the front office staff and have a seat in the waiting room.  A nurse will bring you to an exam room.

As you enter the office, please cleanse your hands with alcohol based hand sanitizer at the Purell hand station.  “PUMP IN”.

As you leave your appointment, please use the alcohol hand sanitizer.  “Pump out”.

 

Recommendations to prevent and lessen the impact of respiratory infections including:

  • Stay home if you are sick.
  • Maintain 6 foot spacing when around people even if they appear healthy.
  • Wear a mask when in public when indicated. 
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid close contact with sick people.
  • Avoid large crowds and gatherings.
  • Avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
  • Cover your cough, sneeze into a tissue, use your elbow if a tissue is unavailable, then dispose of the tissue in the trash. 
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. 

The above precautions are for the safety and well-being for our community. 


PHONE: 845-257-3400 FAX: 845-257-3415
EMAIL: healthservice@newpaltz.edu
MAIL: Student Health Service, SUNY New Paltz, 1 Hawk Drive, New Paltz, NY 12561

Use IMMUNIZATIONS link to review NYS Required Immunizations and New Paltz Tuberculosis Screening Policy

STUDENT HEALTH SERVICE HOURS
Monday - Friday

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:  Phone calls are welcome, doors are opened for scheduled appointments. 
4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.:  Voicemail receives calls, and staff are finishing the care of those who contacted Student Health Service prior to 4:30 p.m.

INTER-SESSION AND SUMMER HOURS
Monday - Friday

8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.:  Phone calls welcome and doors are opened for scheduled appointments.

NON-EMERGENCIES AFTER HOURS & WEEKENDS

CALL: 845-257-3400, a number to Fonemed a 24 hour nurse advice line will be provided. 

EMERGENCIES (This will allow students to receive immediate medical attention)
On-campus students: contact University Police 845-257-2222 or 911
Off-campus students: call 911

LOCATION
Student Health Service is located in the round building across Southside Loop from Gage Hall. The Health Center houses both Student Health Service and the Psychological Counseling Center, which are separate services.

ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES

Students who have registered for class and paid the Health Fee are eligible to use Student Health Service (SHS).

Students taking On-line only classes (including Asynchronous on-line AO, Synchronous On-line SO, and Combined On-line CO) are not charged a Health Fee and are not eligible for services.

Every student needs health insurance.  This is not used for visits to SHS.  Those services are paid for by the Student Health Fee.  Insurance is needed for testing sent out to, or obtained at a Lab, pharmacy prescriptions, medical care received outside SHS including radiologic tests, specialty physician care, emergency room visits, ambulance transport, and hospital visits.

Submission of the Health Report (HR) helps SHS staff obtain important background medical information about the student. It is therefore recommended that the student submit a HR 30 days prior to starting college, but it is not a requirement for use of the Health Center.  The Health Report can be downloaded on this website under "Forms."

SCOPE OF PRACTICE
Student Health Service provides non-emergency primary medical care.  We care for students who have health problems while college is in session. SHS provides care with an emphasis on preventative health care.

For routine matters such as scheduling appointments for non-urgent, non- emergency reasons, students need to call during our regular business hours.

If a student has an urgent medical problem that they feel cannot wait for our regular office hours, and they are not sure how to proceed, SHS provides a nurse advice service.  Call 845-257-3400 to contact a nurse who will discuss a student's urgent medical questions and help them identify their options for care.

Some students, because of the nature of their problems, require comprehensive health care which cannot be provided at SHS. Following initial evaluation at SHS, those students will need to secure off campus healthcare services while attending college. Students who require specialty physician care will be assisted by the Student Health Service staff in accessing this care in conjunction with their primary care medical provider (if they have one) and their insurance plan.

TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM OFF-CAMPUS MEDICAL FACILITIES

NON EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION
The Health Center does not provide transportation to off-campus medical facilities. When a student is referred by SHS to an off-campus medical facility, he or she may use vouchers from SHS for taxi service to get to the recommended medical treatment facility.  After hours, when this transportation is authorized, vouchers may be obtained from the University Police Department.

EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION
SHS will when indicated activate their emergency 911 system to transport a student to a local emergency room.

HOSPITAL TRANSPORTATION

 

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