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 and Testing: (Monitor Emails and Main Website for any changes.)
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
COVID-19 Fall 2023
WHAT TO DO IF YOU FEEL SICK.
COVID-19 symptoms are usually nonspecific like a cold or allergies. So, you must be alert.
- If you have symptoms, begin “precautionary measures” (wear a mask and avoid close contact with others).
- Do an antigen test (at-home rapid).
- Students who test positive for COVID-19 should notify the Student Health Service by calling (845) 257-3400 or emailing healthservice@newpaltz.edu as soon as possible. Continue precautionary measures. Student Health Service (SHS) will contact you during daytime hours.
- If the first test is negative continue precautionary measures and retest in 48 hours.
- If the second test is negative, you may contact SHS for advice. Still be careful not to spread your illness.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH AN INDIVIDUAL WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.
Close contact defined as within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes. Standard classroom exposure is not considered a close contact.
Infectious period for contact with an individual who tested positive.
- If the positive individual had no symptoms, contagious period starts 2 days before positive test and lasts 5 days after test
- If the positive individual had symptoms, contagious period starts 2 days before symptoms and lasts the first 5 days of symptoms
You are required to wear a mask for 10 days after your last contact with the positive individual and avoid close contact with others during that period.
You should:
- If you don't develop symptoms, test 5 days after your last contact with the positive individual. If using antigen tests, test 3 times over 5 days with 48 hours between tests. If the 3 tests are negative no further testing is needed.
- If you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 30 days don’t test if you have no symptoms.
- If you tested positive for COVID-19, 31-90 days ago, test with an antigen test NOT a PCR test.
- Test ASAP if you develop symptoms of COVID-19 after an exposure.
- If you are symptomatic and your first antigen test was negative, precautionary measures, and repeat an antigen test in 48 hours. If your 2nd antigen test is negative you are unlikely to have COVID-19. Contact SHS for advice.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.
If you test positive for COVID-19 whether you have symptoms or not, you must Isolate.
- Students who test positive for COVID-19 should notify Student Health Service by calling (845) 257-3400 or emailing healthservice@newpaltz.edu as soon as possible. Start/Continue precautionary measures. Student Health Service (SHS) will contact you during daytime hours.
- Day 0 would be the day of your positive test if you have no symptoms or the first day of symptoms if you have them.
- You must Isolate for days 0-5.
- Days 6-10 you may still be contagious, therefore wear a well-fitting mask when around others
- If you are feeling better and have no fever you are released from isolation on day 6. If you are not feeling well on day 6 contact SHS for advice.
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 if you are coughing or blowing 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”.
CDC – Recommends preventive actions to help prevent the spread 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. We apologize for any inconvenience and sincerely wish the best health for everyone!
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
In order to be eligible to use Student Health Service (SHS), students must be registered for classes. Every student needs health insurance. This is not used for the services provided by SHS. Those services are paid for by the Student Health Fee. Insurance is needed for prescription medication, lab tests obtained outside SHS, lab tests obtained at SHS and sent to an outside lab, radiologic tests, specialty physicians, emergency room visits, and hospital stays.
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.