SCampus Student Guidebook

Student Services

Health Care

Counseling Services

Director: Bradford King
(213) 740-7711
YWCA Building
www.usc.edu/scs

The purpose of Student Counseling Services is to help students appropriately handle the stresses and challenges they face in their academic, professional and personal lives. Services are provided to help enhance students’ skills and attitudes in adapting to college life, relating to new and different people and making their USC experience satisfying and productive.

The professional staff at Student Counseling Services is an ethnically and educationally diverse group which includes psychologists, social workers and staff psychiatrists.

The staff is highly trained and experienced in helping students cope successfully with a variety of issues and concerns common during the college experience. Additionally, advanced graduate students in clinical and counseling psychology provide a variety of services to students.

Services offered by Student Counseling Services include:

Individual Counseling

Personal information discussed in counseling is always kept confidential. Eligible students may be seen in couples or individual counseling sessions. Students may seek help for relationship problems, fears about possible failure, stress management, dissatisfaction about themselves, depression, guilt, anger or fear.

Group Counseling

Each semester several different counseling groups are offered. These groups provide a unique opportunity to increase one’s self-awareness and self-acceptance. In a supportive atmosphere with peers there is a chance to experiment with new behaviors and exchange ideas with others.

Emergency Services

Emergency services are intended for students who genuinely require immediate assistance. Students may speak with an after-hours registered nurse by calling (213) 740-7711 and following the recorded instructions. In the event of a life-threatening emergency on or near the University Park campus, call the USC Department of Public Safety at (213) 740-4321. For all other emergencies, call “911.”

Consultation and Training

In addition to counseling students, the professional staff provides consultation and training to students and university personnel. This includes consulting with faculty or staff members concerned about a distressed student, class presentations and training sessions for residence hall personnel.

The staff also provides workshops and consultation on stress management, assertiveness, communication skills and conflict resolution techniques, as well as many other programs for staff, faculty and student organizations, to enhance their work with students on campus.

Health Promotion and Prevention Services

(213) 740-HPPS (4777)
University Park Health Center
www.usc.edu/hpps

The mission of Health Promotion and Prevention Services (HPPS) is to prevent when possible, heal when necessary and empower always. HPPS offers education and support related to all aspects of health. Staff and Peer Health Educators (PHEs) focus on prevention, informed choices and risk reduction.

Services Offered

HPPS provides one-on-one consultations, classes and workshops. On- and off-campus resources and referrals are available when appropriate. Students typically come in seeking information and resources on: alcohol and other drug use; depression and mental health; eating disorders; Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) student support; nutrition; sexual health and safer sex supplies; smoking and chewing tobacco; and stress management.

HPPS also offers Anonymous HIV pre- and post-test counseling and testing for a small fee. Free testing is offered in February as appointments are available.

The Health Resource Room, located in UPHC 206, provides a place for students to study, read, pick up safer sex supplies, check out books or just sit and relax. PHEs are available to talk or answer questions.

For further information, call (213) 740-4777 or visit www.usc.edu/hpps.

Pharmacy

Director: Kari Trotter Wall, Pharm.D.
Clinical Pharmacists: Katty Hsu, Pharm. D.; Ching Yi Liu, Pharm.D.
(213) 740-2738
Student Union 101
www.usc.edu/patient_care/pharmacies

USC Pharmacy, a teaching facility of the USC School of Pharmacy, provides complete pharmacy services to students, faculty and staff. Prescriptions written on and off campus may be filled. Other healthcare products, grooming aids and gifts are stocked. The pharmacy accepts the USCard, USC network and other insurance cards. Reduced fees are offered on prescriptions for students with health insurance plans not contracted with USC.

USC Pharmacy offers comprehensive pharmacy services including emergency contraception, immunizations, drug information, smoking cessation, a latent tuberculosis infection program and personal medication counseling. It also offers various screening services for cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure, osteoporosis and mental health, and specializes in travel medicine services and products.

University Park Health Center

Executive Director:
Dr. Lawrence Neinstein
(213) 740-UPHC
(213) 740-APPT (appointment desk)
University Park Health Center
849 W. 34th Street
Email: uphc@usc.edu
www.usc.edu/uphc

The University Park Health Center (UPHC) is an accredited, full-service medical clinic licensed by the state of California and staffed with dedicated professionals. The UPHC provides cost-effective and client-oriented services and resources in health promotion and disease prevention, primary care and counseling to the University Park campus student community. Services are available to students registered for classes on the University Park campus. If you are enrolled on the Health Sciences campus, you will receive health care at the Eric Cohen Student Health Center on that campus.

Although the student health fee covers most services rendered at the health center, there is a nominal fee for services including laboratory tests, prescriptions, immunizations, copies of X-rays and copies of medical records.

It is important to remember that the health fee will not cover the cost of hospitalization or specialty care that cannot be obtained at the health center. For this coverage, you are required to carry supplemental health insurance.

Primary Care Appointments

Visits for the treatment of most acute illnesses and injuries are scheduled on an appointment basis with a primary care practitioner. To schedule an appointment to see a practitioner call (213) 740-APPT (2778).

Specialty Care Appointments

The UPHC provides specialty care in dermatology, orthopedics, allergies, physical therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic services. All specialty care appointments require a referral from a UPHC primary care provider, with the exception of routine gynecological appointments.

Urgent/Emergency Services

Urgent care services for non-life-threatening medical conditions are available at the UPHC’s Acute Care Clinic during regular clinic hours. If a medical condition requires attention during non-business hours, students may speak with an after-hours registered nurse by calling (213) 740-9355 and following the recorded instructions.

In the event of a life-threatening medical emergency on or near the University Park campus, call the USC Department of Public Safety at (213) 740-4321. For all other medical emergencies, call “911.”

Eligibility for Services

Students enrolled in six or more units during the fall and spring semesters are automatically assessed a mandatory health fee for services. Students with less than six units, who are not enrolled in the USC Student Health Insurance plan, may choose to pay the fee to receive services. Summer session students are eligible for services and are assessed the health fee based on the dates of their summer enrollment. Continuing students not enrolled in summer classes may receive services by paying the summer health fee at the UPHC.

Student Health Insurance

The university requires that all students have supplemental health insurance. This will help to cover the cost of health care that cannot be obtained at the health center, especially when hospitalization may be required.

All students carrying six or more units are automatically enrolled in the USC student health insurance plan. International and Health Sciences campus students are required to have health insurance and are automatically enrolled in this plan, even if they carry less than six units. The health insurance plan works in conjunction with the university’s student health centers, and is designed to complement the services provided. For this reason, all students enrolled in the insurance plan are required to pay the student health fee and access their primary care at the student health center on their campus. Blue Cross of California is the insurer of this supplemental insurance plan. The cost for coverage is $321 for the fall semester (August 20, 2007 to January 13, 2008) and $612 for the spring semester and summer session (January 14, 2008 to August 17, 2008).

Waiver Requirements

Enrollment will only be waived if documented proof of coverage from another plan that meets the following university requirements is presented to the Student Insurance Office on your campus:

1. The waiver request must be submitted by September 14, 2007 for the fall semester and by February 1, 2008 for the spring semester and summer session. Students may also request a full academic year waiver by submitting proof of adequate health care coverage and by checking the appropriate box on the waiver form. The full year waiver deadline is September 14, 2007;
2. It must provide at least $500,000 in lifetime aggregate coverage (no per incident maximum);
3. It must cover the student for the entire coverage period;
4. It must have effective dates covering entire semester: Fall 2007 (August 20, 2007 through January 13, 2008), Spring/Summer 2008 (January 14, 2008 through August 17, 2008);
5. It must pay for at least 80 percent of the covered expenses;
6. It must provide proof with your name on it (identification card or insurance policy will suffice);
7. It must have a deductible of $2,500 or less per policy year; and
8. The plan description must be provided in the English language, currency must be converted to U.S. dollars and there must be an insurance contact number in the United States.

For more information please email the Student Health Insurance Office at uscins@usc.edu or call (213) 740-0551. You may also visit the Student Insurance Office at 649 W. 34th Street, located in Parking Structure D.

Graduate Assistants

Graduate assistants with a .25 award or higher may be eligible to have USC pay for the USC student health plan and the USC Student Health Center fee. Their assistantship award must show in the Student Financial Detail System. More information is available in your award packet through your
academic department.

Student Health Insurance for Students Studying Overseas

Students enrolled in overseas study programs are required to have USC health insurance coverage. These students are automatically enrolled in the USC overseas studies health insurance plan unless they are enrolled in the USC student health plan. The Student Health Insurance Office is located at 649 W. 34th Street (PSD). For more information, please email the insurance office uscins@usc.edu, call (213) 740-0551 or visit our office located in Parking Structure D.

Screening/Immunization Requirements

Measles

The university requires that all students receive two doses of MMR vaccine, or show proof of measles (Rubeola) and Mumps immunity prior to their first semester of enrollment at USC. The following documents will serve as proof of immunity:

1. documentation (month and year) of receiving two doses of the combination MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine (or two doses of Measles vaccine and two doses of Mumps vaccine); or
2. documentation of a positive Rubeola titer and/or Mumps titer (laboratory blood test); or
3. documentation from a physician or clinic indicating a past diagnosis of the disease(s)

The first dose of Measles, Mumps or MMR vaccines must be given at 12 months of age or later. The second given four weeks (or later) following the first dose. Students born prior to January 1, 1957 are considered immune and will automatically be listed as exempt from the Measles and Mumps requirement.

Meningitis

The USC University Park Health Center strongly recommends that all incoming freshmen and transfer students to USC receive the meningococcal meningitis vaccination before they come to campus, or as soon as possible after their arrival.

Meningococcal meningitis is a serious illness that can lead to brain damage, disability or death. College freshmen, particularly those who live in residence halls, have a modestly increased risk of getting this disease. Two meningococcal vaccines are available in the U.S. Both vaccines can prevent four types of meningococcal disease. For more information, please go to the USC University Park Health Center’s Web site at www.usc.edu/uphc.

Tuberculosis

All international students are required to be screened for tuberculosis prior to their first semester of enrollment at USC. A photocopy of one of the following printed on letterhead from a physician or clinic will serve as proof of screening:

• Documentation of a negative tuberculosis skin test (PPD) performed and read in millimeters in the U.S. or Canada, within six months prior to enrollment at USC; or
• Documentation of a positive tuberculosis skin test (PPD) and a written report of a negative chest X-ray performed in the United States or Canada, within six months prior to enrollment at USC; or
• Documentation of INH therapy for prophylaxis for at least six months and a written report of a negative chest X-ray performed in the United States or Canada, within six months prior to enrollment at USC.

International students must provide documentation by the following deadlines: September 7, 2007 for fall 2007 and January 25, 2008 for spring and summer 2008.

Students unable to provide the required documentation will be asked to receive a PPD skin test and/or chest X-ray and provide us with that documentation. Students may receive these services at the University Park Health Center. Please mail or deliver all screening/immunization documents to the University Park Health Center, Immunization/Screening Compliance Office, 849 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0311. For additional information, contact the Immunization/Screening Compliance Office at uphccomp@usc.edu or (213) 740-1163.