Student Health Services
A. Mission Statement
To enhance the educational process by removing health-related barriers to learning, promoting optimal wellness, helping students make informed decisions, and assisting students to be self-directed and good consumers of health care.
B. Statement of Purpose
The Student Health Center at Francis Marion University exists to help meet the health care needs of FMU students. Students who are ill or injured may seek the assistance of the nurse practitioner. The health center is staffed by a full time nurse practitioner. There is no fee for an office visit with the nurse practitioner. Students may be referred to a local physician for conditions that need x-rays, extensive testing, or a consultation. The student is responsible for doctor’s fees as well as any related lab work or x-rays, which may be necessary.
In addition to responding to the needs of ill or injured students, the nurse practitioner helps students maintain wellness by assisting them to take responsibility for their health. Pamphlets are available to students. The nurse practitioner is available to discuss individual health concerns as the need arises.
The regular hours of the Student Health Center are Monday through Friday from 8:30 am until 4:30 p.m. The nurse practitioner will see students on a walk-in basis, time permitting, but appointments are preferred. Students who need medical assistance when the Student Health Center is closed may call Public Safety; however, these students need to be seen for follow-up the next morning that the Center is opened.
The Student Health Center is located in the McLeod Medical Building and is housed with the FMU Office of Counseling and Testing.
C. Patient Rights
- To be provided with courteous, considerate care, as well as being treated with respect.
- To privacy and confidentiality with regard to treatment and medical records.
- To review your medical records in the company of a professional, but they remain the property of Student Health Services.
- To be informed of the effectiveness of treatment, and to know of possible risks, side effects, or alternate methods of treatment.
- To know whom is treating you.
- To refuse treatment, or to ask for a second opinion or an alternative course of treatment, and to be informed of the medical consequences of your actions.
- To be informed of personal responsibilities involved in seeking medical treatment and maintaining health and well being after treatment.
- To bring any dissatisfaction to the attention of the Student Health Services coordinator at (843)673-9855.
D. Patient Responsibilities
- To present accurate identifying information.
- To present details of illness or complaint in a direct and straightforward manner.
- To cooperate responsibly with all persons involved in the health care process.
- To keep appointments on time.
- To cancel appointments only when absolutely necessary and far enough in advance so that other patients might utilize that time.
- To comply with the treatment plan provided by the health professional.
- To ask for clarification whenever information or instructions are not understood.
- To provide both positive and negative feedback to the health professional responsible for care.
E. Confidentiality
All information given by students when seen in the Student Health Center will be treated as confidential. Information will be shared with the administration only in cases when suicide or homicide is a possibility. Students will be encouraged to share health care problems with their parents, but the Student Health Center will not notify parents when a student is seen in the Student Health Center.
F. Appointments and Eligibility
Students enrolled full-time at Francis Marion University are eligible to utilize the services of the Student Health Services. Students may come to the Student Health Center any time during the hours of operation, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am until 4:30 p.m. Occasionally the nurse practitioner is out of her office for meetings, lunch, etc. The nurse practitioner sees students only in the Health Center. Public Safety will take care of health care needs when the Health Center is closed, but students are encouraged to follow-up with the nurse practitioner during the next time the Health Center is open.
Students who are ill or injured are encouraged to see the nurse practitioner as soon as possible. In addition to students who are ill or injured those who seek health care advice, need educational materials, or need allergy injections may also be seen.
G. Medical Records
Individual medical records will be kept by Student Health Services on each student who is seen in the health center. These records will be considered confidential. They are kept in a lockable cabinet, in a locked storage room. DHEC Family Planning charts are protected in the same manner. Immunization forms are kept in a locked filing cabinet or in the locked storage room. Immunization forms are destroyed by shredding after seven years. No records will be released without a signed release form and approval by the nurse practitioner. Students who are employed at student health service sign a confidentiality statement at the onset of employment.
Dictation that documents the daily patient encounters that is transcribed by the administrative assistant is deleted once the transcription is complete and printed.
H. Chronic or Pre-Existing Conditions
Students with chronic or pre-existing conditions are encouraged to see the nurse practitioner as soon as they are settled on campus. The nurse practitioner will discuss with the student any medication or treatment regimen as well as explore ways in which the Student Health Center can assist the student in maintaining activities of daily living while attending Francis Marion University. The nurse practitioner may need to refer students to another agency for treatment.
I. Acute Illness
Any student who becomes ill or injured and is housed on campus should see the nurse practitioner for assessment as soon as the Student Health Center is opened for the day. The Student Health nurse practitioner sees students in the Student Health Center, and it is the responsibility of the student to come to the Student Health Center. Students who are too ill to come to the Student Health Center need to contact their Resident Assistant or Campus Police, who in turn will decide if students should be transported to the Student Health Center or Emergency Room. Once treatment is given on campus, ill students will be sent to their rooms to rest since Francis Marion University does not maintain an infirmary. Students are expected to keep in touch with the nurse practitioner if there is a change in their condition.
J. Infection Control Policy
- Universal Precautions
Universal precautions will be observed in this facility in order to prevent contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. All blood or other potentially infectious material will be considered infectious regardless of the perceived status of the source individual.
Engineering and work practice controls will be utilized to eliminate or minimize exposure to Student Health Center employees. Where occupational exposure remains after institution of these controls, personal protective equipment shall also be utilized.
Handwashing facilities are available to the employees who incur exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. Handwashing shall occur immediately following the removal of gloves.
a. Needles
Needles used to puncture the skin or mucus membranes will be one-time use equipment that is discarded after each use.
b. Personal Protective Equipment
During routine contact, only gloves need to be worn by Student Health Center employees. If it is a reasonably assumed that blood or other material may splatter or come in contact with the body, other than the hands, disposable gown, eye covering (goggles), and mask may be worn in addition to gloves.
c. Body Fluid Spills
Blood or other potentially infectious spills shall be cleaned up promptly with a 1:10 dilution of bleach.
- Procedure for Handling Syringes
- Procedure for Handling Syringes Used by Nurse
· Sharps container will be kept in each examination room.
· Used needles and syringes will be deposited into this container. Needles will not be broken or recapped.
· When full, sharps container will be disposed of in the hazardous waste receptacle.
- Procedure for Handling Syringes Used by Students
· All residential students will be notified of necessity to use sharps container if syringes are used in the room.
· Students are to notify Student Health Center that they use syringes and needles. The following information must be provided: legitimate reason for syringe use, name of student, dorm, apartment and room number.
· Sharps containers will be dispensed to students from Student Health Center
· When filled, the container will be returned to Student Health Center and a new sharps container will be dispensed.
· Filled containers will be discarded in hazardous waste container.
B. Policy on Allergy Injections:
Allergy injections may be received by students in the Student Health Center at Francis Marion University provided they are maintenance injections and written permission from the prescribing physician is on file in the Student Health Center. Students may receive these injections at the Health Center during normal working hours (8:30 am – 4:30 p.m.); however, it is recommended that students call ahead to schedule an appointment. Student will be required to wait in the Health Center for 30 minutes after receiving the injection while the nurse practitioner is nearby in the event that a reaction does occur.
Students must provide their own medication / extract along with written instructions from their allergist. Instructions from the allergist must specify the type and concentration of the extract, the specific dose, and injection schedule, as well as any precautions required. Students are expected to reorder their own medication as needed. The student and the nurse practitioner will discuss where this medication will be stored. In most cases, it will be kept by the student in his/her own refrigerator to insure availability to the student at all times, since the Student Health Center has limited operating hours.
Students with a history of reaction to maintenance allergy injections will not be considered candidates to receive these injections in the Student Health Center since no physician is available should a serious reaction occur. Epinephrine will be kept on hand should reactions occur, and students having reactions will most likely be transported to the McLeod Emergency Room as soon as possible. It will be left to the Student Health Nurse Practitioner’s discretion as to whether or not a student who has previously had a reaction will continue to receive these injections in the Student Health Center. All other allergy injections may be received at a private physician’s office.
C. Immunization Policy
All new and transfer students are required to provide documentation of the following prior to the completion of registration: completion of primary series of DTP and polio, one dose of mumps and rubella, and two doses of the measles (rubeola) vaccine administered after the first birthday. A Tetanus booster within ten years prior to admission, and a tuberculin skin test (PPD) within one year prior to admission are also required. Failure to complete and return the immunization record will lead to a hold being placed on registration. Immunizations on other forms will be accepted as long as the FMU requirements are met.
Immunization forms can be shared with other health care providers without a release being signed. Immunization forms will be kept by Student Health Service for seven years and then destroyed.
D. INSURANCE
Having health insurance for FMU students is strongly recommended, because an unexpected illness or accident can cause financial hardships for students, making it difficult for them to complete their education. FMU has negotiated an excellent rate for student health insurance through a local carrier, and information about this can be obtained through our office. Students should not assume that they are covered under their parents policy and need to check this out.
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