Healthcare Services

Mount Holyoke College Health Services (CHS) is committed to delivering comprehensive, high-quality, evidence-based primary care. As a primarily residential campus, we also offer and/or support health care services unique to college students in our semi-rural setting.

CHS clinical services are available to all current students and there are no office visit charges for medical, nursing, and wellness appointments. Some services (like lab tests, immunizations, and specialty care) and supplies (like crutches and some medications) may have a fee associated with them.

Students referred off campus for specialty care or who seek medical services outside of CHS must provide insurance details to those practices and are responsible for any related out-of-pocket expenses. This includes ambulance transportation, emergency room care, most surgical procedures, specialty consultation, eye and dental care, and off-site laboratory or imaging tests (i.e. x-ray, ultrasound, MRI, and CAT scans).

The Continuity Model: Primary care medical services

Many people have a PCP — primary care provider — at home, whether this be at your pediatrician’s or family physician’s office. Many health insurances require patients to select and denote a specific PCP.

Here at Mount Holyoke, we want to be your medical home away from home, and thus provide each student with their own MHC PCP: your Primary Campus Provider. This clinician is your go to medical provider throughout your tenure at the College. Your Primary Campus Provider is a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant, trained in the full scope of primary care. MHC PCPs are unrelated to your health insurance plan (whether from home or purchased through the College).

Our goal in assigning you an MHC PCP is to provide even better health care through continuity with the same health care provider. We believe this helps build stronger therapeutic relationships between student patients and healthcare providers. We understand there may be times when the assigned MHC PCP may not be the best “fit” to meet your wellness goals; students may request a change by speaking with any CHS staff member.

In general, we encourage appointments for chronic health issues or prevention services to be scheduled with your MHC PCP. If you are sick, we will do our best to have your MHC PCP see you. However, the urgency of your health takes priority over the schedule. If you become ill or injured when your MHC PCP is not available, CHS will coordinate your seeing a different clinician.

Stuff happens! Students get sick, students get injured: CHS is the go-to resource for on-campus urgent health care needs. While we do not accept “walk-ins” like a free-standing urgent care center, we do plan our clinical schedule to account for the unpredictable health needs of our students.

From fevers to diarrhea, from concussions to ankle sprains, from pink eye to ingrown toenails, our medical team can help manage it all. Just call! When CHS is open, a staff member will coordinate a clinical evaluation; after hours, our on-call service can help determine if you need to go to the ER or urgent care center, or if following up with CHS the next day will suffice.

Prescriptions

College Health Services primary care providers can only prescribe stimulant medications for students with an existing diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

ADHD Testing and Evaluation

Neither the clinical staff at MHC’s Health Services nor Counseling Service perform the needed comprehensive evaluation to diagnose ADHD. Students without a current diagnosis who suspect they may have ADHD, or those with a diagnosis but without the necessary comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation may pursue an ADHD assessment locally. This is a covered service under SHIP. If you have private health insurance, please confirm coverage prior to scheduling an ADHD evaluation appointment.

Accommodations for students with ADHD

All students with a diagnosis of ADHD, regardless of whether they are taking medication, are encouraged to contact Disability Services to see if they qualify for accommodations. Research supports treatment with a combination of medication and non-pharmacological treatments (such as academic coaching, group/individual cognitive behavioral therapy, daily exercise and mindfulness practice), and we encourage students to utilize multimodal treatment.

Learn more about the process and required documentation

MHC students spend more time in South Hadley than they do at home: those with a complex medical history often benefit from having a local health care provider. While CHS does not have any specialty-trained medical providers, our primary care team can diagnose and manage a breadth of chronic &/or episodic conditions (ie asthma, migraines, or hypothyroidism). When a student has an existing diagnosis or a new onset condition that requires a specialist (i.e. type 1 diabetes, seizures, Crohn’s disease), we can coordinate their health care with home specialists and/or help connect the student to local specialty care.

We at Health Services believe that gender-affirming care is primary care! We welcome MHC students of all gender identities and are a confidential, safe space for your medical care at MHC.

Our providers are trained in gender-affirming care and offer an array of gender-specific services: hormone therapy, menstrual management, surgical referrals, letters of medical necessity, and links to on- and off- campus support.

We also partner with our transgender and gender-diverse students to help them make intentional decisions about screening and prevention services that are right for them.

College Health Services (CHS) offers all vaccines that are required by the Commonwealth for higher education students: MMR, Varicella, Tdap, Meningitis A, and Hepatitis A and B.

We strongly recommend the annual influenza vaccine, HPV vaccine series, and Meningitis B vaccination. These are available at CHS as well, though some may require a special order (i.e. prescription sent to a pharmacy and administration here at the health center).

For vaccines needed/recommended for international travel, please refer to CHS travel services.

All medical providers at CHS are primary care trained and able to prescribe psychotropic medications for many mental health conditions. Common conditions for which we initiate or continue psychotropic meds include anxiety, depression, and ADHD for students who were cleared for stimulant meds per CHS policy.

We encourage students to schedule a non-urgent appointment with their MHC PCP if seeking on-campus management. If a student's mental health care needs exceed the scope of primary care, we will refer them to our psychiatric specialty colleagues at Counseling Service.

Students who have bipolar disorder, current or past psychosis, and/or complex medication regimens for their mental health may be best managed by psychiatric prescribers. MHC Counseling Service has mental health prescribers available on campus and can also assist in connecting students to an off-campus psychiatric prescriber. Students with these conditions or those who prefer psychiatric specialists can self-refer to CS, or seek CS support to access off-campus providers.

Our primary care team offers a variety of sexual and reproductive health care services. These include:

Contraceptive services such as counseling on birth control options, prescribing pills, rings, patches, or shots; managing contraception changes or complications; and referrals (for IUD or contraceptive implant placement). We offer prescriptions or nurse visits for Emergency Contraception including both Plan B and Ella.
Sexually transmitted illness (STI) testing, treatment, and prevention, including PrEP counseling and prescribing
Reproductive wellness visits such as cervical cancer screening (“pap smears”), pregnancy and abortion support, and reproductive organ problem visits (i.e. genital discharge, irregular menstrual periods, pelvic pain, breast lumps)
Confidential sexual assault-related health care with STI testing, treatment and prevention, emergency contraception, and referral options for both forensic evidence collection (“SANE exam”), and for counseling services as requested by the survivor.

Our primary care team is committed to trauma-informed, consent-driven health care. Feel free to schedule an appointment with your MHC PCP for an exam, testing or just to talk.

As with any primary care practice, CHS offers a variety of wellness services. Students can schedule appointments for a “routine physical” or health check to review their health status. We can complete “health forms” for school matriculation, pre-employment, or sports participation. In general, we follow the U.S. Preventative Task Force evidence-based guidelines, as well as review student’s individual risks, for specific health screening.

Additional healthcare services and supports

CHS offers continuation of previously initiated allergy injections, with appropriate orders and consent of your home allergist. We cannot prescribe/create the allergy serum, nor begin your allergy desensitization protocol.

If you have been seeing an allergist for allergy injections and would like to start receiving your injections at Health Services, please review the steps involved.

Fees for allergy injections at Health Services are covered by the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) or you may choose the Prepaid Health Center Option. If you waive both options there will be a fee for each visit.

Routine dental care

CHS does not have on-site dentistry. Most health insurance plans, including SHIP, do not provide routine dental coverage. Students may opt-in for dental insurance coverage from Gallagher for an additional cost. Alternatively, students who enroll in SHIP have access to a Dental Savings Program. This is not dental insurance but a contract with dental care providers who offer up to a 50% reduction in cost for services.

Emergency dental care

Some health insurance plans do cover medical dental emergencies (i.e. facial trauma with damage to teeth) and SHIP does cover wisdom tooth extractions when medically necessary.

CHS has compiled a list of local dental offices. When medically appropriate, the medical providers at CHS will refer to dentists or oral surgeons, and students can also self refer.

CHS does not have on-site optometry or ophthalmology services.

Often, students in need of physician-managed eye conditions have ophthalmologic care covered by their health insurance. Optometry services – vision measurements, prescriptions for eyeglasses, and/or contact lenses – are often not covered by health insurance. Some insurance companies offer an “eye care plan” that supplements the cost of optometry services.

MHC’s SHIP does not include optometry coverage, but students enrolled in SHIP do have access to a savings program for vision-related services. This discount vision plan is available through our Vision Savings Program.

CHS has compiled a list of local optometrists. When necessary, CHS medical providers will refer students to ophthalmologists for specialty eye-related medical care.

Health Services is a primary care practice that provides lab testing as part of our medical evaluations.

As medically appropriate, we offer point-of-care lab testing including rapid strep, rapid flu, COVID antigen tests, monospot, urine dipstick, urine pregnancy tests, finger stick glucose, and testing stool for blood. Our medical providers can perform microscopic tests for vaginal concerns or skin fungus.

We also collect specimens for other laboratory tests that require processing at our reference lab, Quest. These include tests like blood counts or panels, pap smears, STI screening, and cultures.

All lab tests—point-of-care or those sent out to our reference lab—have a charge. Costs are covered by the SHIP or pre-paid plan; students with private health insurance only will have the costs for these tests billed to their student account.

Because CHS is not a stand-alone laboratory, we cannot simply process lab orders from off-campus health care providers. Students seeking lab tests ordered by a home provider or specialists can have those labs done at an off-campus laboratory that can directly bill the student’s insurance. Alternatively, students can have their non-CHS health care clinician confidentially share medical information with CHS. With the appropriate medical documentation, the student's MHC PCP, may order the labs that can be collected and/or performed at CHS. Results will be shared with the student directly and with permission, with the off-campus medical provider.

CHS has limited on-campus physical therapy available for MHC students only. This service requires a medical assessment and referral by CHS medical provider. CHS PT has a fee associated with the care, which is covered for those with SHIP or the “pre-paid option.” Students with only private health insurance can still be referred to CHS PTs, but the costs will be posted to the student’s MHC account.

Both of the physical therapists are licensed, and consider themselves “generalists.” For students needing/seeking specialty physical therapy (i.e. specific post-operative rehab, or pelvic floor PT), the MHC primary care providers can refer students to an off-campus PT office.

There is no on-campus pharmacy, nor are there pharmacies within walking distance from campus. There are a few options available for students who need prescription medications:

1. Courtesy delivery from Community, A Walgreens pharmacy

Health Services has an agreement with a local pharmacy – Community, A Walgreens Pharmacy – that delivers prescription medications for no charge to the Groves Health Center on campus. Students may pick up prescriptions during CHS’s regular business hours.

In order for Community, A Walgreens pharmacy, to process your prescription, you must first set up a Walgreens account and specifically select this pharmacy. This requires your contact information, your insurance details, and a payment method (to cover any co-pays). The details for Community are:

Community, A Walgreens Pharmacy #16537
619 Chestnut St Springfield, MA
Phone: 413-271-9990

Step-by-step instructions for setting up your account and transferring/requesting prescription refills are on this link. If you are having difficulty setting up your Walgreens account with Community, please phone them directly for assistance.

Most medical providers, including those at Health and Counseling Services on campus, can electronically prescribe medications. They/we can send those Rx’s to Community, or any pharmacy of your choice; you must simply share the pharmacy details with the prescriber’s office (pharmacy name, address &/or phone).

2. Take a campus shuttle to a local pharmacy

Campus shuttles runs a few times per week and include routes to local pharmacies.

3. (For long-term medication use), have your in-network mail order pharmacy deliver your 90-day prescription supply directly to your campus address

Most health insurance prescription plans permit 90-day supplies of regularly used medications to be delivered home. Examples include Express Scripts or CVS Caremark. You may check with your insurance benefits plan and ask your prescriber to use your in-network mail-order pharmacy to have your meds delivered to your campus address.

Transportation arranged by Health Services

Health Services can assist students in arranging transportation to and from medical appointments and to return from an Emergency Room visit as needed. When we assist in arranging for transportation the cost is not always covered by the college.

The cost will be covered if:

The reason for the transport is due to a serious illness or condition that must be managed as soon as possible.
You are discharged from the emergency room or a hospital stay and you do not have a way to return to campus.

You will be charged (on your college bill) for the transport if Health Services has arranged transportation for you to see an outside provider for a follow up appointment, a routine visit, or diagnostic testing such as x-ray.

Self-arranged transportation

If you have a non-urgent medical appointment we recommend that you first try to arrange for your own transportation. Some options in the area:

Taxi services
Uber: Install the app on your phone and connect a payment method
Lyft: Install the app on your phone and connect a payment method
ZipCars are also available on campus

If you are planning to travel abroad for study or pleasure, Health Services can offer helpful consultation. We suggest you schedule an appointment at least 4 weeks prior to your planned departure date. This will allow time for you to complete a health clearance and necessary care if required by your study abroad program.

Travel-related services

Physical examination and/or health paperwork if required by your study abroad program

Sufficient prescriptions of your regular medications (this may require an insurance “travel override”)

Travel health precautions pertinent to your destination

A comprehensive list of required or recommended immunizations for your specific destination(s), some of which can be administered here at Health Services.

Travel vaccinations available at College Health Services

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Meningococcal Meningitis
Tetanus booster
Polio booster
Typhoid

Travel vaccinations requiring a referral to a specialty travel clinic

Yellow Fever
Japanese Encephalitis
Rabies

Students may opt to complete their full travel health assessment and vaccinations at a specialty travel clinic using their insurance. You are encouraged to verify if travel-related care is a covered benefit. There are several local options for travel medicine clinics, however, these sites do offer travel-specific vaccines.

Health Services sees student patients by appointment only. We do, however, reserve appointments for acute symptoms, or urgent problems. Students are asked to phone CHS to schedule an evaluation; if needed, our reception staff will have a triage nurse call you back to help determine a medically appropriate disposition.

Students who walk in to CHS will be asked to follow the same protocol – schedule an appointment at the front desk, or wait for a call back from triage.

After business hours, the on-call clinician may direct a student to use an Urgent Care Center or go to the Emergency Room at a local hospital. These are also an option during summer break when Health Services is not open for clinical services.

View a list of local urgent care and ER facilities

Contact us

Health Services

Health Services assists students with their medical needs while they are in residence.

health-admin@mtholyoke.edu
413-538-2121
413-538-2352
Pattie J. Groves Health Center

Health Services office hours

Academic year hours
Monday - Friday 9 am-5 pm
Staff meeting Thursday 9-10 am

After hours/weekend
On call services 24/7
Call 413-538-2121 and follow prompts

MyHealth Connection

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