Health Center Home | Rhodes Home

Mission of the Moore Moore Student Health Center
The mission of the Moore Moore Student Health Center is to assist students in acquiring knowledge that promotes wellness, helps prevent illness, and encourages responsibility for personal health so they may achieve their educational goals as well as build a foundation upon which they can continue a healthy lifestyle.

Location
The Health Center is located next to the Refectory in the Moore Moore Building. The main entrance is on the east side of the building. Handicap access is available on the south side of the Health Center, between the Health Center and the Refectory.

Staff

·  Patty Sterba, R.N. - Director of Health Services

·  Carolyn Felts, L.P.N.

·  Vangie Bryant - Administrative Assistant

·  Dr. Natasha Thompson - Medical Director UTMG

Appointments
The Health Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. During these hours a registered nurse is available to consult with you about your healthcare needs.

Physician Clinics are 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Physician visits are by appointment. The last appointment time is 3:45 p.m.

Physicians with the University of Tennessee Internal Medicine Group staff the Health Center. Attending physicians are Catherine Womack, M.D., Michelle Sands, M.D., and Natasha Thompson, M.D., Jim Bailey, M.D. and Bruce Steinhauer, M.D. To make an appointment, contact the Health Center at 843-3895.

For medical assistance, call the Health Center during office hours. After hours, contact your Resident Assistant or Campus Safety (843-3333) for assistance. Acute illnesses and emergency accidents can be treated after hours at off campus facilities. The following are facilities to which the College refers:

Methodist University Hospital
1265 Union Ave
901-516-7000

Baptist East Hospital
6019 Walnut Grove
901-226-5000

Baptist Minor Medical Center
3295 Poplar Avenue
901-327-8188
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday

Methodist Minor Medical Center
Cordova Minor Medical Center
8045 Club Parkway
Cordova, TN 38106
901-758-6035
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday & Sunday

Walgreens Pharmacy
1863 Union Avenue (Union & McLean)
901-272-2006
Open 24 hours

Services Provided by the Health Center
 Services provided on-site in the Health Center include:


Services provided by the nurse are included in your tuition cost for the College. Services provided by physicians in the Health Center are billed to your health insurance. You and/or your parents are responsible for charges not covered by your insurance or for off campus medical services.

Services Referred Off Campus

Health Center Self-Care Counter
If you have sniffles, a stuffy nose, an irritating cough, or need a bandaid, stop by the Health Center to use the Self-Care Counter. Located in the main hallway of the Center, the Self-Care Counter provides an opportunity for you to identify your minor symptoms and remedy them. You can use this service with or without assistance from the nurse. Supplies available free of charge include:

Health Education
Health information brochures are available at the Health Center and from displays around campus. Topics include strep throat, flu, STD's, stress management, tattoos, piercings, and mono.

Insurance
Rhodes students are required to have health insurance for the duration of their enrollment at Rhodes. This requirement is to protect you and your family from undo financial strain should serious illness or injury occur. Many students are insured through their parents' insurance. However, insurance through a parent is not always an option. Additionally, there are variations in insurance coverage. HMOs, PPOs, and other preferred provider insurance policies may not provide routine coverage for health needs while the student is in college. Limits of coverage may be due to a policy's geographic limitations, the status of the dependent as a college student, the lack of preferred providers in Memphis, or other exceptions. A policy may provide coverage only if the student receives precertification--approval by the insurer for health care prior to receiving care. It is the patients' responsibility to call their insurance company for approval before being seen at the Student Health Center by the UT Internal Medicine Group.

Rhodes endorses the Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan provided by American College Student Association (ACSA). There are 3 different option plans that can be purchased. Please contact ACSA at 1-888-526-2272 or on their website www.acsa.com for more details.

NOTE: Confidentiality of medical services does not extend to third party guarantors such as insurance companies and/or parents. When you use health insurance to pay for services received from physicians at the Health Center, the insured party (usually the parents) receive notification from the physician group as to what services were provided and the amount being billed to the insurance policy.

Filing an Insurance Claim
When you see a physician at Rhodes' Health Center, University of Tennessee Medical Group (UTMG) will send the invoice for your physician services to your insurance company. UTMG will bill you for any amount not covered by your insurance. Any questions concerning physician charges should be directed to their Patient Account Services Department at (901) 448-2300.

How to Talk to Your Health Care Provider
·  Be honest and open especially concerning your history.
·  If you have questions regarding your health, write them down ahead of time. No question is foolish or insignificant. This is the time to discuss your concerns.
·  Do not respond with a simple "yes" or "no" to questions about the conditions of parts of your body. More information is needed. Give specific examples of problems you have been experiencing. For example: "Do you have headaches?" "Yes, once a day, usually in the evening."
·  Laboratory testing is an important part of a physical examination. The physician cannot tell by looking at you whether you have infected urine, low hemoglobin, or high blood sugar. Some lab tests can be completed at the Health Center; other lab tests must be sent to an off campus facility. We recommend that you call the Health Center within one week after a test was sent for analysis to obtain results.
·  You, as a patient, have a right to know what is being done and why. If in doubt, ask. You also have the right to refuse any tests if you do not receive a satisfactory explanation for why they should be ordered.
·  To reduce your wait time, please call ahead for an appointment.

Things You Can Do to Maintain Good Health
·  Aim for at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night. You can't "make up" for lost sleep. If you pull an all-nighter, take a nap the next day and then try to resume a regular sleeping pattern.
·  Eat at least two balanced meals per day. In the Refectory and the Lair you can find a variety of vegetables, fruits, grains, and protein sources. Yes, you can still eat pizza and burgers, but include vegetables, fruit and dairy products to balance your dietary intake.
·  Avoid reliance on "pills." Some students use over-the-counter substances to help them stay alert, lose weight, sleep, etc. However, continued use of these substances can "short-circuit" your body's natural balance. For best health, avoid using such substances.
·  Watch your weight. Becoming underweight is unhealthy, as is becoming overweight. Don't obsess about how much you weigh, but do pay attention to pounds slipping away or inching up on you during your college career. If you need to gain or lose weight, consult a healthcare professional. Beware of adopting disordered eating habits.
·  Don't smoke! If you do smoke, use low tar cigarettes and try to smoke as little as possible in a day. A healthcare professional may be able to provide medical assistance in dealing with nicotine cravings.
·  Participate in moderate exercise 2 to 3 times per week. Consultation with a physician is advisable before starting an exercise program. Check out the opportunities for exercise in the Bryan Campus Life Center.
·  Aim for moderation in food and beverage intake. You may eat or drink too much from time to time, but watch out for such behavior becoming more frequent. Frequent excessive intake of alcoholic beverages can cause damage to your body that won't be visible for many years.

Supplies to Keep on Hand for Yourself
Keep these supplies handy so you can treat your own minor discomforts and illnesses.


Visiting an Off Campus Medical Facility
·  Take your health insurance information, photo ID and co-pay with you. Most medical service providers will not provide treatment without a payment guarantor.
·  Ask directions to the medical facility if you do not know where it is located. There's almost nothing worse than getting lost when you don't feel well.
·  If you will be seeking follow-up treatment at the Health Center, ask the off campus healthcare provider for copies of all documentation, or sign a release of information so Health Center staff will know what follow-up services you will need.
·  You are an adult. Unless you sign a release of information, the healthcare provider cannot talk with your parents or other parties about your treatment (except in certain situations).
·  If you do not have your own transportation, ask a friend for help in getting to your medical appointment.
·  If you need to be admitted to the hospital, let College administrators know. They can help you arrange course work, etc. while you are hospitalized.

Medical Records
Medical records are kept on file in the Health Center and are held in confidence. (For a full explanation of the Confidentiality Policy, consult that section of this guide.) Medical records are retained for 7 years. After 7 years, medical records are destroyed.

 

Requests for copies of documentation in student medical records should be made in writing. A release of information form must be completed and witnessed. Requests should be made to Health Center staff during operation hours; usually requests will be completed within 3 to 5 working days.

 

Student Health Center
Confidentiality Policy
Policy: The Moore Moore Student Health Center, hereinafter referred to as the Health Center, is firmly committed to preserving the confidentiality of all patient encounters within the limitations of the law of the State of Tennessee and the requirements of third party payors. Health Center employees include all Health Center staff; Health Center student employees; UT Medical Group (UTMG) employees; UTMG contract vendors; and UTMG supervised students.
Practices: Patients who come to the Health Center may anticipate that healthcare providers and other Clinic employees will treat patient information as confidential and will act in such a manner to protect the privacy and confidentiality of both clinical and personal information. This means that no sensitive information will be discussed with a student's parents unless authorized by the student, except in situations as listed below in Limitations of Confidentiality. Confidential services include, but are not limited to, contraception, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted disease, treatment for alcohol and drug abuse, and mental health services.
Patients must understand, however, that there are circumstances in which certain aspects of their healthcare services can be and will be made available to outside parties. These parties may include, but may not be limited to, health insurance companies and other payment guarantors such as parents, legal guardians, or third party payors. This loss of complete confidentiality occurs because of the need to report healthcare services to insurance companies and/or in situations as listed below in confidentiality limitations. Information which may be made available can include diagnoses, diagnostic testing information, therapeutic procedures and prescription drug information.
Patients having specific questions about confidentiality should address their concerns to the physician or nurse at the time of service. There are a number of ways the student and healthcare professional can work together to preserve confidentiality in sensitive matters.
Any concerns about confidentiality of information should be brought to the attention of the UTMG physician serving as Clinic Medical Director.
Limitations of Confidentiality: Confidentiality is limited in the following situations: 1) a court order or subpoena for medical records is issued; 2) a patient is determined to be at risk of harm to self or others;3) the patient makes or authorizes a claim under a health insurance or other health benefit plan or otherwise designates someone else as responsible for payment; 4) the law requires reporting of information (e.g., communicable diseases, injury by violent means); and 5) the patient is a minor. In any of these situations, information in medical records may be released, without the consent of the patient, to necessary parties, which may include but not be limited to, a court of law; parents; health insurance companies and other payment guarantors such as parents, legal guardians or third party payors; College officials; public health officers; and other healthcare professionals or law enforcement authorities.
In Tennessee, persons under the age of 18 (minors) generally must have the consent of an adult parent to obtain medical treatment. Parents of minors who obtain medical treatment will likewise normally be entitled to information about that treatment. Exceptions are recognized for the provision of contraceptives, drug abuse treatment, prenatal care, and emergency care.