Health Services
Mount Saint Mary College has a Health Services Center located in Guzman Hall that is open weekdays. Appointments for care are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome. Staffing includes a Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurses, an Administrative Assistant, and an on-call consulting Physician. The Health Services Center is designed to manage chronic illnesses, provide treatment for acute illness or injury, and can work in conjunction with a student’s personal healthcare provider as needed to treat illness or injury of a serious or lasting nature.
Health Services maintains electronic health records for all students. MSMC Health Forms can be found, completed and submitted on the student health portal msmary.studenthealthportal.com. New York State Public Health laws require that all students born on or after January 1, 1957 who wish to enroll in six or more credits in any one semester provide proof of immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). Students must upload an official immunization record from their health care provider to the student portal. The immunization record must be signed and stamped by the student’s health care provider. In addition, all students, regardless of age, must complete the meningitis form on the portal reflecting whether a student has had or wishes to waive the Meningococcal vaccine. The college also requires all new full-time students to submit documentation of a current physical performed within the past year, and complete a Tuberculosis Screening form completed within the last year found on the student health portal. Students who do not comply with these requirements may be subject to withdrawal from the college.
Generally, office visit fees are covered by tuition and do not require a payment. Laboratory tests (strep test, mono test, PPD, urinalysis) and many prescription medications are available, and have a minimal co-pay which is billed to the student’s account. In some circumstances, a referral will need to be made to an appropriate off-campus medical facility. In this case, costs are the responsibility of the student or guardian. Students are encouraged to have medical insurance coverage, to carry a copy of their insurance card, and to know how to access care if needed. The college is located within four blocks of St. Luke’s Montefiore Cornwall Hospital and several Urgent Care facilities are located within close proximity to our college campus for after-hour care. Transportation for such care can be provided by MSMC Security.
When the College suspects a student to have a serious or contagious health problem, it reserves the right to require a medical examination of the student. The College also reserves the right to require a student to return home in order to ensure that appropriate physical and mental health care is received and to protect the safety of the members of the College community.
Students absent from the college for a serious illness/injury or for a period of time beyond 3 days should contact Health Services. Students seeking specialized medical arrangements must submit a current written report from their health care provider outlining prescribed medications, diet, activity limitations, and any other necessary accommodations. Though the Health Services Wellness Center staff will advocate for the student who has provided this documentation and will assist in the process of getting the appropriate accommodations in place, the Health Services staff is not authorized to excuse students from classes. In the event that a student is unable to attend class due to a medical reason, even if they have a note from a medical provider, it is the student’s responsibility to notify their instructors according to the class policy/syllabus.
Health Services also offers Wellness Programs throughout the year and encourages students to learn about and participate in healthy lifestyles. Topics include stress management, smoking cessation, healthy eating, and exercise, among others. This information is provided through individual student visits, collaborative presentations with Resident Assistants in the residence halls, monthly wellness tables, and other various events.
The Health Services office is home to the Stress-Less Room, a quiet room with a massage chair, ambient lighting, and relaxing music for relaxation/meditation tracks. Students are encouraged to visit Health Services to use this room to help them to relax and to promote mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health, and thereby potentiating academic success.
For further information about Health Services, to arrange for a health services presentation, call 845-569-3152 or email healthservices@msmc.edu.