Medical Services
Medical FAQ's
Q: Who is eligible for services at the BSU Health & Wellness Center?
A: All students currently enrolled at BSU are eligible for medical care at the Health & Wellness Center, regardless of insurance status (including students without insurance coverage). We accept the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) and other insurance plans.
Q: What types of medical problems can the Health & Wellness Center treat? What happens if the Health & Wellness Center can’t take care of my problem?
A: The Medical Services staff includes nurse practitioners, physician assistants and board-certified family physicians, including a fellowship-trained sports medicine specialist. The Medical Services staff can take care of most problems that you would normally been seen for at your family or primary care physician. If we cannot take care of the problem, you can be referred to a specialist in the community.
Q: Where is the Health & Wellness Center located and when is it open?
A: We are at 2103 University Drive and Chrisway Lane (see map). Click here for hours of operation.
Q: Can I walk-in without an appointment?
A: There is no “walk-in” service at the Health & Wellness Center. All visits are appointment-based and we encourage you to call 426-1459 to make an appointment. In most cases, you can be seen on the same day that you call.
Q: What can I do if I can't be seen at the Health & Wellness Center right away or the Center is not open?
A: If you can’t wait until the next available appointment, Primary Health has numerous Urgent Care Centers in the area that see patients on a walk-in basis. (They are the preferred provider for SHIP enrollees). Check the phone directory for the location nearest you. (If you have insurance other than SHIP, you should check to see if there is a preferred provider of urgent care services for your plan.)
Q: How does it work if I go to an emergency room when the Health & Wellness Center is closed or I can't get in for an appointment?
A: The ER should only be used for life-threatening emergencies. If you are unsure whether your problem is serious enough to warrant emergency room care, you may want to contact the 24-Hour Nurse Access Hotline at 1-800-322-9569. SHIP enrollees should seek care at St. Luke's Emergency Departments (Boise or Meridian) [maps]; care provided at other Emergency Departments may result in a higher deductibles and co-pays.
Q: Can I get medication at the Health & Wellness Center?
A: There is a dispensary at the Health & Wellness Center that stocks a limited variety of prescription and non-prescription medications for BSU students. Additionally, clinicians can write prescriptions for medications that are not stocked. Pharmacy benefits, caps, and co-pays for SHIP enrollees are explained on the SHIP website.
Q: How often can I get a general prescription refilled?
A: This depends on the medication and the judgment of the clinician. Most medications can be refilled for an entire semester. Your insurance plan may only allow a certain amount to be dispensed at one time, however. The Health & Wellness Center has a system in which you can refill your medication without seeing a clinician.
Q: What if I can’t pay for expensive prescription medications?
A: Many pharmaceutical companies have programs that help patients obtain medication when they cannot afford it. The Health & Wellness Center has a Patient Medication Assistance Program (PMAP) that helps students complete the required paperwork and serves as a liaison to the drug companies. Contact our PMAP Coordinator at 426-4385.
Q: How much do I pay with and without Boise State student health insurance (SHIP) when I come to the Health & Wellness Center?
A: All fees are based on the type of service rendered. The Health & Wellness Center will bill SHIP or your insurance company. Uninsured patients will be billed directly. Payment plans can be arranged through our business office. If you unsure of your payment responsibilities, call your insurance company or the Student Health Insurance Plan office.
Q: What is the "Ask a Nurse" service about?
A: There is a 24-Hour Nurse Access Hotline available to students. Call 1-800-322-9569. Trained Registered Nurses (RN’s) will answer your call and provide limited medical advice. They can also “triage” your problem to help you decide whether you need to go to the ER, an urgent care center, or whether you can wait until the next available appointment at the Health & Wellness Center. We encourage you to treat this service as an after-hours resource, and call the Health and Wellness Center for assistance during normal business hours.
Q: Does Medical Services provide care for women's health concerns? How about men's health concerns? Can I get birth control pills/other contraceptives at the Health & Wellness Center?
A: The Health & Wellness Center provides comprehensive gynecological care to include pap smears and the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections. In addition to a full-time gynecologic nurse practitioner, the Health and Wellness Center has two physicians who provide colposcopy and cervical cryotherapy, which are procedures for accurate diagnosis and treatment of abnormal pap smears.
We also address men's health problems, including sexually transmitted infections, prostate health, and erectile dysfunction.
A variety of contraceptives (birth control pills, the patch, Nuvaring, Depo-Provera) are stocked in the Health & Wellness Center dispensary, as well as emergency contraception (the “morning after pill”). We can place intrauterine devices (IUD) and fit diaphragms.
Q: Can the Health & Wellness Center staff test for STD's? Is this confidential (interpretation: will my parents find out?)?
A: Screening and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI's or STD's) is available. Results are confidential, however, the holder of some private insurance policies may receive an itemized bill for lab work, which may name the tests that were ordered. Labs billed through the SHIP program are not identified on the bill.
Q: Can I get a blood test or x-ray at the Health & Wellness Center?
A: The Health & Wellness Center can collect blood and other specimens for analysis. Some tests are done on-site at the Center, and some are sent to off-site laboratories for analysis and interpretation. Some tests that are performed at the Health & Wellness Center include:
- Urinalysis
- Chlamydia (female, on-site only—male, sent off site)
- Urine pregnancy
- Rapid strep throat test
- Rapid flu test
- Mononucleosis (Monospot) test
- Fecal occult blood
- Fingerstick glucose (blood sugar)
- PH body fluid, except blood
- H. pylori
- Microscopic exam of secretions and skin scrapings
- Trichomonas
- Buccal (mouth swab) HIV (Jan 2006)
The Health & Wellness Center does not perform x-rays or other radiologic tests on site, however our clinicians can order them for you.
Last updated 12/9/2005
