Health Services

Common Colds: Students with sore throat, runny nose, cough, or other common cold symptoms should be evaluated to rule out COVID-19. Most people with a common cold will recover in about 7-10 days.

COVID-19: Health Services can evaluate, test, and treat students who have COVID-19 or symptoms. You are encouraged to access home or the on-campus PCR COVID-19 testing anytime new cold/COVID-like symptoms develop.

Due to COVID-19, if you are experiencing any common cold symptoms, please call health the health center at 978-542-6413 so we can properly test you and treat you for COVID-19 if

necessary. 

You can help reduce your risk of getting a cold: wash your hands often, wear a mask when in close proximity to others indoors, especially during peak cold/flu/COVID seasons, avoid close contact with sick people, and don’t touch your face with unwashed hands. There are several things you can do to help relieve your symptoms, learn what you can do.

Illnesses: Illnesses include respiratory infections, rashes, headaches, sprains,  and other physical ailments.

Injury: For a musculoskeletal injury, we recommend initiating the RICE method as soon as possible after injury. Learn more about the RICE method.

With any illness or injury, if your symptoms are severe, worsening, or not improving after a week, it is important to schedule an appointment with health services or your primary care provider for further evaluation.

We offer many in-office lab tests such as pregnancy testing, Strep throat testing, and flu testing without any additional charge to you. However, some tests need to be sent to a third-party laboratory, Quest Diagnostics. Your health insurance is typically billed for these tests but in the event that you do not want to use your health insurance, you can discuss paying out of pocket with your provider.

• You can book an appointment with a nurse practitioner to talk about an entire range of family planning, no matter where you are on the spectrum from never having had sex, wanting a child and needing prenatal care, to wanting to avoid parenthood.  There is never pressure to begin birth control if you don’t want to, and we are more than happy to discuss all of the options with you.
• Family planning services include keeping your reproductive self healthy and includes STI testing. Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing is available and we can talk to you about limiting your risks for exposure and treatments (such as vaccinations and medications) that can help protect your health.
• For more detailed information about sexual health services on campus please visit the sexual health resource page. 
• Birth control and reproductive medications are available on-site at reduced rates for students who choose not to use their insurance. We recommend visiting bedsider.org/methods as a good starting point to review current birth control options before your visit.

• Plan B (generic levonorgesterel-based pills) and Ella are sold at health services front desk during normal business hours at a reduced rate.  Plan B costs $10 and Ella costs $15.  We can only accept clipper cash.
• You can view the difference in emergency contraception types here to help you make the best decision. You can always make an appointment to discuss with a provider in health services as well!
• No appointment is needed to purchase, but you can always book an appointment to discuss your options if you are unsure which method would be better for you.
• You can also request a prescription for emergency contraception be sent to your preferred pharmacy, if you prefer to use your  health insurance benefits to cover the cost (different for every plan)

• Our nurse practitioners can provide consultations and answer questions you may have about gender affirming care, such as hormone therapy.
• We provide STI testing, HPV vaccines, PrEP and PEP for HIV prophylaxis or exposure, and Pap tests.
• We can work with your prescriber to perform lab work, medication administration, or other services you may need.
• We are closely connected with Health Quarters (located in Beverly, MA) who can prescribe hormones, provide medication abortions, and gender affirming treatments (such as laser hair removal) and can help get you connected to this care, if you’d like.

• Immunizations are required by the state of Massachusetts.  Please view the immunization requirements here.
• We accept many insurances including the student health insurance plan, and are able to provide vaccines to students in our office.  Vaccines are given at no-cost, as long as we accept your insurance plan.  If needed, many pharmacies offer vaccines without an appointment. Please message our medical biller in your student health portal or call 978-542-6413 if you have questions about your insurance coverage in our clinic.
• We also offer out-of-pocket reduced costs for immunity titers for Hepatitis B, Varicella, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. This is helpful if you do not have any documentation of illness of vaccines for these requirements.

• There are multiple options for COVID testing.  There are 5 PCR testing sites across campus, including outside of the CHS office, in the Ellison Campus Center.  No appointment is needed and the testing hours and locations can be viewed here
• Rapid tests are available on-campus, as supplies allow. You can find these at the Ellison Campus center test site or at health services. We recommend testing with a PCR or Rapid test as soon as possible after developing COVID symptoms.

If you are feeling sick and would like a medical evaluation, you can book an appointment with us at health services.