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Services

Outpatient Medical Services

The Health Center provides physician and nursing care for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic medical illnesses and injuries. Services provided for general medical visits, routine gynecology and orthopedics are covered by the Health Service Fee. Follow up for care after hospitalization is also available. Influenza vaccines and some traveler's medications and vaccines are provided during medical office hours. Students who have questions about HIV infections or other sexually transmitted infections, substance use, or who have other concerns should speak with a Health Center physician or nurse practitioner.

Allergy Immunotherapy

Please be advised that we cannot give allergy injections at the Health Center.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

Immunizations

By law, all students must have documentation of the required vaccines before coming to campus. Download the Health and Immunization Report Form (PDF). If documentation is not available, a student must begin all of the required vaccines before coming to campus. 

Occasionally a student begins an immunization series late and is unable to complete the requirements before arriving on campus. If you decide to come to the Health Center to complete your immunizations you will be charged for the vaccine(s). This is an out of pocket expense. Payment by cash, check (made payable to B.I.D.M.C.) or credit card must be made prior to receiving the dose. We do not have the capacity to bill insurers but some plans may reimburse this cost. We provide receipts with the necessary codes for reimbursement.

Students who believe they were immunized in the past and do not want to be immunized again may have a blood test drawn to detect the presence of antibodies.  We do not charge to draw the blood, but the laboratory costs (subject to change), are the responsibility of the student.

Medical History

During the course of medical care, a student may be asked about her or his medical or history. These questions include information about previous illnesses, family history, allergies, menstrual history, alcohol or drug use, eating habits and sexual activity. If any of this information changes during your time at Brandeis, please inform one of the health care providers at the time of a visit so your record can be updated. While it is recognized that some of this information is sensitive in nature, it may have vital clinical significance. Inquiries about these subjects should never be considered judgmental. If you are curious about any questions asked at a visit, please ask the nurse or physician for clarification.

Confidentiality

All medical records are private and confidential. It is Brandeis University’s and the Health Center's policy, as well as state and federal law, that no medical information will be released to any party without written consent of the student. With the student’s consent, Health Center personnel may release pertinent information that may be required for the filing of a claim with an insurance company or other third party payer. In case of an emergency, or when required by law, next of kin or appropriate authorities may be notified about your condition by a member of the Health Center staff. If a student is less than 18 years of age, medical information can be released to a parent or legal guardian, in some circumstances, without written consent. We make every effort to include the student in this process.

Laboratory Tests

The Health Center does not operate a clinical medical laboratory. However, blood and other specimens can be collected here with a physician’s order. If you have a blood test, culture, or PAP smear done at the Health Center the specimen will usually be sent to the Newton Wellesley Hospital for analysis. We provide them with your health insurance information. They bill your insurer. Some insurance companies will not pay for outpatient specimens analyzed at this hospital. They will only pay for specimens analyzed at Quest Diagnostics, or other freestanding labs. The Newton Wellesley Hospital and Quest will send a courier to the Health Center to pick up the specimens. LabCorp is a freestanding lab that doesn’t offer a pick up service and is located several miles away from the university. If your insurer contracts with LabCorp please contact them and inquire about using an out of network lab. It is the student’s responsibility to tell us if this is the case. Each student must have a good understanding of their insurance policy coverage to prevent unnecessary charges.

Resources Off Campus

The Health Center maintains a list of providers in many medical and dental specialties in the Waltham and Greater Boston areas. A referral for care is not required if you have the Student Health Insurance Plan (QSHIP). If you have private insurance, you should check with your insurer about coverage.

Hospitalization

The closest hospital to Brandeis University is the Newton Wellesley Hospital (NWH) a premier community teaching hospital offering medical, surgical and specialty care, 24-hour emergency services and a pediatric emergency department. When students need a hospital admission they often go to NWH.
The Health Center is managed by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) located in Boston. BIDMC is one of the top academic medical centers in the country and students can be hospitalized there as well.

Pharmacy

The Health Center does not operate a pharmacy. Students needing prescription drugs are given prescriptions that may be filled at local pharmacies in Waltham.

Eaton Apothecary, located at 9 Hope Avenue, approximately ½ mile from campus, will deliver prescriptions for students to pickup at the Health Center during office hours. Cash, credit or debit card, or personal check is needed for delivery. Exact change is appreciated when paying with cash, as we do not have a cash register. The fees for prescription and non-prescription drugs are the responsibility of the student, but may be covered by some insurance plans.

*Indicates located within walking distance from campus.