The Penn State Beaver Health Center is located in room 105 on the main floor of the Ross Administration Building.
This is a special notice for prospective and current Penn State Beaver students with disabilities. Please contact the following staff members if you need assistance in any way:
Jill M. Tress, Learning Center and Disabilities Services Coordinator, 724-773-3867
Larissa Ciuca, Student Personal and Career Counselor, 724-773-3961
Information regarding Student Medical Entrance Compliance is available at http://www.sa.psu.edu/uhs/currentstudents/immunization_compliance.cfm.
For information about Student Health Insurance, please visit http://www.sa.psu.edu/uhs/basics/insurance.cfm.
To learn more about Penn State Beaver Health Services, please visit http://www.br.psu.edu/StudentServices/HealthServices/34035.htm.
Please feel free to contact us whenever you need information, have questions, or don't know how to proceed. Simply contact Denise Turyan, staff assistant in the Office of Student Affairs, 724-773-3950.
Penn State Beaver offers a variety of health education programs in diverse areas, including nutrition, wellness, sexual health, and avoidance of substance abuse. Students are strongly encouraged to learn how to establish positive, lifelong health habits.
Confidentiality
- The Penn State Beaver Health Center assures that all health care providers and supporting health services staff adhere to the professional practice of patient confidentiality, privacy, dignity, and informed consent.
- If parents or guardians wish to obtain information about their child's medical records, the Health Center will release information only when appropriate written authorization has been obtained from the student.
- Copies of medical records are mailed for free when sent to other health care providers or institutions. Fees are charged for all other types of requests.
- To request records, please place your request five days in advance to allow for processing time.
Health Care Checklist
- While packing bags for the big move to campus, don't forget to include medical information! Knowing what to do in case of illness and recognizing how to continue a healthy lifestyle are vital to a student's success when he/she leaves home and add to the student's enjoyment of the college experience.
- Please review the following questions and suggestions with your student:
- Did the student complete his/her online Medical Entrance Compliance? Penn State requires all degree-seeking students to be immunized against measles, mumps, and rubella. This information must be submitted online. This secure registration website is available at http://www.sa.psu.edu/uhs/currentstudents/immunization_compliance.cfm. In addition, all students are encouraged to complete an online Health History form.
- Does the student have all immunizations required by Penn State?
- Is the student covered under a medical insurance plan while at Penn State?
- If the student is covered, please supply him/her with the name of the plan, the policy number, and guidelines on how to use the medical plan. If the student isn't covered, please consider the Penn State MEGA Student Health Insurance Program. For additional information about this program, please call 1-888-224-4810.
- If enrolled in an HMO, call the HMO and let them know when and where the student will be attending school. This will speed up insurance approval for medical visits and procedures.
- Is the student covered by a prescription plan? If so, please make sure he/she packs a copy of the plan card.
- Does the student know his/her own personal and family medical history?
- Discuss basic safety practices, e.g. locking doors, securing valuables, using a buddy system if out at night, etc.
- Pack a first-aid kit! Basic supplies, including aspirin, bandages, cold medicine, and antiseptic, come in handy!
Fees
Students can visit the Health Center anytime during regular office hours. Most health services are free. However, depending on the nature of the service or visit, a small fee could be charged. A nominal fee to see the doctor will be billed to the student's account. Physicals for student-athletes are free.
Chronic Diseases
A student with ongoing medical conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, allergies, heart problems, depression, etc., is strongly advised to:
- Ask your home health care provider to send a summary of the student's history and recommendations for ongoing health care to: Health Services Office, Penn State Beaver, 104 Ross Administration Building, 100 University Drive, Monaca, PA 15061.
- To make an appointment at the Health Center for the upcoming academic year, please contact us as soon as possible at 724-773-3955 or 724-773-3951. It's best to make an appointment while the student is well so that he/she can establish a relationship with the campus nurse and/or doctor.
Syringes
For students with a medical condition that requires the use of syringes, e.g. diabetes, the Health Center offers free "Sharps" Disposal Containers which can be obtained by visiting the Health Center. When the container is full, students can exchange it for an empty one.
Immunization Reminder
All first-semester students must provide documentation of the following vaccinations by completing the online Health History form at http://www.sa.psu.edu/uhs/.
- Mumps (2 immunizations)
- Measles (2 immunizations)
- Rubella (1 immunization)
Meningococcal Disease
Pennsylvania state law requires that, if living on campus, a student must complete and submit the online Meningococcal Vaccination Certification form, which indicates that the student has (a) received a Meningococcal vaccination through a health care provider or University Health Services or (b) waived the vaccination.
For more information about state and University requirements for prevention of Meningococcal disease, please visit Housing and Food Services at http://www.hfs.psu.edu/vaccine/.
For information or questions during the summer months, please contact Denise Turyan, staff assistant in the Office of Student Affairs, 724-773-3951.
Alcohol: Consider These Statistics
Alcohol Awareness
Sometimes college students think that, in order to make friends on campus, they need to experiment with alcohol, but Penn State Beaver offers exceptional opportunities to socialize without relying on the effects of beer, wine, or spirits.
In addition, remember that the legal drinking age in Pennsylvania is 21. Students under the age of 21 who are found drinking and/or intoxicated will face disciplinary and/or legal sanctions. Penn State Beaver is a dry campus.
If students have concerns about their drinking habits or those of a friend, they're encouraged to contact Larissa Ciuca, student personal and career counselor, 724-773-3961, or Amy Gartley, associate director of student affairs, 724-773-3956, to discuss the matter confidentially.
Some Statistics About Alcohol:
- Over 7% of the nation's freshman college class will drop out of college because of alcohol-related reasons.
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The average annual beer consumption of American college students is just short of 4 billion cans. If these "college beer cans" were stacked end-to-end, the stack would reach the moon and continue 70,000 miles beyond.
- Administrators of approximately 200 colleges and universities estimate that, on average, alcohol is involved in 68% of violent behavior and 52% of physical injuries on their campuses.
- It's estimated that, nationwide, 85% of sexual assaults on campus are alcohol-related.
- The typical student will probably spend more money on alcoholic beverages than textbooks.
Health and Safety Strategies
Penn State Beaver and the surrounding communities have low crime rates. However, it can be misleading to think of our community as crime-free.
Unfortunately, theft is a common occurrence, but can be prevented frequently simply by remembering to lock the doors of residence hall rooms, vehicles, etc. It's also important that students never share their student ID, credit card, or bank numbers with anyone, including other students, staff, and faculty.
Ongoing awareness plays a crucial role in the prevention of sexual assault, which is often associated with strangers and unfamiliar surroundings. However, on college campuses, date and/or acquaintance rape is the most underreported crime. Figures suggest that only 1 out of every 100 assaults is reported to authorities.
Safety awareness can be a powerful tool in combating both theft and sexual assault. All students should be encouraged to participate in safety awareness programs offered on campus. Making informed decisions about alcohol use can greatly help students to avoid situations that could quickly spin out of control. For instance, for campus security systems to be effective, it's important that doors are not propped open. Get-togethers with acquaintances should take place in public areas. Suspicious activity should always be reported to campus police.
Help us keep Penn State Beaver safe!
Student Health Advisory Board
The Student Health Advisory Board seeks enthusiastic recruits from all majors! If you're a student interested in serving on this board, please Barb Kugel, campus nurse, 724-773-3955, or contact the Office of Student Affairs, 724-773-3951.
Key goals and projects of the Student Health Advisory Board include:
- Serving as the liaison between students and University Health Services
- Publicizing and promoting health services to students
- Leading the Office of Student Affairs in special community events
- Participating in campus resource and information fairs
- Providing tours of the campus Health Services Center
- Acting as a student voice on the Health Services Committee
- Contributing quality initiative projects
Health Center
Barbara Kugel, R.N., B.S.N., C.D.E.,C.S.N.
104 Ross Administration Building
Penn State Beaver
Monaca, PA 15061
724-773-3955
bxk31@psu.edu
Open: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Closed: 1 - 2 p.m., Monday through Friday