Student Services
Health Care
Counseling Services
(213) 740-7711
YWCA Building
857 Downey Way
www.usc.edu/scs
The purpose of Student Counseling Services is to help students appropriately handle the stresses and challenges they face in their academic, professional and personal lives. Services are provided to help enhance students’ skills and attitudes in adapting to college life, relating to new and different people and making their USC experience satisfying and productive.
The professional staff at Student Counseling Services is an ethnically and educationally diverse group that includes psychologists, social workers and staff psychiatrists.
The staff is highly trained and experienced in helping students cope successfully with a variety of issues and concerns common during the college experience. Additionally, advanced graduate students in clinical and counseling psychology provide a variety of services to students.
Services offered by Student Counseling Services include:
Individual Counseling
Personal information discussed in counseling is always kept confidential. Eligible students may be seen in couples or individual counseling sessions. Students may seek help for relationship problems, fears about possible failure, stress management, dissatisfaction about themselves, depression, guilt, anger, fear or a variety of other problems and concerns.
Group Counseling
Each semester several different counseling groups are offered. These groups provide a unique opportunity to increase one’s self-awareness and self-acceptance. In a supportive atmosphere with peers there is a chance to experiment with new behaviors and exchange ideas with others.
Crisis Services
Crisis intervention services are intended for students who genuinely require immediate assistance. Students may speak with an after-hours registered nurse by calling (213) 740-7711 and following the recorded instructions. In the event of a life-threatening emergency on or near the University Park campus, call the USC Department of Public Safety at (213) 740-4321. For all other emergencies, call 911.
Consultation and Training
In addition to counseling students, the professional staff provides consultation and training to students and university personnel. This includes consulting with faculty or staff members concerned about a distressed student, class presentations and training sessions for residence hall personnel.
The staff also provides workshops and consultation on stress management, assertiveness, communication skills and conflict resolution techniques, as well as many other programs for staff, faculty and student organizations, to enhance their work with students on campus.
Wellness and Health Promotion
(213) 740-HPPS (4777)
University Park Health Center
www.usc.edu/owhp
The mission of Wellness and Health Promotion is to prevent when possible, heal when necessary and empower always. We offer education and support related to all aspects of health. Staff and Peer Health Educators (PHEs) focus on prevention, informed choices and risk reduction.
Services Offered
Wellness and Health Promotion provides one-on-one consultations, classes and workshops. On- and off-campus resources and referrals are available when appropriate. Students typically come in seeking information and resources on: alcohol and other drug use; depression and mental health; eating disorders; Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) student support; sexual health and safer sex supplies; smoking and chewing tobacco; and stress management.
We also offer anonymous HIV pre- and post-test counseling and testing for a small fee. Free testing is offered in February as appointments are available.
The Health Resource Room, located in UPHC 206, provides a place for students to study, read, pick up safer sex supplies, check out books or just sit and relax. PHEs are available to talk or answer questions.
For further information, call (213) 740-4777 or visit www.usc.edu/owhp.
Pharmacy
Director: Kari Trotter Wall, Pharm.D.
Clinical Pharmacists: Katty Hsu, Pharm.D., Hannah Lee, Pharm.D.
(213) 740-2738
Student Union 101
USC Pharmacy, a teaching facility of the USC School of Pharmacy, provides complete pharmacy services to students, faculty and staff. Prescriptions written on and off campus may be filled. Other healthcare products, grooming aids and gifts are stocked. The pharmacy accepts USCard, USC network and other insurance cards. Reduced fees are offered on prescriptions for students with health insurance plans not contracted with USC.
USC Pharmacy offers comprehensive pharmacy services including emergency contraception, immunizations, drug information, smoking cessation, a latent tuberculosis infection program and personal medication counseling. It also offers various screening services for cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure, osteoporosis and mental health, and specializes in travel medicine services and products.
University Park Health Center
Executive Director: Dr. Lawrence Neinstein
(213) 740-UPHC
(213) 740-APPT (appointment desk)
University Park Health Center
849 W. 34th Street
Email: uphc@usc.edu
www.usc.edu/uphc
The University Park Health Center (UPHC) is an accredited, full-service medical clinic licensed by the state of California and staffed with dedicated professionals. The UPHC provides cost-effective and client-oriented services and resources in health promotion and disease prevention, primary care and counseling to the University Park campus student community. Services are available to students registered for classes on the University Park campus. If you are enrolled on the Health Sciences campus, you will receive health care at the Eric Cohen Student Health Center on that campus.
Although the student health fee covers most services rendered at the health center, there is a nominal fee for services including laboratory tests, prescriptions, immunizations, copies of X-rays and copies of medical records.
It is important to remember that the health fee will not cover the cost of hospitalization or specialty care that cannot be obtained at the health center. For this coverage, you are required to carry health insurance.
Primary Care Appointments
Visits for the treatment of most acute illnesses and injuries are scheduled on an appointment basis with a primary care practitioner. Appointments can be scheduled by phone at (213) 740-APPT (2778) or online at www.usc.edu/myshr.
Specialty Care Appointments
The UPHC provides specialty care in dermatology, orthopedics, allergies, physical therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic services. All specialty care appointments require a referral from a UPHC primary care provider, with the exception of routine gynecological appointments.
Urgent/Emergency Services
Urgent care services for non-life-threatening medical conditions are available at the UPHC’s Acute Care Clinic during regular clinic hours. If a medical condition is urgent and requires attention during non-business hours, students may speak with an after-hours registered nurse by calling (213) 740-9355 and following the recorded instructions.
In the event of a life-threatening medical emergency on or near the University Park campus, call the USC Department of Public Safety at (213) 740-4321. For all other medical emergencies, call 911.
Eligibility for Services
Students enrolled in six or more units during the fall and spring semesters are automatically assessed a mandatory health fee for services. Students with five units or less may choose to pay the fee to receive services. Summer session students are eligible for services and are assessed the health fee based on the dates of their summer enrollment. Continuing students not enrolled in summer classes may receive services by paying the summer health fee at the UPHC.
Student Health Insurance
The university requires that all students have health insurance. This will help to cover the cost of health care that cannot be obtained at the health center, especially when hospitalization may be required.
All students carrying six units or more are automatically enrolled in, and charged for, the USC student health insurance plan. International and Health Sciences campus students are required to have health insurance and are automatically enrolled in this plan, even if they carry less than six units. The health insurance plan works in conjunction with the university’s student health centers, and is designed to complement the services provided. For this reason, all students enrolled in the insurance plan are required to pay the student health fee and access their primary care at the student health center on their campus.
Waiver Requirements
Enrollment will only be waived if documented proof of coverage from another plan that meets the following university requirements is presented to the Student Insurance Office on your campus:
- Must provide at least $500,000 in lifetime aggregate coverage (no per incident maximums)
- Must have no major exclusions – pharmacy, mental health and maternity coverage (female students) are required
- Must have effective dates covering the entire semester for which the waiver is requested: fall 2011 (August 15, 2011 through January 9, 2012), spring/summer 2012 (January 10, 2012 through August 19, 2012)
- Must have a policy year deductible of $2,500 or less
- Must pay for at least 70 percent of all covered expenses to providers in the Los Angeles area – emergency coverage only in Los Angeles is not accepted for waiver
- Maximum out-of-pocket expense on the policy (deductible plus out-of-pocket maximum) must not exceed $7,500
- Identifaction card or policy with student name and/or policy information allowing USC to confirm eligibility must be provided
The deadline to request a waiver is: September 9, 2011 for fall 2011; January 27, 2012 for spring 2012.
For more information please email the Student Health Insurance Office at b.well@usc.edu or call (213) 740-0551. You may also visit the Student Insurance Office at 649 W. 34th Street, located in Parking Structure D.
Graduate Assistants
Graduate assistants with a .25 award or higher may be eligible to have USC pay for the USC student health plan and the USC Student Health Center fee. Their assistantship award must show in the Student Financial Detail System. More information is available in your award packet through your academic department.
Student Health Insurance for Students Studying Overseas
Students enrolled in an overseas study program are required to have one of the insurance plans through USC. Students already enrolled in the USC Plan are covered overseas. Students who waive the USC student health insurance plan are automatically enrolled in the USC overseas studies health insurance plan for the duration of their programs. For more information, please email the insurance office at b.well@usc.edu.
Screening/Immunization Requirements
Measles and Mumps
All new incoming students are required to show documented proof of measles and mumps immunity prior to their first semester at USC. All documentation must include the month and year of the immunization and an official signature or stamp from your physician or clinic. A photocopy letter or medical record from your health care provider documenting one of the following will serve as proof of immunity:
1. documentation of two doses of measles and mumps vaccine or MMR – dose one given at 12 months of age or later and dose two given at least one month after dose one; or
2. documentation of a positive Rubeola titer and mumps titer (laboratory blood test); or
3. documentation from a physician or clinic indicating a past diagnosis of the disease(s).
Students born prior to January 1, 1957 are considered immune and will automatically be listed as exempt from the measles and mumps requirement. Each photocopy should include the student’s name and 10-digit USC ID number. Documents must be submitted by the following deadline to avoid a $25 late fee and a registration hold: September 9, 2011 for fall 2011; January 27, 2012 for spring/summer 2012.
For further information, visit our Website at www.usc.edu/uphc.
Meningitis
The USC University Park Health Center strongly recommends that all incoming freshmen and transfer students to USC receive the meningococcal meningitis vaccination before they come to campus, or as soon as possible after their arrival.
Meningococcal meningitis is a serious illness that can lead to brain damage, disability or death. College freshmen, particularly those who live in residence halls, have a modestly increased risk of getting this disease. Two meningococcal vaccines are available in the United States. Both vaccines can prevent four types of meningococcal disease. For more information, please go to the USC University Park Health Center’s Website at www.usc.edu/uphc.
Tuberculosis
All international students are required to be screened for tuberculosis in the United States or Canada within six months prior to their first semester of enrollment at USC. A photocopy of a laboratory report of a negative tuberculosis blood test (i.e., T-Spot, Quantiferon), performed in the United States or Canada, will serve as proof of screening. A history of BCG immunization does not fulfill this requirement.
International students must provide documentation by the following deadlines: September 9, 2011 for fall 2011 and January 27, 2012 for spring and summer 2012. Documents must be submitted by the deadline to avoid a $25 late fee and a registration hold.
Students unable to provide the required documentation will be asked to receive a TB screening and, if necessary, a chest X-ray and provide us with that documentation. All TB screenings and chest X-rays must be performed in the United States or Canada and presented in the form of a written report. X-ray film (actual X-ray) will not be accepted. Students may receive these services at the University Park Health Center. Please mail or deliver all screening/immunization documents to the University Park Health Center, Immunization/Screening Compliance Office, 849 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0311. For additional information, contact the Immunization/Screening Compliance Office at uphccomp@usc.edu or (213) 740-1163.
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