Student Health Services

Services Provided

• Allergy Injections

  Student Health Services (SHS) will administer your prescribed allergy serums. As an incoming student, you will need to comply with and agree to the following agreement at your first allergy injection and annually at SHS:

  1. The patient will furnish the serums with clear orders from the physician on his/her letterhead that indicate the following:
     1. Name and date of birth on orders
     2. Contents of vials
     3. Vials which are numbered or coded and correspond with others
     4. Concentration of solution
     5. Expiration date of vials
     6. Schedule indicating amount and frequence of injections
     7. Instructions for missed/late injections
     8. History of any significant local or systemic reactions
  2. When starting allergy injection for the first time, patients must receive their injections at the allergist's office.
  3. Patients will receive allergy injections only when a physician is present in the CofC SHS clinic.
  4. The patient will wait the full time in the waiting area as per CofC SHS policy for 30 minutes after injections.
  5. All patients must present a non-expired epi-pen (or equivalent) at each injection appointment. No injections will be given without the patient's epi-pen (or equivalent) present.
  6. The nursing staff reserves the right to refuse to administer the allergy injection for any reason (e.g. if the patient does not have their epi-pen, if a previous significant reaction has occurred, if the orders are unclear, if the patient refuses to wait the specified time after injection).

  Please Note:

  1. Student Health Services has the right to dispose of expired medication left at the clinic.
  2. Student Health Services reserves the right to dispose of medications not collected within one month of student graduation or matriculation from the college.
  3. Student Health Services is not responsible for refilling expired medications.
  4. In the event of closures due to inclement weather, students are encouraged to pick up their medication for safe keeping and administration during the closure, and then return medications once the clinic is deemed safe and reopened.
  5. Student Health Services is not liable for costs incurred due to unforeseen circumstances that may render medication unusable, including weather events, power loss, and storage temperature fluctuations.

  Note:

  Please ask your prescribing allergist for an EpiPen (or equivalent) prescription as each CofC student-patient is required to have an unexpired EpiPen (or similar) at each allergy appointment visit. It is the patient's responsibility to fill the prescription prior to their first allergy appointment at Student Health Services.

  Participants are responsible for ensuring the safe delivery of their serums to Student Health Services. Those wishing to have their serums mailed to another location will be responsible for making those shipping arrangements.

  Those wishing to have their allergy serums mailed to Student Health Services for storage should use the following address:

  Student's Name
  c/o Student Health Services
  College of Charleston
  181 Calhoun St.
  Charleston, SC 29424

• Asthma Care

  Student Health Services provides care for students with asthma by managing preventive asthma medications and treating worsening asthma symptoms. 

  When necessary, patients may be referred to local pulmonologists (lung specialists) or to allergists for more specialized care. 

• Birth Control

  Student Health Services is trained to meet the needs of our students. Students have access to most forms of birth control, including:

  • Birth control pills
  • Vaginal rings
  • Depo Provera injections
  • IUD Implants
  • Nexplanon Implant

  Please make an appointment with our providers to learn more about the options avalible to you! Call 843.953.5520 to schedule an appointment.
  
  Student Health Services does not dispense birth control pill packs. Prescriptions written for birth control may be filled at local pharmacies.

  Financial assistance may be available for some students for contraceptives. 

• Eye Problems

  Student Health Services can treat several types of eye problems such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), styes and some contact lens related problems. 
  
  If you are a contact lens wearer, you are at risk for more serious eye infections and may need a referral to an ophthalmologist. If you are experiencing eye problems, remove your contacts and call 843.953.5520 as soon as possible for an appointment.

• Injuries, First Aid & Wound Care

  Injuries

  Student Health Services can treat minor injuries. When X-rays are required, we will refer you to local facilities. 

  First Aid & Wounds

  • Wounds should be cleaned thoroughly with soap and water.
  • Apply pressure to stop bleeding. 
  • If it has been more than five years since your last tetanus shot, you will need to have a tetanus booster.
  • If you think you may need stitches, you should be seen as soon as possible.
• Illnesses & Infections

  Student Health Services can diagnose and treat a variety of illnesses and infections:

  • Covid
  • Strep throat
  • Mono
  • Sinus infections
  • Bronchitis
  • Ear infections
  • Flu
  • Skin infections
  • Urinary and sexually transmitted infections
• Medication Injections

  Student Health Services (SHS), in the interest of facilitating continuity of care, will receive and store your currently prescribed injectable medications until you can come in to pick them up for self-administration. If you do not self-administer, arrangements can be made for you to come into the clinic to see a nurse to receive your medication as prescribed.

  As an incoming student, you will need to comply with and agree to the agreement listed below prior to medication arrival at SHS, and then again annually. If this is a service you are interested in, please complete the "Medication Storage and Administration Agreement" online in your Student Health Portal under the Forms tab, then submit.

  The College of Charleston (CofC) Student Health Services (SHS) agrees to receive delivery of and store a prescribed medication, and if desired, will administer medications to said medication to students upon the following agreement:

  Student Health Services will accept and store medications received directly to:

  College of Charleston, Student Health Services
  181 Calhoun St, Charleston SC 29424
  
  If student will be picking up medication for self-administration:

  • Patient will opt in to receive text messages from SHS in their portal.
  • The clinic will send a secure message to patient letting them know medication was received and is ready for pickup. They will be alerted by text when a secure message is received.
  • The student will provide a cooler and ice pack for transport if indicated.

  If student will be requesting that Student Health Services administer the medication:

  • When starting a medication for the first time, patients must receive their medications at the prescribing provider's office, unless other arrangements are authorized by SHS clinic Director or Medical Director.
  • The patient will upload to their Student Health Portal under "Outside Medical Records", clear medication orders from the physician on his/her letterhead that indicates the following:
    • Name and date of birth of patient
    • Name of prescribing doctor
    • Name, dose, route and frequency of ordered medication
    • ICD-10 Code and/or written diagnosis of condition for which medication is prescribed
    • Any additional specific orders and/or parameters for administration of medication
    • This order will need to be renewed and uploaded annually for every school year at CofC.
  • The nursing staff reserves the right to refuse to administer medication for any reason.
  • Student Health Services is not responsible for refilling expired medications.

  For medications stored in our clinic:

  • Student Health Services has the right to dispose of expired medication left at the clinic.
  • Student Health Services reserves the right to dispose of medications not collected within one month of student graduation or matriculation from the college.
  • In the event of closures due to inclement weather, students are encouraged to pick up their medication for safe keeping and administration during the closure, and then return medications once the clinic is deemed safe and reopened.
  • Student Health Services is not liable for costs incurred due to unforeseen circumstances that may render medication unusable, including weather events, power loss, and storage temperature fluctuations.

  
  Please call Student Health Services at 843.953.5520 if you have questions regarding the types of medications administered or any other questions regarding this agreement.
• Rashes & Skin Problems

  The providers at Student Health Serivces will diagnose and treat a variety of skin problems:

  • Acne
  • Warts
  • Staph infections
  • Scabies
  • Shingles
  • Herpes
  • Eczema
  • Allergy or contact related rashes

  In some cases a referral to a dermatologist may be necessary.

• Sexual & Reproductive Health/STI Testing

  Student Health Services offers individualized counseling to students based on their health care needs. Student Health Services also works with community referral partners to connect a patient with needed medical resources or follow-up care. 

  Services available:

  • Pregnancy testing
  • Gynecological care including screening for sexually transmitted infections and screening for cervical cancer (pap testing).
  • Financial assistance may be available for some contraceptives. 

  Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Testing

  Student Health Services does not charge for examinations. However, there are laboratory fees associated with testing for STIs.

  A provider will assess if testing is needed. Prices are determined by the type of test(s) ordered. 
  
  Lower cost options for STI testing may be available in the Charleston community:

  • Charleston County Health Department DHEC  855.472.3432
  • Palmetto Community Care  843.747.2273 (Free HIV, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Syphilis testing)
  • MUSC Adult Infectious Disease  843.792.4541 (Free HIV testing)
  • Truesdale Medical Center  843.747.8386 (Primary care for HIV positive and negative patients. PrEP providers)
  • Fetter Family Health Center  843.722.4112
• LGBTQ+

  At the College of Charleston’s Student Health Services, we believe every student seeking healthcare services has the right to be compassionately treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to making our services accessible to lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming students.
  
  We know that pursuing medical and psychological services may feel challenging or uncomfortable. We want to encourage you to seek care, ask questions, advocate for yourself, set boundaries, bring someone with you, and/or refuse particular treatments.
  
  We sincerely hope you feel comfortable being open and honest with the healthcare providers and staff at Student Health Services about your body, your behavior, and your concerns.

  Health Services

  Changing Your Name or Pronoun on Your Medical Records
  
  The College of Charleston recognizes that many of its members use first names other than their legal names to identify themselves. At Student Health Services, we want to make sure you are identified correctly when you are seen for a visit.

  The campus implements a Preferred First Name process. A preferred first name is a name that one would commonly use that is different from the legal first name.

  Other than cases where legal name is required, your preferred name will be the name we use whenever possible in the course of College of Charleston business and education. 

  You can indicate your preferred name, personal pronouns and gender identification in MyPortal under the "Personal Information" tile.

  • Read more information on name change requests

  Non-Medical University Records
  
  Student Health Services uses the information provided by the registrar for your name and gender.  If you change your name and pronoun with Student Health Services, this will only affect your medical records in the clinic.  This change will not affect your other university records.  
  
  Gynecological Services
  
  We offer a full spectrum of gynecological care at Student Health Services.  If you have a specific question or need for special accommodations, please call 843-953-5520 and ask to leave a message with the nursing staff.  One of our expertly trained nurses will return your call and work with you to specifically answer your questions.