Health Services
General Rules of the Center
General Rules of the Center
PLEASE TAKE NOTE: In order to maximize efficiency, and maintain smooth patient flow, it is important to follow basic rules of medical etiquette, and understand medical policies and procedures..
Rutgers University ID CARD must be presented at each visit, to ensure safety of medical records, and avoid identity theft.
CHANGE IN DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, such as name, postal address, e-mail, telephone number, should be reported to reception area staff on your next visit, to ensure effective communication.
CANCELLATIONS must be made at least 24 hours in advance, if unable to keep an appointment. Otherwise you are occupying time, which fellow students can utilize for medical needs.
NO SHOWS will need to discuss their problem with a health provider before making more appointments. After 2 No Shows, a penalty of $5 will be charged before the next visit
LATENESS more than 10 minutes will result in cancellation of your appointment, and you may be required to reschedule
SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS for proper evaluation of gynecological and non-urgent problems. Describe problem to the nurse or receptionist, in order to schedule appropriately. Routine Gynecological appointments need to be scheduled in the mid-cycle period, they will be rescheduled when too close to menses.
WALK-IN TIMES, 12 – 1:30pm daily, Mon through Fri are reserved for acute medical problems, laboratory results, call-backs and short medical visits, such as prescription refills. Fifteen minute segments are allotted for walk-in visits. Some examples of acute problems include infections, non-gynecological, emergency contraception, fever, pain, shortness of breath, injuries. Walk-ins will be triaged to determine urgency. You may be advised to schedule an appointment within a reasonable time frame, asked to wait until a staff member is available or referred to an emergency room.
EMERGENCIES are referred to UMDNJ or St Michael’s Medical Center ER, by police transport or ambulance, depending on the severity of the problem. Newark Health Center is not an emergency room.
FEES for health services are mandatory in accordance with rules of the university and health services, and these are payable prior to provision of service. These include per semester, summer session and immunization fees, some lab tests, and pharmacy costs. Fees are payable by cash, check, credit card, or bursar billing. A penalty of $35 is assessed in case a check is rejected for non-sufficient funds, and a hold may be placed on university records in case of unpaid bills.
MEDICAL EXCUSES Staff does not write medical notes excusing students from class. However, if a student comes to the health center and is diagnosed with a significant illness, we will provide medical instructions via a copy of the office note or signed release to transmit this information to the Dean. What the administrator chooses to do with the information is purely an academic decision
PRIVACY POLICY Newark Health Center and Pharmacy follow guidelines of HIPAA. Medical records are protected by federal law. No information is transmitted outside the health center without the specific written authorization of the patient. Exceptions are: subpoena by the court or medical examiner, hospital or other health provider in case of life-threatening event, or to public health or worker-protection agencies when such reports are required by law. For purposes of accreditation and quality assurance, research or data gathering, charts may be analyzed with protection of identifiers. All staff are required to sign a statement of confidentiality upon being hired. We want students to appreciate that e-mail or FAX may not be secure, and written permission is requested before sending protected medical information (PMI) by e-mail or FAX. Postal mail containing PMI is sent certified. Patients are urged to inspect their medical records before having them copied and sent to anyone else.