The Primary Care Center provides students access to board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and on-site specialty consultants affiliated with some of Boston's finest hospitals. The center provides both inpatient and outpatient services.
Primary Care Center
Your Campus Health Fee pays for primary and specialty medical care on campus provided at the Boston College Health Services. (Please remember: it is not a health insurance policy.) Our services include the following:
Outpatient Unit
Board-certified doctors, nurse practitioners, and nurses provide primary medical care at the Outpatient Unit. The unit operates on an appointment basis. Some services available, but not limited to:
Physical and Gynecological Exams
Minor injuries, strains, sprains, lacerations
Illnesses: upper respiratory symptoms, rashes, urinary tract infections
Laboratory services
Health advice: diet, exercise, stress, sleep, smoking cessation
Sexual health: STI testing, treatment, and counseling
Travel advice: recommendations on required immunizations
Same-day appointments
If you call 617-552-3225 before 10:00 a.m., same-day appointments are often available.
Evenings and weekends
Care is provided by the nurses on duty at the Inpatient Unit and physicians on-call.
Inpatient unit
Our comfortable, 10-bed facility provides 24-hour nursing care to students as needed. A doctor is on call 24 hours a day and makes daily rounds to see all patients. He or she makes arrangements for hospitalization, when necessary.
Inpatient services include room, meals, doctor visits and nursing care, are covered by the Campus Health Fee with the exception of the Safety Observation Fee. Patients who are well enough may sometimes be given permission to leave during the day to attend classes.
Evaluation and treatment of various skin conditions, including acne, rashes, wart management
STI testing, counseling and treatment, self-exam education, acute issues related to men
For compliance with State Law, Institutional Policies and Travel. As it takes time to develop immunity, students planning trips overseas should request health advice and begin recommended immunizations several months before departure.
Students should check with their health insurance company to determine the preferred method of receiving the vaccine based on their individual coverage. It may be best to get vaccinated at your primary care provider's office or local pharmacy that charges directly to participating insurance companies. UHS will provide a receipt to submit to the insurance company, but we are considered out of network for all insurance plans. Students who purchase the Blue Cross insurance plan through Boston College are reimbursed 80% for all charges related to services provided by UHS.
Many routine gynecology services, STI testing, counseling and treatment are provided by the primary care physicians and nurse practitioners. All sessions are confidential. Call UHS at 617-552-3225 to schedule an appointment. Due to the moral values that Boston College espouses, University Health Services, by policy, does not provide materials for the purpose of preventing conception or counsel that would encourage abortion.
Pregnancy Testing and Support Services
Pregnancy testing is available at the Primary Care Center. When tests are positive, University Health Services will assist the student with non-judgmental counseling. All test results and counseling are confidential.
Information on Fees
All students who pay the Campus Health Fee are eligible to be seen in the Health Services Primary Care Center. This fee is required of all undergraduate resident students and is automatically charged to all students living on campus. This fee does not replace the need for Medical Insurance.
Health Fee Waiver
Off-campus students can waive the Campus Health Fee by downloading and completing the Health Fee Waiver form and forwarding it to UHS by September 30.
Services Not Covered
The Campus Health Fee does not cover
- Hospitalizations
- Diagnostic testing
- Immunizations
- Outside consultations
- Imaging