Notice of Privacy Practices

This notice describes how psychological and medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully on the University Health Services website.

Appointments Policy

Appointments with the nurse or clinician can be scheduled online or by calling SHS. The last daily appointment will be a half hour prior to close each evening.

If you are unable to make your scheduled appointment, please call the office to cancel or to reschedule that same day. This will afford another student the opportunity to be scheduled in your place. Urgent Care and the ER are also available should immediate attention be needed.

Costs and Billing

Nominal fees will be charged for clinician visits, medications and supplies (if ordered), at the time of your visit. All fees will be posted, after the student acknowledges the bill, to the student account and can be paid online through LionPATH or at the Bursar’s Office.

Policy for Verification of Illness

Penn State Harrisburg Student Health Services does not provide verification of illness notes for minor or routine illnesses or injuries, per Faculty-Senate Policy 42-27. Student Health Services may provide verification, at the discretion of the medical provider, of illness for significant prolonged illnesses or injuries resulting in a lengthy absence from classes.

Penn State Harrisburg’s Student Health Services policy is consistent with the Faculty Senate Policy 42-27: Class Attendance.

  • The rationale for this policy notes that “the process of determining the legitimacy of the reasons for absences is frequently cumbersome and leads to negative situations that inhibit the quality of learning and teaching for both the students and faculty.”
  • The goal of the policy is to reduce negative situations for students, faculty and health care providers.

Release of Medical Records

  • Penn State Harrisburg Student Health Services assures that all health care providers adhere to ethical principles and codes of professional practice including patient confidentiality, privacy, dignity, and informed consent
  • All medical records are held in the same strict confidence as in other health care settings
  • Although this high degree of confidentiality is often a concern to parents seeking information, medical information is released only with the student's written consent, or by a court-ordered subpoena
  • The student will need to fill out a HIPAA release form with our staff at SHS

Download the release of information form

Routine Illness

A routine illness would be a minor illness or injury, such as colds, and flu-like or self-limited gastrointestinal illnesses. For routine illness-related absences, students should correspond directly with the faculty as soon as possible regarding their situation, ideally before they miss a class, exam, or other evaluative activity.

Significant, Prolonged Illness

A significant, prolonged illness is a serious illness or injury lasting at least 2 weeks. Medical documentation is required, either from Student Health Services clinicians or outside clinicians. Due to patient confidentiality, Student Health Services cannot release any information without the student’s consent. Please also consider working with Student Disability Resources to aid in managing your classes.

Medical Amnesty

Please refer to Penn State Harrisburg Police Services page

Related

     Academic Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual E-11: Class Attendance