Services
Nutrition Education & Medical Nutrition Therapy
Nutrition services offered by the registered dietitian at the Student Health Center:
- Individual Nutrition Counseling and Medical Nutrition Therapy
- Nutrition presentations for student groups by request
- Nutrition classes for groups
- Measurement of metabolism and body fat
- Dietitian-on-the-Go at select BAMA dining locations
- Ask the Dietitian at nutrition@ua.edu
Allergy Clinic
The Allergy Clinic administers allergy injections to students under the direction of their allergist or other physicians. SHC staff do not administer initial allergy tests.
Confidential HIV Testing
The SHC offers confidential HIV antibody testing (anonymous is not available in Alabama). Pre and post-test counseling are an integral part of the process.
Dental Health
The SHC does NOT offer dental services. The staff can assist with problems by offering initial assessment and referral to qualified dentists in the area.
Dermatology
The general clinic physicians are available to diagnose and treat common dermatological problems. For severe problems our staff can assist with a referral to a qualified dermatologist in the area.
X-Ray Services
X-Ray services are available during all hours of operations.
Laboratory Services
The SHC lab offers a variety of in-house tests that assist in the diagnosis and treatment of most illnesses, and it can also refer tests of almost any type to an outside facility.
Orthopedic/Sports Medicine
SHC providers in the general clinic are available to evaluate and treat amny injuries and common painful conditions related to muscles, bones, and joints.
Walk-In Clinic
You may come to the Walk In Clinic without an appointment. It is available during all hours of operation for non-emergency illnesses. Waiting times will vary.
Women's Health
Routine pelvic exams, pap smears, contraception, treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy testing and counseling.
Psychiatry
SHC has a psychiatrist who can do evaluations and assist with medications on a referral basis.
Travel Medications
If you are studying abroad or going on an overseas mission trip we can provide you with oral medication that will help protect you from illness. We also provide four injections that you may need (Typhoid, Polio, and Hepatitis A & B). You will need to schedule an appointment at least 8 weeks before you plan to travel.
ADHD SERVICES
The SHC provides initial screening as well as medication management for students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These services are intended to optimize the educational experience for students with this disorder and to provide the best of service in optimizing the effectiveness of the medication used to treat this condition. For those students who have previously been diagnosed, ongoing medication management is available once the required documentation of previous diagnostic testing and treatment has been received. Go to forms.
The SHC provides initial screening and evaluation for students who believe they may have ADHD or who are referred to the center by concerned advisors, parents, or others. During this screening process, students may be given a number of screening tests to determine if further evaluation is needed to determine if he or she in fact does have ADHD or a related condition. Appropriate referrals are then made to complete the diagnostic process. Once this process is completed the SHC provider will meet once again with the student to discuss and recommend appropriate treatment options.
To schedule a screening for ADHD please call 348-2778 or use Medfusion.
Prior to coming to this screening appointment it is important that the student download and complete the forms. You may also come by the
Once a student has been screened for ADHD, he or she may be referred for psycho-educational testing in order to positively diagnose the condition and to make sure that there are not other conditions present that may mimic or co-exist with ADHD. The presence of these other conditions could greatly alter the choice of treatment for the student. This psycho-educational testing is also required for the certification required to receive helpful accommodations through the Office of Disability Services.
Transferring Care to SHC of previously established ADHD
The SHC provides medication management services for students who have previously been diagnosed with ADHD and wish to transfer their care. Prior to an intake appointment being scheduled with the SHC, records of the prior psychological testing as well as records from the prescribing physician need to be received by the SHC. These records may be brought to the SHC, mailed to SHC 750 5th Av. E.
To request that the records be sent directly to SHC, you may complete the appropriate form and bring it to the SHC. You will also need to ask your previous medical provider to complete the ADHD previous MD record request form.
Before scheduling an intake appointment, please call the SHC to make sure that the required information has been received.
The SHC seeks to provide the best very medical services in all areas that are consistent with our motto “student-friendly, student-focused and student first." We want to maximize each student’s educational experience by optimizing the care that they receive for ADHD. This means that we do not want to just provide a monthly prescription for the minimally effective dose of a somewhat effective medication. Our goal is to work with each student to find the best dose of the right medication that is going to treat his or her ADHD-related symptoms at each time of the day. We take a holistic approach to treating this disorder because we realize that ADHD does not just affect the academic areas of a person’s life but affects almost every aspect of his or her life.
In order to provide the very best service, we may need to see each new patient with ADHD quite frequently at first to monitor both the positive effects and any potential adverse effects of medication. This also provides an opportunity for us to educate the student about this condition
Because ADHD is most commonly treated with medications that are legally controlled substances, we have established policies that regulate the prescribing of these medications. The purpose of these policies is to ensure the safe and legal use of these prescriptions. They also reflect laws that governed the use of these substances.
Here is a summary of our policies
- The student must see a physician to obtain any controlled substance medication for ADD (AD/HD).
- Students will not possess a controlled substance without a legitimate prescription, or to give or sell these medications to others. This is illegal and potentially very dangerous.
- By law, controlled substances prescriptions must be written and can be for only one month’s supply. They cannot be called to a pharmacy.
- Prescriptions will not be renewed earlier than 25 days from the previous prescription date.
- Students who do not keep their follow-up appointments will not be able to receive a renewed prescription until he or she makes a follow-up appointment.
- One time replacement policy for Lost/stolen/damaged prescriptions
- No refills of ADHD medications during evening or weekend clinics
- Monthly visits required until the dosage is stabilized
- Less frequent in-person visits may be authorized once dose stabilized but no less frequent than every 3 months
- Students who have previously been diagnosed with ADHD and are already being prescribed medication by an outside physician may transfer care of ADHD to the Student Health Center (SHC). However, documentation of previous diagnostic evaluation and records from previous treating physician must be received prior to medication being prescribed by SHC physicians.
- Students allowed less frequent in-person visits will complete an on-line or written virtual encounter form each month. A fee of ($25) will be charged to the student’s account for reviewing the virtual encounter form, renewing the prescriptions and overseeing the care of ADHD.
- A urine drug screen (obtained only with the consent of the patient) may be required at the discretion of the physician.
- Students receiving stimulant prescriptions for AD/HD will be required to sign a contract outlining the SHC policies concerning such prescriptions each school year.
- Violation of the
The full documentation of SHC policies for prescriptions of controlled substances is available upon request.