Greetings from the Staff of the Health and Counseling Centers!  We would like to personally welcome you to Muhlenberg College and acquaint you with the facilities that are available at the Muhlenberg College Health and Counseling Centers.  Student Health Services is located on the first floor of the Life Sports Center; Counseling Services is located on the second floor of the Life Sports Center.  The centers provide primary physical and mental health care services with the goal of maintaining optimal health while you pursue your academic responsibilities. 

Licensed physicians, nurses, and psychotherapists, who have extensive experience in college health, work in the Health and Counseling Centers.  The centers are operational Monday through Friday with regularly scheduled hours that are posted at the entrance to the centers and on the departments’ websites.  A nurse and psychotherapist are on-call and available for consultation on a twenty-four hour basis during the Fall and Spring semesters for emergencies.

In preparation for your arrival on campus, the following information is required of all students:

All traditional day students must have a completed Medical History, Physical Examination and Physician Validated Immunization Record.  Please hand-deliver these health forms to the Health Services table at the Information Fair on your June Advising Day.  If you are unable to have the forms completed by your June Advising Day, please mail the forms to the Health Center by June 25, 2009.  The College requires a recent (within six months of college entrance) physical examination.  The Immunization Policy, which is in compliance with the recommendations of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, is located within the health form.  Please be certain that all requirements outlined within the medical form are completed prior to returning forms.  Incomplete forms will be returned.  The information contained in your medical record is confidential.

The College requires that all students have health insurance coverage.  Please include copies of health insurance and prescription cards (front and back sides) with the health form, as this will be helpful in coordinating care outside the college setting.  Students assume the cost of healthcare not provided by the health center.  These include radiology & laboratory services (such as blood work and all cultures) and any outside health care provider evaluations. It is your responsibility to maintain current insurance information at the Health Center throughout your college career. It is also your responsibility to understand your health insurance plan (such as referral information, laboratory information, and in-network providers within the Allentown area).  Information regarding acquisition of Student Health Insurance will be available from the Health Center representatives at the time of June Advising.  Muhlenberg College does provide a limited ACCIDENT insurance policy for all full-time students.  This insurance will compliment your primary health insurance coverage and does not provide any payment for illnesses.

Consent for treatment for medical care must be signed by each student.  Parents must also, in advance, sign the consent form if the student is under the age of 18 years for medical issues.  A consent for psychotherapy will be signed by only the student at the time counseling services are initiated.

Enclosed please find information on meningococcal disease and vaccination.  Please refer to the Immunization Policy for further information on the necessity of this vaccine.

Students with disabilities who request accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services are encouraged to identify these needs to the Office of Disability Services as soon as possible after their application to the College has been accepted.  Submission of the Disability Disclosure Document, along with current detailed documentation of the student’s disability, is required in order to process requests.  Please refer to the Muhlenberg College Office of Disability Services website for the Disability Disclosure Document.  The Office of Disability Services is located in Seeger’s Union and the office telephone number is 484-664-3825.

Requests for special housing must be submitted by June 05, 2009 to the Office of Disability Services along with the supporting documentation and the “Special Needs Housing Application” (available on the websites of Offices of Disability Services/ Special Housing Request page and Residential Services/ Housing Applications page). Special housing requests for students with documented disabilities will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Documentation of a disability does not guarantee that an application will be approved. Generally, students with the most severe needs will be given first priority in securing special housing if the need/disability significantly impacts his/her ability to perform activities of daily living. Learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and most psychological disorders generally do not warrant special housing.

Please submit your completed medical forms to the Health Services table at the Information Fair on your June Advising Day.  If unable to have the forms completed by your June Advising Day, please mail the forms to Health Services by June 25, 2009.   FAILURE TO HAVE A COMPLETED MEDICAL HISTORY, IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE, AND PROOF OF HEALTH INSURANCE WILL PREVENT YOU FROM MOVING INTO THE RESIDENCE HALL.

Please feel free to contact Health Services at (484) 664-3199 or Counseling Services at (484) 664-3178 should you have any questions or concerns.  You may also visit our websites at www.muhlenberg.edu for additional information.  Members of Health Services and Counseling Services will also be available during June Advising to meet with you, answer any questions, and review your submitted health form.  We wish you much success as you join the Muhlenberg College Community. 

Sincerely,

Brynnmarie Dorsey, MSN, CRNP                                  Anita Kelly, MA, CAC, LPC
Director of Health Services                                            Director of Counseling Services

3/09