Health Services

The mission of Health Services at MCLA is to promote and support each student in achieving their academic goals by empowering them to attain and maintain an optimal level of health. These goals are met through education, consultation, assessment, evaluation, and treatment of health issues to promote wellness. MCLA's Health Services welcomes and respects the diverse college community that we serve. The professional staff is committed to providing confidential, high-quality, evidence-based healthcare to every student.

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A health insurance policy providing basic health care coverage is required in order to attend MCLA. Coverage under an existing plan must meet guidelines mandated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MCLA sponsors a Student Health Insurance plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. The Student Accounts Office will automatically bill for this insurance unless a waiver (proof of comparable policy) is completed.

• Health Insurance Waiver
• Health Insurance Enrollment

The Code of Massachusetts Regulations requires that all full-time (those taking 9 or more credits) undergraduate and graduate students under age 30 and ALL full and part-time Health Science students, regardless of age, submit documentation of the following immunizations to Health Services prior to the students arrival on campus. Please also include the completed health forms and a copy of your most recent physical exam.

• 2 doses of live measles, mumps and rubella vaccine given at least one month apart beginning at or after 12 months of age.
• 1 dose of Tdap within 10 years.
• 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine.
• 2 doses of varicella vaccine (chickenpox) given at least four weeks apart beginning at or after 12 months of age OR evidence of having the disease.
• 1 dose of meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine at age 16 or older.
  
  

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You have the right to

• Be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.
• Know all the facts we have about your illness, treatments and possible outcomes. Your healthcare provider will give these facts to you in the most accurate and honest way.
• Know the name, specialty and credentials of the healthcare provider responsible for your care.
• Have a chaperone present during any examination.
• Say yes to treatment, or to refuse treatment.
• Participate in decision-making.
• Agree to an advance directive, such as a healthcare proxy, which tells your healthcare provider how you want to be treated and whom you want to make decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself at the time. The person you choose in your proxy is your healthcare agent.
• Be examined or communicate in private with the healthcare professional.
• Look at your medical record and get a copy for a reasonable fee.
• Receive a copy of MCLA Health Services Notice of Privacy Practice.

You are responsible for

• Allowing enough time for examination and explanation by the provider (minimally 30 minutes).
• Providing insurance information when necessary and knowing the extent and limitations of your insurance benefits.
• Honestly telling the staff about your current symptoms, your health history or any other information regarding your health that will help us treat you.
• Following the treatment plan recommended by your healthcare provider.
• Telling us the medications you are taking, including the strength and how often you take them. Include over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements and herbal products you take, and/or alternative medicines or treatments you receive. Report any allergies or reactions you have had to any medications.
• Being considerate of MCLA Health Services staff and other patients, and respectful of MCLA Health Service’s property and the property of others.
• Asking questions and discussing concerns with the provider concerning your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of your illness or any instructions given.
  
  

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All services provided are strictly confidential. No information is released without your permission. Exceptions, however, may occur in extreme, life-threatening emergencies or when required by law. Examples of these situations may be:

Local Medical Associates: Some of our services, such as laboratory tests, are provided through contracts with medical associates. Since these services are contracted, we may disclose your health information to them so they may perform the job we have asked them to do and bill you or your insurance coverage for the services provided. We require that our medical associates protect your health information.

Child Abuse: If a provider at Health Services has reasonable cause to believe that a minor child is suffering physical or emotional injury resulting from abuse inflicted upon him or her which causes harm or substantial risk of harm to the child’s health or welfare (including sexual abuse), or from neglect (including malnutrition), Health Services must immediately report such conditions to the Massachusetts Department of Social Services.

Adult and Domestic Abuse: If a provider at Health Services has reasonable cause to believe that an elderly person (age 60 or older) is suffering from or has died as a result of abuse, Health Services must immediately make a report to the Massachusetts Department of Elder Affairs.

Public Health: We may use or disclose your health information to the Massachusetts Public Health Department to collect information for the purpose of controlling communicable disease.

Court Ordered: We may use or disclose your health information in the event of a court order.

Law Enforcement Officials: We may disclose your health information to law enforcement officials as required by law or in compliance with a court order. We may also disclose limited health information to police or law enforcement officials for identification and location purposes, and to assist in criminal investigations.

Serious Threat to Health or Safety: If you communicate to a Health Services provider an explicit threat to kill or inflict serious bodily injury upon an individual, Health Services must take reasonable precautions, which may include warning potential victims, notifying law enforcement, or possibly arranging for your hospitalization. If you present as a danger to yourself and refuse appropriate treatment, we have a reasonable basis to believe that you can be committed to a hospital; we must seek said commitment and may contact members of your family or other individuals if it would assist in protecting you.

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Health Services does not provide medical excuses for missed classes. According to the policy of Academic Support Services and this office, it is the responsibility of the student to communicate with the instructor when he/she is unable to attend class, complete an assignment or fulfill another obligation due to illness or injury. If you are too ill to attend class, it is your responsibility to notify your professor by phone or e-mail. Both Federal and Massachusetts State Law prevent release of information regarding a student's health status or medical condition or even confirmation of a visit to Health Services without written consent from the student.

In the case that Health Services requests that a student stay out of class for a prolonged period of time due to contagion, Health Services will contact Advising Services who will then send notice to faculty.

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MCLA Student Health Services offers students, faculty and staff who are planning a trip, a personalized travel health packet to minimize the risk of becoming ill or getting injured in a foreign country.

To receive your individualized travel health packet have your travel itinerary available, plan well in advance of your trip (some immunizations require a series of injections). If a group is traveling together, a group appointment can be arranged. Call or visit the Health Services Office at ext. 5421.

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GENERAL HEALTH

Centers for Disease Control

NUTRITION

USDA My Plate

RECOVERY RESOURCES

Berkshire County Recovery Resource Guide

RESPIRATORY ILLNESS

CDC Preventing Respiratory Illnesses
CDC Flu & Flu Map

 

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MCLA provides free menstrual resources in the following areas:

• Campus Center 2nd floor restroom
• Campus Center Athletic locker rooms G-7 and G-8
• Bowman 1st floor restroom 214
• CSI 1st floor restroom
• Wellness Building 1st floor restroom
• Freel Library 3rd floor restroom
• Freel Library basement restroom B03
• Mark Hopkins main floor restroom
• Murdock Hall 2nd floor restroom
  
  

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Yes. For students who don’t have symptoms, but who want routine STI screening. Simple, stress-free, quick, & easy!

Self-Service Clinic Dates: Twice per month—every first Thursday from 1:30-3 p.m. and every last Wednesday from 9:30-11 a.m.

Tests are sent to Berkshire Health Systems lab. This is not a free service; Berkshire Health System lab fees apply.

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The Barrier Express is a confidential sexual health barrier delivery service to your campus mailbox. Please place your order through our web page or under student links on the portal page. You can also pick up products at Health Services and other various locations on campus.

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Yes, emergency contraception is available by appointment at Health Services at no cost. You can also purchase emergency contraception at MCLA's Wellness Kiosk-powered by SimpliChek (reduced price), most local pharmacies and through Tapestry Health.

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MCLA Health Services believes that everyone should have access to compassionate, professional, high-quality healthcare. We understand that reproductive health care is an essential part of your health and well-being.  

MCLA Health Services is committed to providing you with accurate and up-to-date information regarding access to and coverage of reproductive health care and resources on and off campus. Our goal is to make sure you have appropriate information and support. Please contact us so we can assist you. 413.662.5421 healthservices@mcla.edu

Abortion resources:

Planned Parenthood 
I Need an Abortion 

Financial Resources:

Abortion Rights Fund of Western Massachusetts
Eastern Massachusetts Abortion Fund

Obstetrics and Gynecology Local Offices:

Obstetrics & Gynecology (OBGYN) - Berkshire Health Systems
SVMC Obstetrics and Gynecology

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SEXUAL HEALTH

• Tapestry Health
• CDC Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs)
• Title IX
• RAINN

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Health Services recognizes that students may not be well enough to attend every class. Students are advised to contact their professors directly (preferably before missing a class) to make arrangements to accommodate their illness. Health Services cannot attest to past illnesses. Therefore, Health Services will not provide any documentation to excuse students from attending classes.

 

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Health Services does not fill prescriptions. Prescriptions that need to be filled, may be taken to any of the local pharmacies. Be sure to check with your insurance to see if there is a co-pay for medications and bring a copy of your insurance card with you to the pharmacy.

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Our team includes a board-certified physician, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses. 

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By law, all MCLA Health Services visits and medical records are confidential. No information can be released, either verbally or in writing, unless you sign a consent form. Information on Confidentiality

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