Health Service & HERC: What can we do for you?

 

First and foremost, welcome back, Panthers! We are so excited for another great year here at Eastern Illinois University. As you start classes, meet new friends, and experience campus life, be sure to keep your health and wellness in mind. Lucky for you, EIU Health Service offers convenient care right here on campus!

 

EIU Health Service

 

The Clinic is dedicated to providing student-oriented primary care and health education through medical services and a variety of programs. With 22 full-time professional staff, Health Service offers a wide variety of services including: acute and chronic care, women’s and men’s general and sexual health, prevention, free flu shots, sports medicine, travel consultations, mental health services, nutritional counseling, TB screenings and testing, educational programs, as well as public health interventions. Together, the Health Service strives to meet all of students’ medical needs on campus in a conveniently located, top notch facility!

Services

Primary Care

EIU students are able to visit the Health Service for all of their primary care needs. Whether a sore throat, cough, cold, or many other illnesses, the student may see a provider free of charge! Health Service providers are dedicated to ensuring that all students are Healthy Panthers!

Women’s Health

The Health Service makes women’s health appointments easy and convenient. Licensed providers offer a wide range of services including, but not limited to: pap exams, breast exams, contraception consults, common vaginal infection testing, medication refills for established patients, as well as sexually transmitted infection testing, counseling, and treatment.

EIU Pharmacy

EIU Pharmacy provides students with medications prescribed by Health Service providers, private physicians, and dentists. The pharmacy also carries a variety of over-the-counter medications so students don’t have to leave campus! Aside from prescribed and over-the-counter medications, the pharmacy also offers other personal items. Some of those items include: emergency contraceptives, lip balm, condoms, first aid supplies and more! Students may pay via cash or bill the charges to their student account.

X-Ray

The Health Service also has a Radiology Department. This department offers digital x-rays with a radiologist’s interpretation, electrocardiograms and rhythm strips with a cardiologist’s interpretation, and digital x-ray images on CD.

Lab

There is a state certified lab located on campus, within the Health Service! All orders for lab tests must be written on a prescription pad printed with the physician’s name, address, phone number, as well as fax number. All orders must be signed by the ordering physician.

Health Education Resource Center (HERC)

The Health Education Resource Center serves as a resource for students, faculty, and staff by providing programs, campaigns, interventions, and one-on-one consultations regarding health related topics. The HERC offers health programming in the areas of alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention and education, flu and cold prevention and education, nutritional analysis and education, and sexual health education, in addition to many other health related topics.

Making an Appointment

Physicians and other medical professionals at the Health Service are seen through appointment only. Students may visit www.eiu.edu/health and make an appointment using the MyHealth Portal. Students may also call 217-581-3013 to make an appointment or go to the Health Service and speak with an Appointment Clerk.

Cost of Services

General medical visits, health assessments, special programs and educational resources are provided to students at no cost! The Health Service is funded through the student’s tuition/fees, which supplements funding for primary care visits to the Health Service and Health Education programs. This funding also helps keep additional service fees low!

Additional Service Fees

Charges apply to all specialty visits including: women’s and men’s health, nutritional/dietary, psychiatric, travel consults, and employment physicals. Charges and low service fees for lab, x-ray, immunizations, etc., including charges for pharmacy medications, may be billed to the student’s university account or paid by cash. A list of additional charges is available at the Health Service or online at www.eiu.edu/health.

Student Insurance Coverage at Health Service:

Students who are covered by the Student Insurance Plan have coverage for most service charges at the Health Service. Students also benefit from reduced charges, without a deductible. The Student Insurance Plan also provides coverage for medical services off campus.

“98% of students tell us they had convenient appointments. Of those, 90% say they waited less than 10 minutes.”

 

The Health Education Resource Center (HERC)

As a branch of the Health Service, the HERC strives to prevent and reduce health risks and illnesses that interfere with academic performance, learning, student retention, & personal growth opportunities. The Health Education Resource Center serves as a resource for students, faculty, and staff by providing programs, campaigns, interventions, and one-on-one consultations regarding health-related topics. The HERC offers health programming in a wide variety of areas. The best part? Most of our services are FREE to students!

Alcohol & Substance Abuse

Alcohol prevention, intervention, and recovery work is completed through this office. The HERC offers a Collegiate Recovery Community, on campus, for EIU students. Please visit the website for additional information, www.eiu.edu/herc/CRC.php

There are multiple programs that focus on risk factors and prevention associated with substance abuse. The programs educate students on the effects of alcohol and drugs, along with possible perceptions. Additionally the HERC implements and manages the required online training for all incoming and first time students, called AlcoholEdu.

Tobacco

EIU is a tobacco-free campus! The Health Education Resource Center provides education and intervention strategies on tobacco use. Freedom From Smoking clinics are available on campus to students, faculty, and staff at a low cost. To learn more or to sign up, visit www.eiu.edu/herc. Registration is required.

Sleep

Schedule an appointment today to discuss your current sleep habits! The HERC staff can provide tips and information to enhance the quality and quantity of sleep. Also offered are presentations that focus on healthy sleep habits. Through these presentations, students learn about healthy behaviors to ensure proper sleep habits.

Nutrition

The HERC offers a three-part nutritional assessment conducted by the Nutrition Promotion Coordinator. Using current intake, general information is provided about your eating patterns to improve nutrition and overall lifestyle. There is also a Registered Dietitian on staff to work with students with nutrition-related health conditions as well as weight management concerns.

Sexual Health

Students can choose to meet one-on-one with the Sexual Health Educator to discuss ways to reduce risky sexual behaviors or complete the online sexual health assessment. All consultations are confidential and free to students.

Peer Health Education

Students have the opportunity to make a change on campus by becoming a Peer Health Educator. Through Peer Health Education, students are trained through the national BACCHUS network to educate the campus on health-related topics. These topics include, but are not limited to: alcohol, tobacco, cold and flu, sexual health, nutrition, stress, and sleep. Through Peer Health Educators, students gain leadership skills, teamwork building and have an opportunity to build their resumes. But most importantly, Peer Health Educators promote a healthy EIU! For more information or to get involved, e-mail herc-hlthpromo@eiu.edu or herc-genhlth@eiu.edu, or call 217-581-7786.

Programs

Some of the programs and presentations offered include:

• What is Consent?

• Snoozing Like a Panther

• EIU StepsUp!

• Kognito                                    

• AlcoholEdu

• Collegiate Recovery Community

• Healthy Cooking 101

• EIU Moves

• Rubber Lovers

• Freedom From Smoking

For more information, to schedule a consultation, or to register for a program, please call (217) 581-7786, email herc@eiu.edu, or visit www.eiu.edu/herc.