We offer appointments for common health issues including:

• Abdominal Pain
• ADHD/ADD medications (see FAQs)
• Chronic illnesses
• Headaches
• Infections
• Injuries
• Physical Exams
• PrEP/PEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Post Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV)
• Prescription Refills
• Pre-Travel visits 
• Respiratory Infections
• Sexually Transmitted Infection screening
• Skin rashes
• Sports-related injuries
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Vaccinations/Compliance for immunization requirements
• Well Woman Exams (PAP smears/ Breast Exam)

If you are sick and would like to be seen urgently, it still may be possible to see a health care clinician at the Student Health Center. We try to reserve at least 20 appointment slots for students who are acutely ill and would like a same-day appointment. To make a same-day appointment, call 202-885-3380 and press #1, then #2 and you will be connected with a patient service representative who will help you schedule the visit. We encourage students to call the health center as early in the day as possible to ensure that there will be an appointment available for them. If a student cannot be seen for a same-day appointment, the patient service representative will assist them in finding another option with one of our community urgent care partners.

These appointments are:

• Conducted by appointment by one of our clinicians (physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner) via a video platform
• Available only to students physically located in Washington, DC (due to medical license restrictions)
• Charged at the same rate as an in-person visit ($25)
• Available by calling 202-885-3380, Pressing #1, then #2
• Telemedicine appointments are available for:
  • Cold symptoms
  • Cough
  • COVID Concerns (without severe symptoms)
  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • ADHD refills (not for initial/1^st time appointments)
  • Emergency contraception

If during your telemedicine appointment the clinician determines you need an in-person appointment for further evaluation (e.g. for a test for strep throat or further assessment), you will be instructed on how to do so. You will only be charged for 1 visit.

Complete physical examinations for study abroad, sports, or employment are available, as well as gynecological examinations and immunizations (e.g. required and routine). Routine blood work, preventative health counseling, and asymptomatic sexually transmitted illness screening can be completed during a complete physical exam. Please make a separate appointment for any other specific, complex complaints or multiple complaints. Students with the American University Student Health Insurance Plan may receive no-cost preventive services including routine adult physicals and immunizations.

The Student Health Center also offers chaperones during all sensitive exams.

Comprehensive lab testing is available. These labs may be obtained through an appointment with a Student Health Center provider or with an order from an outside provider.

The Student Health Center contracts with LabCorp. Although your visit to the health center is not billed to your insurance, LabCorp will bill your insurance for laboratory testing.

Rapid diagnostic tests are also available. These are not billed to your insurance, the costs for these tests will be billed to your student account.

• Influenza
• Mononucelosis
• Pregnancy
• Strep
• Urinary Tract Infections

Procedures offered in the clinic include:

• Allergy injections
• Cryotherapy for Wart treatment
• Suture removal
• Dressing changes
• Ear irrigation

All procedures require an appointment.

Students with prescriptions from home can have refills continued by the Student Health Center only after consultation with a Student Health Center provider.

If your condition requires referral to a specialist, the Student Health Center clinician can make that assessment and can provide you with recommendations for specialists.

Services offered:

• Counseling for contraception methods
• Prescriptions for contraception medications
• Screening for cervical cancer (i.e. Pap Smear)
• Clinical breast examination
• Screening for sexually transmitted infections
• Pregnancy tests (urine or blood available)
• Evaluation and treatment for urinary tract infections
• Evaluation and treatment for yeast and vaginitis conditions
• Evaluation for gynecologic concerns (i.e. menstrual cycle, vaginal discharge, vaginal pain)
• Referral for other services not provided (i.e. breast imaging, IUDs, pelvic floor rehabilitation)
• Nonjudgmental counseling regarding pregnancy options and referrals for termination services if student desires
• Emergency Contraception ("morning after pill")

Resources

- DC Planned Parenthood Abortion Services
- Planned Parenthood, Breast Cancer Symptoms
- Planned Parenthood, What is Well Woman Exam? 
- Web MD, What types of birth control are available?
- CDC, A Healthy World for Women and Girls
- Center for Young Women's Health
- Bedsider Birh Control Support Network

What is a GYN Exam?

A gynecologic exam involves an external and internal physical examination of female genitalia. Additionally, a breast exam is often performed for a more comprehensive women's health evaluation. A GYN exam generally includes testing for sexually transmitted infections as well as a Pap Smear (see below). You can make an appointment for a GYN exam online or by calling the Student Health Center. Be sure to specify that you would like a GYN exam because these exams are allotted more time than a routine visit.

When should you have a Papanicolaou (aka “Pap”) screening?

A Pap screening looks for changes in the cervix that might become cervical cancer. Women and individuals assigned female at birth should begin screenings at age 21 and, if results are normal, be screened again every three years until age 29. After 30, you should be screened every five years if your prior screenings were normal. In some instances, the rate of Pap screening should be done more frequently. Please ask your provider what they would recommend for you, based on your medical history.

What is an STI screening?

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are spread by bodily fluids. If you are sexually active (i.e. oral, vaginal, or anal) with anyone then you can be exposed to infections that may not have any symptoms immediately. Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Syphilis can be screened on an annual basis or more frequently if indicated and treated if necessary. We also recommend HIV screening every year for sexually active individuals. While HIV is not curable, early detection allows for early initiation of treatments to maintain one's health.

The Student Health Center's LGBTQ Health Initiative addresses the special health care needs of LGBTQ students, and provides health services for LGBTQ students requesting:

• General medical care from a member of the LGBTQ community (or from an LGBTQ-positive clinician).
• Immunizations against diseases particularly prevalent in the LGBTQ population.
• Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV
• Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) against HIV
• Sexually transmitted disease counseling and testing by a clinician familiar with the concerns of LGBTQ individuals. Screening for HIV, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Herpes, and visual screening for HPV.
• Screenings and referral for mental health issues (related to coming-out, depression, anxiety, relationship issues) which, frequently affect members of the LGBTQ community.
• Transgender hormone initiation and maintenance.

Appointments can be made online or by calling 202-885-3380. The LGBTQ Health Services is located in the Student Health Center on the first floor of McCabe Hall. Students calling should request an appointment with Dr. David Reitman (the LGBTQ Health Initiative director), or with one of the other clinicians. There are no additional fees, beyond standard visit fees and lab work, for students participating in the LGBTQ Health Initiative.

Students who have experienced a sexual assault may receive trauma-informed care at the Student Health Center, which may include STI testing, pregnancy testing, treatment for STIs, and emergency contraception. Students who would like to have a SANE evaluation for evidence collection should see this resource.