Main Campus SHS

Illness Care
Injury Care
Physicals
Prescription Refills
ADD/ADHD
Procedures
Nursing Services
Sports Medicine
Travel Medicine

General Medical

Student Health provides primary care services, such as:

Illness Care

Acute problems
Student Health Services (SHS) treats a variety of illnesses. Visits for symptoms of colds, sinus infections, strep throat, mono, ear infections, and flu are the most common. Other frequent conditions that are evaluated in the clinic are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, urinary problems, abdominal pain, gynecological issues, skin conditions, eye infections, sexually transmitted infections, fatigue, and headaches. If you need evaluation, please schedule an appointment by calling (252) 328-6841, visiting our appointment office inside the health center, or by scheduling via myPIRATEchart.

Have some of the symptoms above but you are not sure if you need an appointment? Visit our self-care guides to see if you can safely treat your problem at home or if you need to see a provider. You can also call (252) 328-6841 and ask to leave a message for a nurse to return your call to discuss your health care concern.

Looking for an over-the-counter medication? Visit our pharmacy to get recommendations from our pharmacists.

Chronic issues
Do you have a chronic condition that requires medication management or frequent monitoring? SHS providers can evaluate and manage many chronic illnesses and conditions, ranging from asthma to diabetes to irritable bowel syndrome to high blood pressure.

Injury Care

Whether you are injured as a result of club or varsity sports, through exercising, lifting boxes, because you missed a step and twisted your ankle, or even if you have a lingering pain from high school, Student Health is here for you. Our providers can evaluate your injury, obtain x-rays if needed (Main Campus location), recommend treatment plans, and provide splints, braces, or crutches if your injury requires further management. All of our providers can treat injuries, and in addition, we house the team physician for ECU, who specializes in Sports Medicine.

Break a bone? We will take care of setting up your referral appointment at the local orthopedics office.

Physicals for academics, work, self, volunteering

Students need physicals for a variety of reasons: for a department requirement, an internship, a job, a volunteer experience, etc. Student Health can provide physical exams and any necessary lab testing and/or vaccinations for most types of physicals that are related to academic or employment opportunities.

Please refer to our “Physicals” handout for information on charges, making an appointment, and for a list of physicals SHS can/cannot perform.

Need a dive physical? Special testing applies. Read more on our “Dive Physicals” information sheet.

To make an appointment for a physical, you must either call (252) 328-6841 or stop by the appointment office at Student Health; currently appointments for physicals cannot be made online.

Prescription refills

Students often need refills for birth control, thyroid medication, asthma inhalers, depression/anxiety pills, and many other types of prescription medications. Our providers can, with proper documentation, provide prescription refills if patients are current with their treatment plans. Medication refills are seen by appointment only.

If you have refills remaining on a current prescription, you can have it transferred to our pharmacy. Not sure if your latest prescription has refills left? Call our pharmacy at (252)328-6841, and they can check for you.

Birth control:
Students must have a current annual exam and screening for STIs performed within the last year, either done at SHS or at an outside provider. If done at an outside office, SHS must have the records on file before your appointment for your refill. For more information, visit the Birth Control/Contraceptives page.

All other refills:
Records must be on file with SHS regarding the patient’s medical history, including current diagnosis, and prescription medication information. SHS does not accept empty pill bottles as adequate proof of a prescription. For specific ADD/ADHD information, please see the ADD/ADHD section.

ADD/ADHD

SHS can provide refills for students taking prescription medications for Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD). SHS does not provide testing for ADD/ADHD. Stimulant medications for ADD/ADHD are Class II narcotics and are governed by federal and state laws and regulations. SHS will refill these medications only if the below requirements are met:

Written documentation must include a copy of a formal evaluation or formal diagnosis of ADD/ADHD from a mental health medical provider (e.g. psychologist, psychiatrist, physician assistant or nurse practitioner working in a mental health setting). SHS providers do not accept clinical notes alone from a primary care physician, family physician, or pediatrician as an acceptable form of diagnostic documentation.

If the student has not had treatment within the past five years, they will be required to be formally reevaluated for ADD/ADHD by a mental health provider and present documentation prior to stimulant medication being restarted by SHS.

Students will not possess a controlled substance without a legitimate prescription, or give or sell these medications to others. This is illegal and potentially dangerous.

Appointments are required monthly for ADD/ADHD refills. No refills will be given through our triage service or by phone.

By law prescriptions cannot be called to a pharmacy. Under most circumstances, SHS providers will only write for a 30 day supply with no refills.

No renewal of the prescription is allowed earlier than 25 days from the previous prescription date.

There will be no replacement for lost, stolen, or damaged prescriptions. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Random drug testing, at the student’s expense, will be performed. Prescriptions will be held until results return from testing. If the drug testing results are not aligned with the student’s prescribed plan of care, further refills will be denied.

SHS Providers will review the North Carolina Controlled Substance Reporting System to ensure students are filling prescriptions properly.

Students who do not keep their follow-up appointments will not be able to receive a renewed prescription. There will be continued monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, side effects, response to therapy, compliance, and illicit drug use. In accordance with North Carolina general statutes, students filling prescriptions at the pharmacy must provide a government issued ID to receive their medication; it may be in the form of a state issued driver’s license, state issued DMV identification card, or passport. No exceptions will be made.

Read our Sample Agreement for Stimulant Medications to find out what SHS requires of students seeking ADD/ADHD prescriptions.

Procedures

SHS performs some common procedures of the skin, such as:

toenail removals
incision and drainage of boils and abscesses
skin tag removals
removal of warts
mole removals

These procedures require an appointment, and some are done in a two-step process: first you make a consultation appointment, then, upon a provider recommending the procedure, a second appointment will be made to have the actual procedure performed. Call us at (252) 328-6841 to schedule.

Nursing Services

Nurses at SHS provide many services to patients. Call (252) 328-6841 for an appointment, stop in to our appointment office inside the Student Health Center, or go to myPIRATEchart to schedule (online appointments available for our Main Campus SHS).

Blood pressure check
Do you want to keep an eye on your blood pressure? Or maybe your provider has asked you to return to have it checked a few times? Our nurses can help you monitor your blood pressure by checking it for you. This is only a measurement of your blood pressure; if you need to see a provider or are having any symptoms, please make an appointment with a provider.

Depo Injections

Using Depo? SHS can administer your injection when you need it. Depo-Provera is a prescription medication that requires a provider order. If you have never been on Depo but would like to start, or maybe you have been on it previously but let your prescription expire, visit the Birth Control/Contraceptives page for more information.

Other Injectable Medications
Are you on a regularly needed injectable medication from another provider? SHS regularly administers outside medications such as B-12, testosterone, and Risperdal with a proper provider order.

To give medications prescribed elsewhere, SHS must have an order from your provider with the following information:

Name of person to receive the medication
Name of the medication to be administered
Dose of the medication to be administered
Route that the medication is to be administered (subcutaneously, intramuscularly, etc)*
Frequency of the injection
Name, address and phone of the prescribing provider
Relevant diagnosis code or medical history indicating need for injection

You may either bring in the order or you may have it faxed to us at (252) 328-0462. There is a charge for the administration of injectable medications.

* please note: ECU Student Health Services does not administer intravenous (IV) medications ordered from outside providers.

Suture or staple removal
If you have sutures or staples that need removal, our nurses can provide this service. It does not matter if you received the skin closures here or at an outside facility.

Dressing changes
If a SHS provider has instructed you to return for dressing changes, or if you need to continue wound care from an outside provider, our nurses can help. If you have been seeing an outside provider, please fax or bring us your wound care instructions from your provider (frequency of dressing changes, what supplies you will need, etc). Please note: SHS does not do dressing changes involving Wound Vacs.

Spirometry / Audiometry Testing
Spirometry is a breathing test used to detect asthma or other respiratory issues (also called a pulmonary function test) and can be performed at our Main Campus SHS. Please allow at least 30 minutes for the testing. After the test, you will need a follow up appointment with a provider, who will review and interpret your results.

SHS also performs a basic audiometry test for hearing at our Main Campus SHS. If the results of the test indicate a hearing problem, you will be referred for more comprehensive testing at an ENT office or outside hearing center. Audiometry may be required by certain academic physicals, or may be ordered by a provider. After the test, you will need a follow up appointment with a provider, who will review and interpret your results.

Due to the nature of the testing and availability of staff to perform the test, spirometry and audiometry may only be available at certain times or on certain days of the week. There is a charge for the testing; please inquire about specific pricing when you make your appointment or before having your testing performed.

Outside lab orders
Students who have lab orders from another provider can have their lab work performed conveniently at SHS. The Outside Lab Order Form should be filled out by the ordering provider; ALL fields are required for SHS before an appointment can be made at SHS to perform the labwork. Please fax the form and copy of the front/back of insurance card to (252) 328-0462, or email to shsmedfax@ecu.edu; once SHS verifies that all information has been received, the student will be contacted by SHS staff to schedule their lab appointment. Please call (252) 328-6841 for more information.

Tuberculosis (TB) skin test readings
TB skin tests must be “read” 48-72 hours after placement; once this time frame expires, the test is no longer valid and must be repeated at the patient’s expense. Did an outside facility place the TB skin test? We can read it for you as long as you bring documentation of when the test was placed.

Titers, TB Gold testing, Sickle Cell testing or urine drug screens
Students needing titers (hepatitis b, varicella, or measles/mumps/rubella), TB Gold testing, Sickle cell testing, or urine drug screens performed may make a nurse appointment. This service is only for the lab work itself; if you need a physical exam as well, you must make an appointment with a provider.

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening
Students who are NOT currently experiencing ANY symptoms can utilize our nurse service for STI screening. Nurses can order testing for gonorrhea/chlamydia through a urine, oral or rectal specimen, blood testing for syphilis, and/or blood testing for HIV.

The nurse service for STI screening is not for students needing a gynecological exam for birth control, an annual physical, or evaluation for genital warts/sores/lesions; these visits require a provider appointment for evaluation. Please see the Reproductive/Sexual Health page for more information about STI testing, cost, etc.

Sports Medicine

Whether you have a new injury or an existing musculoskeletal problem, our sports medicine services can help. Student Health Service (SHS) can assess, diagnose, and treat many sports related conditions from acute injuries to chronic conditions. Xray services are available if needed at our Main Campus SHS.

Casting, splints, and crutches/canes: SHS does not provide hard casting but can provide patients with splints, knee stabilizers, ace bandages, hard shoe stabilizers, and crutches/canes. Referrals are made to Orthopedics East for all hard casting requirements.

Wheelchairs: Student Health does not rent or loan wheelchairs.

Travel Medicine

Travel services include vaccination, medications to protect travelers against disease, education concerning protection of one’s health and safety, and literature emphasizing important recommendations for those traveling abroad. All provided foreign travel services are specific to the traveler’s itinerary, area of travel, and current health.

Students planning trips abroad are advised to seek the advice of travel offices and clinics at least 1 month prior to leaving.