Student Health Services
Etter Health Center is the primary health care resource for Shippensburg University students. In partnership with WellSpan Health, the center’s mission is to equip students to be successful in achieving and sustaining optimal health and to recognize their role in maintaining wellness of the campus and their greater community.
Living on-campus and already been vaccinated?
You can submit your proof of vaccination to the Etter Health Center upon your arrival to campus or submit it electronically by clicking here.
Health Evaluation Form
Incoming, transfer, and residential students, please complete the health form by clicking here and return it to Etter Health Center, Naugle Hall, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257.
Health Center Services
Our University's Health Services, run by WellSpan Health, are available to all undergraduate and graduate students who have paid the comprehensive health fee, which is billed as part of your tuition and fees.
***Services at the Health Center are limited during the summer, fall, winter and spring breaks. Please contact the office if you have questions regarding services provided during these times.
If you have a chronic illness that requires periodic or regular medication or testing, and it is not feasible to have a regular follow-up with your home physician, then you may make an appointment with one of our physicians who will collaborate with your home physician to make sure you are receiving appropriate care.
If you run out of medication or a prescription expires for a chronic health condition while you are at school, you should first call your home physician to see if he or she can send a prescription to your local pharmacy before making an appointment with our physician. We will, of course, be glad to treat you for acute episodes of a chronic illness such as migraine headaches or asthma flare-ups.
If it is not feasible to obtain a contraceptive prescription from your home physician, you now have two options available to you here on campus.
- You may go to www.nurx.com and complete an online consultation. This program will ask you a series of questions regarding your health history. Based on your answers to these questions, if it is appropriate and safe, this program will set you up with oral contraception, transdermal patch or a vaginal ring. While some insurances are accepted, it is NOT needed. Cost for this program will be $15-$30 for a 3 month prescription without insurance.
- You may use the telehealth service with our physician. The following contraceptives may be prescribed here at the health center:
- Oral contraceptive pills
We do not provide these contraceptives to you but we can provide a prescription that can be filled at any pharmacy. We currently do not place IUDs or implants.
The following resources may help you in your decisions regarding sex, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancy:
As part of our ongoing effort to help you stay healthy, we are engaged in the following screening activities:
1. Screening for alcohol misuse: We are vigilant in identifying students who are misusing alcohol and encourage students to speak to fellow students who are misusing alcohol to avail themselves to the following resource on campus: http://www.ship.edu/connections/. Further information can also be found at:
http://www.ship.edu/Dean_of_Students/Connections/Links_-_Students/
http://www.ship.edu/Dean_of_Students/Connections/Links_-_Parents/
2. Screening for tobacco use: We are vigilant in identifying students who are using tobacco and encourage students to speak to fellow students who are using tobacco to avail themselves to the following resource: https://smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/getting-started
3. Screening for obesity: We are in the midst of an obesity epidemic. There is perhaps no better place to curb this epidemic than on college campuses. The health center is partnering with the dining services in encouraging students to become engaged with the USDA program My Plate on Campus. We would like all students to look at the excellent information at http://www.choosemyplate.gov/MyPlateOnCampus/ to guide you in making healthy food choices and in obtaining or maintaining a healthy weight. We would also like some of our students to become ambassadors with the My Plate on Campus program.
For those struggling with obesity and weight related health problems, we encourage you to make an appointment with the health center. Many insurance plans now cover weight loss services and in some cases we may refer you to a weight loss specialist.
4. Screening for depression: We partner with the counseling center in identifying and treating students who are struggling with depression or other mental health related problems. We encourage all students to be aware of fellow students who may be depressed and encourage them to call the counseling center. More information regarding the counseling center can be found at http://www.ship.edu/counseling_center/.
5. Screening for sexually transmitted infections: All sexually active college students are encouraged to be screened for chlamydia and gonorrhea every year. This is typically done as part of a women's annual wellness visit with her home physician. Screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea in men and other sexually transmitted infections in both men and women may also be indicated based on other personal risk factors. If you have sex please review the following article to determine if STI screening is indicated for you: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/std-testing/ID00047/METHOD=print. We can screen sexually transmitted infection at the health center. However, for some infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia we have to send collected specimens to Quest Labs who will bill you or your insurance for the tests.
If you are experiencing symptoms of an STI or have had known exposure to someone who has been diagnosed with an STI, please contact our office to utilize our telehealth service with our doctor.
Most insurance companies cover wellness visits and screening for specific diseases. We encourage you to receive preventive health services from your home physician at this time.
Please refer to the following websites for the latest recommended preventive health services for your age and gender.
• Men ages 18 to 39: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007464.htm
• Men ages 40 to 64: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007465.htm
• Women ages 18 to 39: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007462.htm
• Women ages 40 to 64: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007467.htm
All students are required to submit an official copy of their immunization record from either their healthcare providers office, school or their State Health Department.
All students are required to be immunized against pertussis (whooping cough), varicella (chickenpox), measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). Proof of immunization in the student's immunization record or laboratory titer proving immunity is required. If there is an outbreak of any of these diseases and you are not adequately immunized, you may be restricted from residing in campus housing and attending classes and campus events.
Flu shots and many other vaccines are available at the local pharmacies. The Health Center is available to guide and assist you to ensure that you receive recommended vaccinations. To be sure you have received all of the recommended vaccines for your age, visit cdc.gov for more information.
The meningitis vaccine or a signed waiver is required for all students living in the residence halls on campus.
All students are required to complete the tuberculosis screening questionnaire and if indicated, testing for tuberculosis prior to arrival on campus.
The following lab tests can usually be performed at the Health Center:
- Urinalysis
- Urine pregnancy test
- Rapid strep test
- Mono test
- Microscopy test for yeast and other fungal infections
- Microscopy test for certain sexually transmitted infections including bacterial vaginosis and Trichomonas
- Glucose
If other lab tests are needed, please consult with our medical staff for more information.
Before calling the clinic, we encourage you to utilize the following resources:
Symptom Checker: http://www.drugs.com/symptom-checker/
Medline Plus: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html
These sites will allow you to enter your symptoms or illness and obtain reliable advice and help you decide whether or not you need an appointment. If over-the-counter medications are needed, please call into the Health Center, we will be glad to provide you with over-the-counter medications.
If you need to speak with the nurse call the Etter Health Center at (717) 477-1458. In many cases, the nurse can give the advice over the phone and an appointment will not be necessary.
Tuberculosis (TB) testing times are listed below. Please call the health center to schedule your TB test during one of the available times. During your appointment for a test placement, you will also need to schedule a follow-up appointment 48-72 hours later for a nurse to interpret and record the result. If you do not attend the test reading component of this process, the test will need to be repeated and you will be charged a $20 fee for the repeat test.
Schedule TB testing during regular hours of operation.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Etter Health Center for assistance.
We do not have x-ray facilities at the Health Center. If our physician orders an x-ray or other diagnostic imaging tests, you will need to go to another facility to have the test performed. The x-ray facility will bill you or your insurance for the x-ray. The following are facilities in our area that perform x-rays: