Student Health Services

Our team of nurses are dedicated to assisting you with your health care needs and concerns. All are welcome to call or visit the health center during our normal business hours. For more information on campus guidelines and directives as well as cases on campus, visit harding.edu/COVID.

If you have COVID symptoms, please stay in your room, quarantine, avoid contact with others, and complete a COVID-19 Screening Form. An RN from student health services will contact the student to discuss symptoms and schedule a test. We have both rapid antigen and PCR testing available at no cost.

Local Providers offering COVID-19 testing

• Unity Health / Searcy Medical Center — 501 278 2800
• AR Care Clinic — 501 279 7979
• AR Dept. of Health, Searcy Unit — 501-268-6102 (testing only, no physician)
• PrimeCare Urgent Care — 501-279-9000 (offers after-hours care)
• Sherwood Urgent Care —501-268-6831
• Unity Health After-Hours Clinic — 501-268-5433 (offers after-hours care)
• Unity Health Emergency Room for medical emergencies (offers care 24/7)

For medical emergencies, please call Public Safety at 501-279-5000.

Should I Be Tested for COVID-19

Reasons to pursue testing include COVID-19 symptoms such as cold or flu-like symptoms, sore throat, fatigue, cough, headache, fever, instruction from the AR Dept. of Health to be tested or a health care provider, or reasonable concern that close contact exposure has occurred.

Other vital mitigation efforts include masking, distancing, frequent handwashing, and cleaning surfaces effectively.

If you would like to discuss your circumstances with an RN in student health prior to seeking voluntary testing, complete the COVID-19 Screening Form. More information on testing is available from CDC.

Flu Vaccines are now available! Getting a flu vaccine this fall can reduce your risk of getting flu and help save scarce medical resources needed to care for people with COVID-19. It’s important for everyone to do their part to stay healthy this flu season. Prevent the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses:

• Mask Up: Cover your nose and mouth with a mask when out in public.
• Lather Up: Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
• Sleeve Up: Roll up your sleeve to get a flu shot.

The more people vaccinated against flu, the more people protected from flu. Protect Your Health.

During COVID-19, we understand you may be feeling more stress than usual or experiencing anxiety or depression. Student Health Services can help you get connected to professionals that can help. Please do not suffer in silence. Please let someone you know and trust help you. Make an appointment with the Harding University Counseling Center.

The National Institute of Mental Health offers the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Learn more about the National Institute of Mental Health.

Reasons to pursue testing include fever over 100.4F, instruction from the AR Dept. of Health to be tested, or reasonable concern that close contact exposure has occurred. Compliance with testing required as part of contact tracing by the AR Dept. of Health is mandatory. Noting that those who travel are more at risk, limiting recreational travel is one helpful way to reduce risk. Other vital mitigation efforts include masking, distancing, frequent handwashing, and cleaning surfaces effectively. If you would like to discuss your circumstances with an RN in student health prior to seeking voluntary testing, complete the COVID-19 screening form. More information on testing is available at: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html

While health insurance is not a requirement, it is highly recommended should unexpected illness or injury occur. In the absence of insurance, students are encouraged to consider options available at: www.healthcare.gov. Other local provider options may allow affordable access in a cash for service approach. Since issues like strep throat and sprained ankles can occur, setting aside a fund to be used to cover a doctor visit and prescription is a helpful start.

HU does not offer a health plan to students. With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, affordable insurance options were made available, which made private plans once offered by universities more cost prohibitive. You can explore options at: www.healthcare.gov

While a nurse visit in HU student health is not required before seeking a visit with a doctor, many students have questions regarding whether they need to see a doctor, how much it will cost, which providers are covered by their health plan, and how to contact a new physician. Because we work closely with local providers, our office is typically able to make same day appointments for students seeking care. We’re here to help!

Our office is only equipped to file health insurance on behalf of HU employees and their participating family members. Since many students have health insurance, it is most cost effective for them to present their coverage with a local retail provider, such as a pharmacy, where they can be vaccinated at no out of pocket cost. However, for students without health insurance, our office can provide flu vaccination at half the cost they would pay elsewhere while supplies last. We begin offering flu vaccines October 1 and offer them until our supply is depleted.

Skin testing for TB is an effective screening practice for tuberculosis infection and is required by a wide variety of clinical sites hosting students as they learn. To use a helpful analogy, TB skin testing asks your immune system the following question: Have you ever seen this dangerous bacteria before? A negative result means, “No, my body has never encountered this bacteria.” A positive result means, “Yes, my immune system has seen that bacteria and knows that it is dangerous.” Initial testing, provided by CDC guidance, requires a 2-step testing process to ensure an accurate baseline result.

Completing initial TB skin testing requires a 2-step process as outlined in CDC guidance. Planning in advance is essential as it will require a minimum of 2 weeks and 4 visits in our office to complete the process. Each test is time sensitive and requires a brief return visit for reading 48-72 hours after the dose is placed. If your program requires TB testing for clinical placements, talk to your program coordinator about when you need to complete testing. While testing can be done through local medical /urgent care clinics, our office offers a significant cost savings.

Pursuit of medical evaluation by a physician or nurse practitioner is an important decision. While some illnesses may resolve with time, rest, and over the counter medications, others may require testing, diagnostics, or prescription medications. In general, a visit with a medical professional is recommended when specific tests or treatments are needed that cannot be accomplished trying to recover on your own, or when symptoms are more severe and last longer. The nurses in Student Health are happy to discuss your circumstances and help you make health care connections with medical providers when needed.

Using medications in a safe, responsible manner is vital to preserving your health. While following package labeling is definitely a great start, it may not answer every question, such as, “can I take this medication with my prescription medication?” When questions arise, a visit with an RN in HU student health can help ensure that you use medications safely. After hours and on weekends, pharmacies with a 24 hour pharmacist are just a phone call away and can also help you ensure that medications are being used safely.

If the only reason to go to the ER is because everything else is closed, you’ll probably experience a long wait, a bigger price tag, and be told to follow up with your family doctor in the morning. If, however, seriously life threatening symptoms are present, the ER is exactly the right place to go.

While symptoms such as sore throat, fever, or cough can usually be effectively managed until a clinic appointment can be scheduled, other symptoms should be evaluated immediately, such as chest pain of potentially cardiac origin or unilateral weakness consistent with a stroke.

In this case, an ankle sprain provides a helpful example. If manageable pain and moderate swelling are present, elevating the ankle and using ice / ibuprofen may offer adequate relief until an appointment can be made. If, however, the pain is unmanageable or swelling severe, immediate care may be required.