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Health Services

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The Marlboro College Total Health Center provides Nurse Practitioner services Monday through Friday. (**In the absence of the College Nurse Practitioner, the Health Center may be staffed by a registered nurse.) The schedule is posted around the campus at the beginning of each semester. The College also has a consulting physician who works in collaboration with the Nurse Practitioner. The consulting physician is available for telephone consultation when the Health Center is not open and will occasionally see students after hours if needed. Services available through the Health Center include:

  1. General outpatient care for routine ailments and injuries by appointment.
  2. Information and counseling on contraceptive choices. Routine gynecological exams and prescriptions for contraceptives.
  3. Pregnancy testing and desired referrals.
  4. Information on sexually transmitted diseases (including AIDS), their prevention, and other health concerns.
  5. Diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.
  6. Confidential HIV testing.
  7. Information related to alcohol and drug use/abuse.
  8. Referrals to other medical services and clinics in the area, as necessary.
  9. Assistance to students in recovery who wish to contact others on campus who are in recovery.
  10. Information on AA, NA, AL-ANON, ACOA Meetings.

All Health Center services are provided in confidence. Occasionally, it is necessary, in the best interest of the student, for one provider to share information with other members of the medical staff. This sharing is done in confidence in order to provide optimum comprehensive care. The Medical Staff consists of the Nurse Practitioner, the mental health counselors, the consulting physicians, and the consulting psychiatrist. The Dean and the Associate Dean are informed of medical conditions only when a student's health seriously affects his/her ability to function academically or socially.

These services, plus an Accident and Illness Insurance policy administered by the Bollinger Insurance Agency, Inc., are covered by the Comprehensive Health Fee which is paid by all students. Certain medications, supplies and laboratory tests are not covered by this fee. (Medications, etc. not covered are listed in the Health Insurance brochure provided to all students.) Routine physical exams requested for Health Forms are also not covered by this fee. Services/supplies not covered by the Health Fee are billed to the student through student accounts in a confidential manner.

After hours EMERGENCY coverage is provided by RA's and Student Life Advisors trained in advanced First Aid and CPR and by regional emergency service providers. A physician is available at all times by phone and may be reached with the assistance of any RA or Student Life Advisor. Medical Policy: All students at Marlboro College fall within the bounds of the College medical policy and are expected to abide by the few rules it includes. Students are required to submit a Health Record and Immunization Form as part of their registration process. Failure to do so results in incomplete registration, a fine and possible withholding of grades.

The College Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse who has advanced education and clinical training enabling her to diagnose and treat medical problems. The Nurse Practitioner is nationally certified as an Adult Nurse Practitioner and as a College Health provider. The Nurse Practitioner practices under the rules and regulations of the State of Vermont. If necessary, students may be referred to specialty providers associated with the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Students who wish to choose other providers may, but should request the provider to relay pertinent information to the Health Center. Students who choose an alternate provider of health care should be aware that these services are not directly covered by the Comprehensive Health Fee.

Students are forbidden to exchange medications or to take prescription drugs not prescribed by the College Health Center or a medical professional. The Health Center must be informed of any prescription medication in a students possession. Similarly, students are expected to make necessary appointments with local specialists through the College Health/Counseling Centers. This is so that the Medical Department has full knowledge of all treatment any student may be receiving in order to provide appropriate care should a problem arise on campus.

Students with minor illnesses which are not highly contagious may be confined to their dormitory bedrooms. More serious cases may be treated in a hospital.

The College has a serious responsibility for promoting the health of all students, individually and collectively. Students are asked to consider the welfare of the College, as an institution and as a community, as well as their own personal well-being, in responding to medical regulations. Since medical services are available through the Health Center, students are urged to take advantage of them at the first sign of illness. Students are also encouraged to assume some responsibility for their well-being by keeping personal items such as Tylenol, minor cold and cough remedies, and Band-Aids on hand rather than relying on others for these needs.

Medical Leave of Absence

A medical leave of absence may be granted by the Dean of Students in consultation with the Medical Staff. A medical leave may be granted for no more than two consecutive semesters, including the semester in which such leave is first granted, before the student is considered to have withdrawn. The Dean of Students has the authority to grant readmission to the College from a medical leave after consultation with the Medical Staff. An approved application for a medical leave of absence is filed with the Registrar.

Health Education Seminars

The Health Education Seminars at Marlboro are informal lecture/discussion groups. They are designed to provide information and advice on dealing with issues commonly faced by young adults. Films and videos are frequently shown. Since we firmly believe in the interrelationship of emotional and physical health, the seminars do not deal solely with physical issues. They are open to everyone in the College Community.

Rape and Sexual Assault

Marlboro is committed to helping victims of any form of violence. In addition to treating the medical problems of anyone attacked, raped, or otherwise assaulted, Marlboro College psychological counselors are available for those individuals. As with all care provided through the Marlboro College Medical Staff, these services are confidential and information is not reported to the police unless the victim requests it or as required by law.

If a student is the victim of rape or another form of violence he or she can receive assistance by contacting the College nurse practitioner or a psychological counselor.

Community Policy on AIDS

Infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causes Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a generally lethal but preventable disease. As a college community we must not only be aware of the risk of HIV infection, we must accept the fact that it may happen on this campus. As a college we have a responsibility to the members of this community to provide the education necessary for the prevention of HIV infection. Educational programs should also address the ethical issues surrounding AIDS for, as an institution and a community, we have a responsibility to protect the health and the rights of any member of this community who might become infected with HIV or ill with AIDS.

Education

The primary responsibility of Marlboro College in the expanding epidemic of HIV infection is education. This may be accomplished in the following ways.

  1. The Health Center will coordinate relevant educational programs throughout the academic year. These programs will address not only students, but also faculty and staff.
  2. Current information regarding AIDS shall be maintained in the Health Center and shall be available for use by all members of the Community.
  3. Appropriate educational pamphlets shall be made available at various campus locations and kept updated as necessary.

Policies Regarding Students

  1. Health Services: Existing Health Center policies of confidentiality shall apply to any student with HIV infection or AIDS. No information shall be provided either within the College or to outside persons without the written consent of the student. Should a member of the Medical Staff think it is necessary to inform others within the College Community, the student in question shall be encouraged to work with the Medical Staff in an attempt to personally inform necessary persons.

    If HIV infection should be diagnosed after enrollment at the College, and therefore not be included on the student's medical history form, the student is encouraged to report this infection to the Health Center so that health care can be coordinated in the best interest of the student.

    Cases of AIDS are required by law to be reported to the Vermont Department of Public Health. Certain health care providers, including nurse practitioners, are required by law to report HIV infection to the Department of Public Health. However, this is done with a Unique Identifier Code rather than with an individual's name.

    Confidential HIV antibody testing is available through the Health Center for a nominal fee. Anonymous HIV antibody testing is performed at Planned Parenthood in Brattleboro, the Southern Vermont AIDS project in Brattleboro, or through the Vermont Aids Hotline.

  2. Academic/Residential: Since current knowledge shows that HIV is transmitted only through intimate sexual contact or by direct exposure to contaminated blood, a student with any form of HIV infection would not pose a health risk to any other student or individual in an academic setting where the above risks are avoided.

    1. The existence of any form of HIV infection shall have no influence in the admission decision for an individual applying to Marlboro College.
    2. A student with HIV infection or AIDS shall be allowed regular classroom attendance without any restrictions as long as he/she is physically and mentally able to attend classes and meet his/her academic obligations.
    3. There shall be no restriction of access to any campus facility or program because of HIV infection.
    4. Requests for campus housing by individuals with HIV infection shall be made on a case-by-case basis. (According to currently available medical information there is no risk to others in a residential housing situation from an individual with HIV infection.) In some cases it may be in the best interest of an individual with HIV to have a single room in order to minimize that individual's exposure to other infectious diseases.
    5. Exclusion from any aspect of Marlboro College life will be suggested/required only if, in the opinion of the Medical Staff, the student is:
      1. too ill to attend class,
      2. is actively jeopardizing other members of the Community by behavior which is likely to spread the disease as stated above.

Policies regarding Staff/Faculty

  1. No individual shall be denied employment or promotions at Marlboro College because of HIV infection or AIDS.

  2. The existence of HIV infection or AIDS is not cause for dismissal or change in job assignment.

    If, because of the illness, an employee is not capable of carrying out his or her job responsibilities, decisions for leave/termination shall be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the individual, his or her supervisor, a member of the College Medical Staff or the individual's personal physician, and the College's legal counsel, Compliance Coordinator and/or the Vice President of Administration & Finance.

  3. Information about an employee with HIV/AIDS will not be given to any other member of the College Community without the individual employee's permission. Should it be necessary for medical reasons to inform a supervisor or co-worker, that person shall be required to maintain strict confidentiality.

    Should an individual within the Marlboro College Community be HIV positive or be ill with AIDS and a fellow student, staff member, or faculty member requests a change in housing, classes, or job assignment for fear of contracting the disease, the person with HIV/AIDS will not be displaced. The person expressing fear of infection will be provided with education and counseling regarding the disease. No changes in assignments should be assumed.