Frequently Asked Questions | Health
Q. If my student becomes ill while on campus, what should I tell him or her to do?
A. Tell him or her to go to Parsons Student Health Center located in Sutcliffe Hall across from the pool as soon as possible. Physician clinics are Monday, Tuesday, and Friday 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. and Wednesday 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. These are staffed by Drs. Brian Ellis and Jonathan Clark of Family Practice Physicians. A Physician Assistant and a Registered Nurse are available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Thursday 7:30 a.m. - Noon. There are no office visit charges. In case of an after hours emergency, direct students to call 911 or the Department of Public Safety at 859-236-4357. Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center is located only two blocks from campus.
Q. How can I contact Parsons Student Health Center, and who is available to help?
A. Call them at 859-238-5530. You will probably speak to Marsha Edelen, their secretary. Kathy Jones, RN is the Director of Parsons Student Health Center. Amanda Goodwin is the Physician Assistant, and Kathy Miles, LMFT, CADC is the Director of Counseling. They are available Monday-Friday during office hours. The two physicians available during clinic hours are Dr. Brian Ellis and Dr. Jonathan Clark. If you need to reach someone after office hours, contact the Department of Public Safety at 859-236-4357, and they will contact the person on call for you.
Q. What if my student needs to be seen by a doctor after clinic hours?
A. There are two walk-in health care facilities in Danville: Bluegrass Immediate Care, located at 478 Whirl-A-Way Drive, is open seven days a week (859-236-3208); and The Weekend Walk-in Clinic, located at 109 Daniel Drive, is open on Saturdays and Sundays (859-239-6522). These clinics may provide faster and less expensive service for non-emergencies than the emergency room.
Q. What tips can I give my student about preventing the flu?
A. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are not available. Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes. Germs spread this way. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder. Don't hold or carry laundry close to your body or face, in order to avoid contamination. Wash hands with soap and water after handling soiled laundry. Know the symptoms, which include fever, chills, cough or sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, fatigue, diarrhea, or vomiting. Don't spread the flu! If you are sick with flu-like illness, see a medical professional immediately. Avoid contact with those experiencing flu-like symptoms, and do not use other people's phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment. For more Centre information about H1N1, click here.
Q. How can I help my student be prepared if the flu does strike?
A. Create a “flu box” for them. Include a thermometer, Ibuprofen, 2 cans of chicken noodle soup, Saltines, Gatorade or ginger ale, throat lozenges, tissues, and $40 in case their roommate or a friend needs to refurbish supplies.
Q. What other services are provided by Parsons Student Health Center?
A. Allergy shots can be given at no charge. Students should bring their vials and dosage sheets when they come to campus or have them sent directly to Parsons Student Health Center.
Medications, diagnostic tests, and vaccinations are available for a reasonable cost. Payment may be made at the time of service or charged to the student's account. If further diagnostic tests are required, these are done at the hospital.
A women's health clinic is offered twice monthly provided by the local health department. Exams, contraceptives, testing for sexually transmitted infections, as well as other services are available. Most of their services are free of charge, but an appointment is necessary.
For students traveling abroad, certain vaccines and/or medications may be recommended or required for a specific country. The accompanying professor will coordinate a travel clinic with Parsons in order for students to obtain the vaccines and medications needed for travel. Students must attend the travel clinic in order to receive these vaccines or medications. For travel advice not related to Centre's study abroad program and for those students not able to attend the travel clinic, we suggest students seek assistance from one of the following: Kentucky Travel Medicine www.kentuckytravelmed.com, University of Kentucky ukhealthcare.uky.edu, or University of Louisville www.uoflhealthcare.org.
Q. If my student is experiencing a mental health problem, what help is available? A. Centre’s Campus Counseling Services includes professional services provided to Centre students to assist them in being productive, successful, and well-adjusted young adults. Counseling Services are provided by two licensed mental health professionals whose offices are located at Parsons Student Health Center. These counselors are available to see students experiencing a wide variety of problems, including general adjustment to college, stress management issues, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, relationship and family issues, eating disorders, sexuality issues, grief/loss issues, and any other issues affecting a student’s ability to be a happy, adjusted, and productive college student. Services include problem assessment, short-term counseling, referral to appropriate outside services such as psychiatric evaluations, education and training, and prevention programs.
Counseling for Centre students is free and not limited to a certain number of sessions. Counseling is confidential, within the scope of the law; and confidentiality is taken very seriously. Counselors are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., and other hours as needed by appointment. Appointments may be made by calling Kathy Miles, Director of Counseling, at (859) 238-5740 during regular office hours, or emailing her at kathy.miles@centre.edu. Students may also call Parsons Student Health Center at (859) 238-5530. Flexible appointment times are available each weekday so that they do not conflict with a student’s class schedule.
For afterhours mental health emergencies, students may call the Director of Counseling’s office number at (859) 238-5740, and the voice mail message will direct them to how to reach a counselor, or they may call the Dept. for Public Safety at (859) 236-4357, who can contact a counselor. In an immediate emergency, 911 may also be called, or a student may simply go to the hospital’s emergency room. Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center’s Behavioral Medicine unit’s number is
(859) 239-4000.
Parsons medical staff members are available to prescribe some mental health medications. Referrals for other medications and psychiatric consults, psychological testing, and inpatient psychiatric hospitalization may be facilitated by the counselors at Parsons. Any off-campus mental health services to students are the financial responsibility of the student and their parents.
Educational information on a variety of mental health and substance abuse topics are available at Parsons. In addition, information is also available in the Wellness Library at www.centre.edu/student_life/wellness_library.html, and on the Parsons Health Website.
Student Health 101 — The Parent Perspective (online newsletter)
A. Tell him or her to go to Parsons Student Health Center located in Sutcliffe Hall across from the pool as soon as possible. Physician clinics are Monday, Tuesday, and Friday 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. and Wednesday 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. These are staffed by Drs. Brian Ellis and Jonathan Clark of Family Practice Physicians. A Physician Assistant and a Registered Nurse are available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Thursday 7:30 a.m. - Noon. There are no office visit charges. In case of an after hours emergency, direct students to call 911 or the Department of Public Safety at 859-236-4357. Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center is located only two blocks from campus.
Q. How can I contact Parsons Student Health Center, and who is available to help?
A. Call them at 859-238-5530. You will probably speak to Marsha Edelen, their secretary. Kathy Jones, RN is the Director of Parsons Student Health Center. Amanda Goodwin is the Physician Assistant, and Kathy Miles, LMFT, CADC is the Director of Counseling. They are available Monday-Friday during office hours. The two physicians available during clinic hours are Dr. Brian Ellis and Dr. Jonathan Clark. If you need to reach someone after office hours, contact the Department of Public Safety at 859-236-4357, and they will contact the person on call for you.
Q. What if my student needs to be seen by a doctor after clinic hours?
A. There are two walk-in health care facilities in Danville: Bluegrass Immediate Care, located at 478 Whirl-A-Way Drive, is open seven days a week (859-236-3208); and The Weekend Walk-in Clinic, located at 109 Daniel Drive, is open on Saturdays and Sundays (859-239-6522). These clinics may provide faster and less expensive service for non-emergencies than the emergency room.
Q. What tips can I give my student about preventing the flu?
A. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are not available. Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes. Germs spread this way. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder. Don't hold or carry laundry close to your body or face, in order to avoid contamination. Wash hands with soap and water after handling soiled laundry. Know the symptoms, which include fever, chills, cough or sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, fatigue, diarrhea, or vomiting. Don't spread the flu! If you are sick with flu-like illness, see a medical professional immediately. Avoid contact with those experiencing flu-like symptoms, and do not use other people's phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment. For more Centre information about H1N1, click here.
Q. How can I help my student be prepared if the flu does strike?
A. Create a “flu box” for them. Include a thermometer, Ibuprofen, 2 cans of chicken noodle soup, Saltines, Gatorade or ginger ale, throat lozenges, tissues, and $40 in case their roommate or a friend needs to refurbish supplies.
Q. What other services are provided by Parsons Student Health Center?
A. Allergy shots can be given at no charge. Students should bring their vials and dosage sheets when they come to campus or have them sent directly to Parsons Student Health Center.
Medications, diagnostic tests, and vaccinations are available for a reasonable cost. Payment may be made at the time of service or charged to the student's account. If further diagnostic tests are required, these are done at the hospital.
A women's health clinic is offered twice monthly provided by the local health department. Exams, contraceptives, testing for sexually transmitted infections, as well as other services are available. Most of their services are free of charge, but an appointment is necessary.
For students traveling abroad, certain vaccines and/or medications may be recommended or required for a specific country. The accompanying professor will coordinate a travel clinic with Parsons in order for students to obtain the vaccines and medications needed for travel. Students must attend the travel clinic in order to receive these vaccines or medications. For travel advice not related to Centre's study abroad program and for those students not able to attend the travel clinic, we suggest students seek assistance from one of the following: Kentucky Travel Medicine www.kentuckytravelmed.com, University of Kentucky ukhealthcare.uky.edu, or University of Louisville www.uoflhealthcare.org.
Q. If my student is experiencing a mental health problem, what help is available? A. Centre’s Campus Counseling Services includes professional services provided to Centre students to assist them in being productive, successful, and well-adjusted young adults. Counseling Services are provided by two licensed mental health professionals whose offices are located at Parsons Student Health Center. These counselors are available to see students experiencing a wide variety of problems, including general adjustment to college, stress management issues, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, relationship and family issues, eating disorders, sexuality issues, grief/loss issues, and any other issues affecting a student’s ability to be a happy, adjusted, and productive college student. Services include problem assessment, short-term counseling, referral to appropriate outside services such as psychiatric evaluations, education and training, and prevention programs.
Counseling for Centre students is free and not limited to a certain number of sessions. Counseling is confidential, within the scope of the law; and confidentiality is taken very seriously. Counselors are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., and other hours as needed by appointment. Appointments may be made by calling Kathy Miles, Director of Counseling, at (859) 238-5740 during regular office hours, or emailing her at kathy.miles@centre.edu. Students may also call Parsons Student Health Center at (859) 238-5530. Flexible appointment times are available each weekday so that they do not conflict with a student’s class schedule.
For afterhours mental health emergencies, students may call the Director of Counseling’s office number at (859) 238-5740, and the voice mail message will direct them to how to reach a counselor, or they may call the Dept. for Public Safety at (859) 236-4357, who can contact a counselor. In an immediate emergency, 911 may also be called, or a student may simply go to the hospital’s emergency room. Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center’s Behavioral Medicine unit’s number is
(859) 239-4000.
Parsons medical staff members are available to prescribe some mental health medications. Referrals for other medications and psychiatric consults, psychological testing, and inpatient psychiatric hospitalization may be facilitated by the counselors at Parsons. Any off-campus mental health services to students are the financial responsibility of the student and their parents.
Educational information on a variety of mental health and substance abuse topics are available at Parsons. In addition, information is also available in the Wellness Library at www.centre.edu/student_life/wellness_library.html, and on the Parsons Health Website.
Student Health 101 — The Parent Perspective (online newsletter)
