Letter to the Parents

Information about Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA)

Dear Parents,

We would like to say hello and introduce the medical services that we have here at the SUNY Cortland Student Health Service. The Student Health Service is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the academic year. We are located on the ground floor of Van Hoesen Hall, Room B-26. Our staff includes a physician, a physician assistant, two nurse practitioners, three RNs and two secretaries.

Services include diagnosis and treatment of common medical illnesses, care of students with more chronic medical conditions and a wide range of other medical and health education services. Specifically, we want to let you know that we are here to care for each student and to serve his or her needs. In the event of a serious illness or injury after hours, a hospital and urgent care centers are easily accessible. The campus emergency squad and local ambulance service are available if needed.

There are several other issues we would like to bring to your attention. One is health insurance. Full-time undergraduate students are required to carry comprehensive health insurance. The College’s Mandatory Health Fee supports direct health care services and health education on the Cortland campus. It is NOT health insurance and does NOT cover the cost of laboratory studies, x-rays, referral to outside clinicians or medications not provided by the Student Health Service.

Unfortunately, many of our students are discovering their health insurance plans will not provide coverage for routine laboratory studies or medications outside their hometown areas. Parents and students are encouraged to contact their insurance/health providers prior to arrival on campus to understand what type of coverage they have while at SUNY Cortland. For those students who are not covered by a parental plan, SUNY Cortland and the Chickering Group, an Aetna company, are excited to announce the availability of the Student Health Insurance Plan. More information on health insurance can be found on the Student Health Insurance information page.

Another topic to discuss is immunizations. All students are encouraged to receive a yearly influenza vaccination, unless it is medically contra-indicated. Although influenza is generally a self-limiting illness, medical complications can occur. Also, influenza is often severe enough to keep students out of class. This can be disruptive around finals or when papers and projects are due. Please encourage you son or daughter to take advantage of influenza immunization clinics that are generally held on campus each fall.

The meningococcal vaccine is also available at the Student Health Service. Currently the cost is $85. Although meningococcal meningitis is extremely rare, there is evidence that freshman students living in dormitories are at increased risk for this potentially fatal disease. The meningococcal vaccine can reduce this risk. Other more routine immunizations are also available at the Student Health Service.

Confidentiality of medical records is taken very seriously at SUNY Cortland's Student Health Service. As you may know, it is mandated by law that we cannot release any medical information to parents of non-minor children unless that student requests us to do so. We assure you however, that in case of a medical emergency where there is an issue of life or death, we would contact you immediately.

If your son or daughter has a special medical condition, we would like to meet them before problems arise. Please have them make an appointment to see one of our providers and let us get to know them.

We hope that when your son or daughter needs our services they will find them accessible and of high quality; but if there are problems, we encourage you to give us a call and let us know what we can do to improve. Also if you’re in town and would like to take a tour, stop in and we will be happy to show you our facility. Do not hesitate to give us a call if you ever need to communicate with us for any reason.

 

Sincerely,

Devin Coppola, College Physician
Phone: (607) 753-4811
Fax: (607) 753-2486

 

Special thanks and credit to Dr. Robert D. Palinkas, McKinley Health Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Dr. Nancy Sternfeld, SUNY Cortland, for the use of their letters as models.