Your Campus Clinic

Health Services is open Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM during the academic school year.  During winter, spring and summer break, the clinic is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

To schedule an appointment:

• Call (401)254-3156  OR
• Use online self-scheduling 

RWU Health Services is committed to protecting student's personal health information (PHI) with the strictest confidentiality.  We will not disclose PHI to Dean's, Professors, other University staff, parents, or other parties without a student's consent except in rare circumstances as required by law or in the case of an emergency.  These exceptions include:

• Threat of immediate danger to self or others
• Reportable communicable illnesses, such as meningitis and sexually transmitted infections which constitute public health risks
• When clinicians or health records are subpoenaed by the court in legal cases 

In the event of an emergency situation requiring hospitalization where it is impossible to obtain a student's consent, the parent or legal guardian will be notified by the hospital.

Students can request the release of medical information to outside providers by completing the Authorization for Disclosure of Medical Information

The transition to college is exciting.  You will have great opportunities for learning in and out of the classroom.  Stress is a natural aspect of college and life, and it usually passes.  We can help you get off on the right foot by encouraging you to focus on being well. 

Having a WELLNESS MINDSET will help you navigate your journey through college.  A wellness mindset is based on the belief that taking care of all areas of your wellness will enhance your experience at RWU so that you can feel proud of your achievements and learn from your struggles.

Students who hold a wellness mindset are more motivated and confident to face college with self-awareness, effort, persistence and self-care. Goals take time and effort to turn into habits.  Before arriving at school, try out some wellness habits that will help you succeed academically and personally at RWU.  Here are some suggestions to get you started:

1. Dispel the myth of the college all-nighter.  You can sleep your way to good grades.  Getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night  helps your brain and body rebuild and reset so that you have energy to be fully present in class, concentrate and retain information. 
2. Notice your breathing.  When you start to feel stressed or overwhelmed, pause for a moment to take slow deep breaths and notice how your body feels as your breath moves in and out of your body.
3. Get moving.  Physical activity is one of the best ways to refuel your body with energy and relieve stress. 
4. Plan to be social.  Making new friends takes effort and courage.  Visit RWU website and start looking at all the student clubs, organizations and ways to get involved at RWU.
5. Be okay with not being okay.  You may find that you are feeling many emotions as you plan your transition to RWU.  Remind yourself that it's okay to be nervous, excited, anxious, curious.  The feelings you experience are okay.
6. Practice gratitude.  Thinking about what you are grateful for can increase your sense of well-being and happiness.  At the end of each day, start your gratitude habit by thinking about what you are grateful for.
7. Nourish your body.  Food is fuel that you need to get through the day with energy and cognitive clarity.  Notice how your body feels when you nourish it with nutritious foods.  
8. Think about the choice to drink or not to drink.  Alcohol is a thing in college.  There are students that drink and there are students who choice not to drink.  Think about how you want your college experience to be and how alcohol may or may not fit into your overall goals.

CVS offers same-day delivery of prescription medications using Shipt.  Students must be a member to be eligible for this service.  Visit the Shipt website for information and to become a member. 

Medications are delivered to the Mail Room.  Students are responsible for picking up their medications.

HIV and STI screening

Half of all sexually active people will get an STI (sexually transmitted infection) before age 25.  Most won't know it. So get yourself tested.

You should get tested for HIV at least once a year if:

• You're a sexually active gay or bisexual man.
• You've had sex with an HIV-positive partner.
• You've had more than one partner since your last HIV test.
• You've shared needles to inject drugs.
• You've exchanged sex for drugs or money.
• You have another sexually transmitted disease, hepatitis, or tuberculosis.
• You've had sex with anyone who has done anything listed above or with someone whose sexual history you do not know.

Testing is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Schedule an appointment: Call (401) 254-3156  Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
   1. If you don't have symptoms and just want to get checked out, schedule an STI Screening (no symptoms) appointment with the nurse.
      If you have symptoms, think you've been exposed to an STI, or you are pregnant, schedule an STI Symptoms/Concern appointment with a nurse practitioner.
      If you may have been exposed to an STI, even if you haven't noticed any symptoms, schedule an appointment to talk about possible preventative treatment.
2. Before your appointment: Don't empty your bladder for at least 1 hour before your scheduled appointment time.  Refrain from eating, drinking or brushing your teeth for 20 minutes before HIV testing.
3. Get same day HIV results and other STI test results in 3-4 days. 

How to Protect Yourself from HIV and other STIs.

• Use condoms. Use condoms correctly every time you have sex. 
• Limit your number of sexual partners. The more partners you have, the more likely you are to have a partner with HIV whose HIV is not well controlled or to have a partner with an STI. Both of these factors can increase the risk of HIV transmission.
• Get tested and treated for STIs. Insist that your partners get tested and treated too. Having an STI can increase your risk of becoming infected with HIV or spreading it to others.
• Don't inject drugs.
• Talk to a health care provider about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).  PrEP is an HIV prevention option for individuals who don’t have HIV but who are at high risk of becoming infected with HIV. PrEP involves taking an HIV medicine daily to lower your chance of getting infected.  

Truvada and Descovy are medications approved to significantly reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV infection in individuals at risk.  Daily PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90%. Among people who inject drugs, it reduces the risk by more than 70%. Your risk of getting HIV from sex can be even lower if you combine PrEP with condoms and other safer sex practices.

Prescriptions for Truvada and Descovy are available at Health Services.  Schedule an appointment to discuss if PrEP is right for you.

Students have the opportunity to meet virtually with a registered dietician at a time that is convenient for the student.  Any student interested in discussing food allergies, weight management, or any other food related concerns is encouraged to schedule an appointment.  The service is free and available to all students. 

The appointments are 30 minutes. 

Take advantage of this great opportunity.  Call Health Services at 401-254-3156 to schedule an appointment. 

Rhode Island State Law and the Rhode Island Department of Health require all incoming undergraduate students submit a current immunization record and tuberculosis risk screening questionnaire prior to arriving on campus.

All health forms must be entered electronically and uploaded in the patient portal. Forms will not be accepted by email, fax or mail.

Access health forms

**If Health Services does not receive completed health forms or a student is not compliant with Rhode Island mandated vaccines, a hold will be placed on the student's account and students will not be allowed to attend classes until cleared by Health Services.

Students who for medical or religious reasons decline Rhode Island mandated vaccines, must complete the medical exemption form and/or religious exemption form.  Upload the exemption form in the patient portal under immunization record.