At the Student Health Center, we understand the important role that parents play in their student’s lives. If you’re a parent and your student is ill, we know you want to be there for him or her. While privacy laws limit the information the Student Health Center can share, there are many ways we can partner to ensure your student remains healthy.

As s/he prepares to leave for college, you can begin to make your student an advocate of his or her own health care through a number of actions

• Encourage your student to call and make his or her next medical appointment and obtain general information about the appointment.
• Review the basics of your insurance plan with your student, providing copies of his or her medical, prescription drug, dental, and/or vision insurance cards, discussing any requirements for pre-approval, whether and when to notify the insurance company following hospitalization or emergency room care, and the difference between "in-network" and "out-of-network" care.
• Discuss any seasonal, food, or drug allergies and personal and family medical histories, ensuring that your student can provide the basics to a health care provider.
• Discuss the resources on campus and the services (psychotherapy, eating disorders, chronic medical conditions) that may be provided by a local professional in the community.
• Send your student to college with basic first aid and over the counter medication(s).
• Recommend that your student make an appointment at the Student Health Center as soon as s/he feels sick.
• Encourage your student to contact health center administration before calling home, if s/he is not satisfied with their service.

Working together we can help your student:

• Develop skills to understand and participate in decisions concerning personal health and the care needed or received.
• Acquire knowledge of accessing medical services, the cost of medical care, and the necessity for medical insurance.
• Recognize and engage in healthy behaviors to reduce the risk of illness and injury.

Please feel free to contact us at the Student Health Center at 202-885-3380 if you have any questions or need our help!