Medical Services

Who's Eligible for Care?

Student Medical Services provides high quality, confidential, holistic health care services to our diverse student population while minimizing costs. We are committed to maintaining the physical and mental well being of our students to enhance educational experience and overall academic success. Dependents and/or spouses of enrolled students are not eligible for services unless enrolled as a student. Faculty and staff of WTAMU are not eligible for services.

  Services

• Illness, Injury and Preventive Care
• Minor Surgery Under Local Anesthetic
• Lab Services
• X-ray Services
• Mental Health - Screening Brief Intervention and Referral
• Women's Services: contraceptives, ecp,  pregnancy testing, pap smears, gynecological exams, colposcopies, etc.
• Cold Care Packs: decongestants, antihistamines, cough medication and pain relievers, free, no appointment necessary
• Immunizations and Injections
• Medical Equipment: splints, medical boots, crutches, etc. - loan or purchase.  Thermometers - $1 each.
• Class D Pharmacy offering approximately 40 generic medications
• Patient Assistance Programs -  A program that can assist the uninsured and low income patients obtain free or low-cost routine medications. (birth control not included) .
• CPR/AED Classes - Offered to students, faculty and staff.  $3 for a replacement card
• BLS (Basic Life Support) AED Classes - $10 fee - faculty, staff and students.   (Nursing major students must check with the Nursing Department prior to scheduling with Student Medical Services).
• First Aid Classes- free to students, faculty and staff.

Required Immunizations

Meningitis Vaccine: (Offered at WTAMU Student Medical Services  during New Student Orientations and Transfer Student Orientations to new and returning students.)

Texas law requires all students entering an institution of higher education (public and private) to either receive a vaccination against bacterial meningitis or meet certain criteria for declining such a vaccination. This law also requires that the meningitis vaccination occurs within a five-year period before the student arrives at school.

This applies to all new incoming students, under the age of 22, regardless of living on or off campus or any student,  that sits out a long semester. 

For more information on the meningitis vaccine requirements and forms:  www.wtamu.edu/meningitis

Appointment Hours

Fall and Spring

Summer I and II

The center is open only when school is in session and is closed during Intercession, weekends and WTAMU holidays.  The front desk will be open Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. for administrative purposes.  

Appointments

Call 806-651-3287 (806-651-DCTR) or schedule an appointment online.   Appointments are required and we make every effort to work around class and work schedules. Students must be currently enrolled and present their Buffalo Gold Card. If you are unable to keep an appointment, please contact Medical Services so another student may be scheduled. 

No Shows

As a patient of Student Medical Services, it will be your responsibility to keep scheduled appointments.  The clinic will consider a no show/non-cancellation appointment at any time a patient has not given advanced notice within 1 hour of the appointment time or has failed to arrive within 5 minutes of their appointment time.   All no show appointments are charged a $10  non-cancellation fee per occurrence.  No walk-ins -- appointment required.

Be sure to bring your Buffalo Gold Card and your insurance card with you to every appointment  to your appointment!  You will need your Buffalo Gold card to enter the building.

Emergencies

For emergencies, call 911.  Emergency and after hour care is available through local physicians, clinics and hospitals.  Students with severe injuries or life threatening situations should go directly to the hospital or an emergency center for treatment. We are not an emergency center and do not provide assessments for worker's compensation cases.

Payment

The $41.80 student health fee, paid upon enrollment, covers the cost of most office visits, however, there may be charges for diagnostic tests, injections and some procedures. Patients are encouraged to pay at the time of service.  Patients who do not pay within 14 days will incur a $2 processing fee and a hold on academic records.  Statements will be mailed approximately 14 days after the date of service.  The statement  will include the $2 processing fee.   Medical Services accepts cash, check, Buffalo Gold Card, Visa, Master Card, American Express or Discover. The student health fee does not cover referrals or emergency care at any other facility.  Any unpaid balance not paid within a 90 day period or  by the close of the semester is subject to collection fees assed by an outside agency.

Insurance

West Texas A&M University Student Medical Services is excited to announce that our facility will begin billing the student’s health insurance plans in the Fall 2014 semester.    WTAMU Student Medical Services will utilize a third party billing company.  The student health fee which is paid by the student with each semester’s academic charges will cover the co-payment. Students may opt to have their primary insurance company billed for services (lab tests, x-rays, medical procedures, medications, etc.) or they may choose to self- pay.  This service will be specifically for fees incurred within Student Medical Services.  Please bring in your insurance card to be scanned.  If you would like to  e-mail a PDF copy of health insurance cards to medical@wtamu.edu or fax   806-651-3287.  Please be sure that the copy of the insurance card is legible and includes a the name of the student and the student's Buffalo Gold Card number. 

 
The Texas A&M University System Student Insurance Plan 2014-2015  - BlueCross BlueShield of Texas,  Academic Health Plans

 To enroll in this option plan or for more information about the student health insurance plans please go to the following Texas A&M University Insurance website West Texas A&M University Student Health Insurance Webpage www.academichealthplans.com/wtamu/

Patient Assistance Programs

There are patient assistance programs that can provide financial assistance for routine/maintenance prescription medications (this does not include contraceptives)  to patients that are uninsured and qualify as low income.  Please schedule an appointment with the Patient Advocate - Hayley Robinson, RN.   (previous tax returns and proof of income are required)

The Texas Vaccine for Children Program provides financial assistance for the meningitis vaccine and the HPV - Gardasil vaccine  to students who are 18 or younger and are uninsured,.  The price of these vaccines are $10 to those who qualify for the TVFC Program.

Cold Care Packs:  Free to currently enrolled students.  The cold care packs contains:  decongestants, antihistamines, cough medication and pain relievers/fever reducer,  no appointment necessary. 

Sick Notes

The medical staff will write an excuse note for class or work if the student was ill or injured and only if our providers were involved in the medical care of the student. Please note: Our medical providers cannot write excuse notes for illnesses or problems for which we never provided care. Unless specifically requested to do so by the patient, we do NOT place a diagnosis on an excuse note. A patient's medical condition is his/her own private and confidential information. Your instructors and employers have no right to obtain your diagnosis unless you personally choose to share it with them. Furthermore, we do not release information about your medical and/or psychological condition to the University administrators, instructors, parents (unless you are a minor) or employers without your specific request and release.

Staff