FAQs

The Loyola Wellness Center does not accept walk-ins as we want to avoid long wait times in the clinic. Instead, please call Dial-A-Nurse at 773-508-8883 to make an appointment, and the nurse will schedule you at the next available time that works with your schedule. You may also schedule a web-based appointment through Open Communicator.

No, Dial-a-Nurse is primarily for medical appointments or if you are unsure what services you need.

For mental health appointments, please call 773.508.2530 to book your initial phone consultation. Please see Appointments/First Steps for more information.

Staff physicians are available to see students on an appointment basis. Call Dial-A-Nurse at 773.508.8883 and a registered nurse will advise you on the urgency of your condition and recommend the appropriate level of care. The RN can assist you in scheduling an appointment.

Illinois law requires students to provide proof of immunization against measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus to the university. For more information, visit Immunizations.

Sign into your Locus account. There is a link for immunizations where you can check if you are compliant with the State of Illinois law.

Yes. Students who wish to receive a copy of their medical records must complete an Authorization for Release of Confidential Information form. Requests will be fulfilled within five to seven business days. Please read the release closely and be careful of what you do with your records. The information is very personal.  Copies of immunization records may be printed from Locus at any time.

NO, all Wellness Center visits are confidential. Loyola does not offer parents access to student medical records, if you are 18 years or older, due to HIPPA regulations. Also, there is no such release form that can be kept on file that enables your parent(s) knowledge of Wellness Center visits. If you want a provider to speak with your parent(s), we will get permission at that time.

All current students are able to access the Wellness Center's services regardless of your insurance plan. Your tuition already covers the fee for your appointment. The Wellness Center does not take insurance or bill insurance.

Please note: fees are charged for certain lab tests and immunizations.

There are a number of ways to obtain the information you want on a variety of health topics. Visit the Health Topics Guide link on our website, or call Dial-a-nurse at 773.508.8883 to speak with a nurse.

The Wellness Center does not have a pharmacy. You may have your prescription filled at the local pharmacy of your choice.

The Wellness Center offers confidential testing for common sexually transmitted infections (STI), including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, human papillomavirus, herpes simplex virus, hepatitis, and HIV. A lab fee is charged for these tests. For more information, call Dial-A-Nurse at 773-508-8883.

The Wellness Center offer free, anonymous HIV testing every 3rd Thursday of the month from 3-6pm.  This service is provided by Asian Human Services on a first come, first served basis.  You may not make an appointment and must stay at the Wellness Center while waiting to be seen. 

Learn more information on STI testing in the community.

Yes. The exam includes four main components, including a pelvic exam, Pap smear test (recommended for women age 21 and older), chlamydia test, and a breast exam. A nurse practitioner or gynecologist will perform the examination. An appointment is necessary.

Results from lab tests are usually available in one to three days, although some tests, such as Pap smears, can take up to three weeks to process. If a test result is positive (abnormal) a registered nurse will call you. If the results are negative (normal) you will receive notification by secure e-mail.

We are sorry to hear that you were ill and hope that you take advantage of the Wellness Center when you need care.  However, we do not provide medical excuse forms. 

Each of your professors have his or her own attendance policies.  If you are absent due to an illness, you should talk to your professor about how you might catch up with the material you missed.  If you are seriously ill and require hospitalization or an extended absence, talk to your professors and/or the Dean of Students Office to decide how to deal with the interruption in your studies. 

In keeping with the Catholic beliefs about family planning that are espoused by Loyola University Chicago, the Wellness Center does not provide oral contraceptives or other devices for the purpose of preventing pregnancy. Oral contraceptives are prescribed only for medical reasons other than birth control.

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses who assess and manage both medical and nursing problems. Their practice emphasizes health promotion and maintenance, disease prevention, and the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic diseases. This includes taking histories, conducting physical examinations, ordering, performing and interpreting appropriate diagnostic and laboratory tests, prescription of pharmacological agents, treatments and nonpharmacological therapies for the management of the conditions that they diagnose. The nurse practitioner serves as a primary care provider and consultant for individuals, families and communities in a variety of ambulatory and inpatient settings.

As of May 2020, allergy shot services at the Wellness Center have been suspended indefinitely due to COVID-19. To minimize exposure and protect students, we are not offering allergy shots until further notice. Please see Allergy and Asthma Referrals if you need allergist services in the Chicago area, or call Dial-a-nurse at 773-508-8883 if you have further questions. Note: Some offices may be closed due to COVID-19, so please call to schedule. 

No, dental services are not provided.

Loyola students are able to visit the Wellness Center for medical and mental health appointments at no cost. We do not bill insurance. However, additional services provided at your visit (lab tests, allergy shots, etc.), will incur a fee but your provider will let you know about those costs. See here for a or visit Eligibility and Fees for more information.

No, the Wellness Center utilizes a brief treatment model for medical and mental health care.

For counseling appointments, please call 773.508.8883 to schedule your initial phone intake appointment. After that appointment, a Wellness Center therapist will either help you schedule an in-person appointment or provide you with referrals to a community provider depending on your needs. The Wellness Center has a Care Manager on staff, Ashley Edelstein, who is available to help students navigate the process of finding a therapist in the community.