Primary Care
At Student Health Services, we pride ourselves on being your primary care provider away from home.
- Primary Care Services
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- Evaluation and management of acute illnesses and injuries
- Diagnosis and management of chronic medical conditions
- Diagnosis and treatment of dermatologic complaints
- Preventive care, including age-appropriate screening
- History and physical examinations, including form completion
- Evaluation and management of uncomplicated anxiety and depression
- Pre-travel health assessments
- Destination-specific counseling, recommended vaccines and medications
- Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases
- PrEP
- Gender-Affirming Care, including initiation and continuation of gender-affirming hormone therapy
- Laboratory Services
- Onsite point-of-care testing
- Phlebotomy
- Laboratory testing provided by Quest Diagnostics
- Telemedicine for University students in Pennsylvania
Gynecologic Care
- Gynecologic Services
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- Routine gynecologic exams
- Screening for cervical cancer
- STD testing
- Pregnancy testing, counseling, and referral
- Evaluation and management of breast complaints
- Evaluation and management of menstrual irregularities
- Contraceptive counseling, management, and prescribing
- Insertion, placement, and removal of IUDs and implants
- Contraceptive Counseling and Prescribing
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Non-Hormonal Methods:
- Abstinence
- Barrier Methods
- Spermicide
- IUD Insertions
Hormonal Methods:
- The Shot (Depo-Provera)
- Nexplanon Implant
- Hormonal Intrauterine Devices (Mirena, Kyleena, Skyla)
- Contraceptive birth control pills
- Contraceptive patch
- Contraceptive ring
Allergy Injections
Student Health Services administers allergy injections to students who are under the care of an allergist.
- Scheduling
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- Allergy injections are administered by a registered nurse Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Appointments are 30 minutes and students are required to stay a minimum of 20 minutes after their allergy injection for observation.
- To schedule an initial appointment, please call the Front Desk at (412) 383-1800.
- Follow-up appointments may be scheduled either by calling the Front Desk, in-person, or online through the Student Health Patient Portal.
- Initial Appointment
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- Allergy serum, along with Allergy Injection Instructions from the allergist, may be delivered by the patient/parent/guardian or shipped overnight via UPS or FedEx.
- The Student Health Services Allergy Agreement must be agreed to and signed prior to any allergy injections being administered.
Psychiatry Services
Psychiatry services are available to University students.
- Initial Appointment
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To initiate the process of scheduling an appointment, please call Student Health Services at (412) 383-1800.
Initial appointments are typically an hour long and can be done either in-person or virtually.
Prior to your appointment, you will be asked to complete a series of questionnaires. In addition:- If you are currently on psychiatric medication, please ask your current provider to fax records to our office at (412) 383-1820.
- If you have participated in an intensive outpatient program (IOP), partial hospitalization program (PHP), or have been admitted to a hospital psychiatric unit, please call the facility where you received care and ask them to fax treatment records to our office at (412) 383-1820.
- If you have been treated for ADHD, please refer to our ADHD policy regarding treatment and stimulant medications.
- If you have had ADHD testing, please upload your report through the Student Health Patient Portal, fax it to (412) 383-1820, or bring a copy with you to your appointment.
- You may be asked to sign an authorization for release of information so your psychiatric provider can communicate with your therapist.
- ADHD Treatment Policy
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Students may receive treatment for ADHD through University of Pittsburgh Student Health Services (SHS) if they have met certain requirements. SHS provides ADHD evaluation and treatment for students with previously diagnosed ADHD and/or neuropsychiatric testing. It is our goal to treat students appropriately and prevent/reduce misuse/abuse of stimulant medications on our campus.
Students are asked to provide the following documentation prior to scheduling an appointment for ADHD:- Documentation of prior evaluation, neuropsychiatric testing results, and/or medical records from an outside Clinician. The documentation should be current and include information supporting an ADHD diagnosis, diagnostic test results, treatment summary with prior medication trials, and current medication(s).
- Student Self Questionnaire
- Adult Observer Questionnaire should be filled out by an adult who knows the student currently (e.g., roommate, partner, family member, or close friend). This adult will complete the form as evidence of current impairment in two or more settings.
- Consent to release information between SHS Clinician, outside Clinician, and parent/other adult (roommate, partner, family member, close friend) who filled out the Adult Observer Questionnaire.
The required documents listed above can be faxed to (412) 383-1820, dropped off at the Wellness Center’s Front Desk, or uploaded directly through the Student Health Patient Portal.
Upon receipt, the student will be scheduled for a comprehensive diagnostic interview to review the evidence for ADHD and rule out other diagnoses that may impair concentration and focus, including learning disorders, anxiety, depression, substance use, thyroid problems, anemia, and sleep deprivation. There is no guarantee a student will be prescribed medication.
If the student is diagnosed with ADHD, treatment options will be discussed with the student in detail, since most patients with ADHD benefit from a multimodal treatment approach, including psychoeducation, skills training, coaching, and individual and/or group therapy for comorbid diagnoses.
If there is a concern with the presentation of symptoms and/or a need to rule out other possible diagnoses, students may be referred to off-campus diagnostic centers for further assessment. Neuropsychiatric testing is currently not offered through Student Health Services and must be completed at an outside facility.
If placed on scheduled medications, students will be required to sign a controlled substance agreement form. SHS does not prescribe refills on medications before completing the assessment process; therefore, we ask students to continue to receive medication(s) from their outside Clinician until care is established at SHS. Standard treatment regimens for ADHD include the use of a long-acting stimulant medication. Student Health Services will not continue medication regimens of only short-acting stimulants.
Caring for Survivors of Sexual Assault
Student Health Services provides confidential and compassionate medical care to all University students who have been sexually assaulted.
- Services Include
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- Testing (STI, pregnancy)
- Treatment (STI, provision of emergency contraception, injury)
- Immunizations (Hepatitis B, HPV)
- Provision of campus and community resources: Student Health Services collaborates with campus and community partners, including the University of Pittsburgh Police Department, Title IX Office, University Counseling Center, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape, and Student Affairs.
- Follow-up care
- Confidentiality
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Clinical staff are considered confidential employees of the University of Pittsburgh. They are required to submit reports of sexual misconduct under the Clery Act, without disclosing personal information or identity.
- Medical Forensic Care
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Student Health Services does not perform rape kits for collection of evidence and thus refers patients to UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital. Magee is staffed with Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE), who have completed specialized education and clinical preparation in the medical forensic care of patients who have experienced sexual assault.
Registered Dietitian
The Registered Dietitian is available for initial and follow-up appointments. The service is free of charge and the Dietitian applies Medical Nutrition Therapy, using a non-diet approach to nutrition and health. In addition, the Dietitian provides education, skills, and support according to each client’s individual needs and preferences to help them reach their health and wellness goals. To schedule an initial assessment (45 minutes), please contact the Front Desk at 412.383.1800. Self-schedule follow-up appointments (25 minutes) through Student Health’s Patient Portal.