HARVARD UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES (HUHS)

The main HUHS clinic is located at 75 Mt. Auburn Street (Holyoke Center). For those affiliated with the Business, Law, or Medical Schools, HUHS clinics are located in those schools: Business School (Cumnock Hall, 617-495-6455); Law School (basement of Pound Hall, 617-495-4414); Medical Area (275 Longwood Avenue, 617-432-1370). Please call the relevant clinic for hours. You may choose a Primary Care Clinician located at one of these clinics.

A detailed description of HUHS services, clinicians, and facilities is provided in the Guide to the University Health Services available at the first floor reception desk of the Holyoke Center HUHS. The information presented here will give a brief overview of the services provided at UHS, information on how to make an appointment and discuss health issues with a doctor or nurse, what to expect when you visit the clinic, and how to deal with medications.

EMERGENCY CARE
The Acute Treatment Area (third floor of HUHS, 75 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge) is open weekdays from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM and should be used for medical problems requiring immediate attention. For emergencies at night or on weekends and holidays, urgent care is available at HUHS on the fifth floor. For an appointment with a Primary Care Clinician, call 617-495-5711 during regular office hours. Based on your needs, you will be given either a rapid access 15 minute appointment available within one day or a regular 30 minute appointment for which there is usually a longer wait. The After-Hours Urgent Care Clinic on the fifth floor of HUHS (75 Mt. Auburn Street, 617-495 5711) is open for urgent health care whenever the main clinic is closed, including weekends and holidays. Access is through the basement entrance, midway down the ramp which runs underneath Holyoke Center between Holyoke and Dunster Streets. A physician and one or more nurses are on duty; other physicians and technicians are on call.

PRIMARY CARE TEAMS
Choosing a Primary Care Clinician is the first step in using the services at HUHS to maintain your health. You will receive better and more consistent care if you have a personal physician or nurse practitioner who knows you and your health history well and is aware of any previous illnesses or problems you have had. Having a Primary Care Clinician also gives you direct and efficient access to your personal clinician when problems arise.

A listing of Primary Care Clinicians at UHS with biographical information is available at the first floor reception desk at HUHS. Select your personal clinician based on this information or with the advice of friends and colleagues. Each family member covered by HUHS student and affiliate health insurance should have a personal clinician. It is always possible to change your personal clinician if you choose.

The relationship between you and your HUHS clinician is confidential. No one can access information about your medical and mental heath without your written permission.

To facilitate medical and preventive care, HUHS clinicians (physicians and nurse practitioners) work together as teams. Once you have a primary care physician or nurse practitioner at UHS, you may call him or her directly when you want telephone advice or need to arrange an appointment. When your personal clinician is unavailable, another member of his or her team will be available to provide for your needs.

Nurse practitioners (RNC) are registered nurses with bachelors' degrees and additional education, training, and certification. This advanced education and experience qualifies them to evaluate, diagnose, and treat many common conditions. Nurse practitioners work closely with physicians at UHS to provide consistent health care. They may be selected as Primary Care Clinicians and may be seen by appointment for advice, care, and treatment. If your personal physician is not available you may be seen by an RNC.

APPOINTMENTS
Call your Primary Care Clinician for appointments or advice about health problems, including urgent ones. If you do not yet have a Primary Care Clinician, call HUHS and the receptionist will assist you in getting an appointment. Be prepared to explain your question or problem to the support staff (at the reception desk or on the phone). Let them know if you have any special requests, such as preferring a male or female clinician, schedule conflicts, or language translation needs. The nature of your health problem or illness determines how quickly your appointment will be scheduled, the length of time you will spend with a clinician, and the type of care or treatment you will receive.

Plan ahead for routine medical care (physical exams, medications, gynecological exams). It may take several weeks to schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor or nurse practitioner for routine exams or care. If you are feeling sick or have a problem that interferes with your studies or research (such as urinary tract problems, rashes, upset stomach, flu) call your clinician directly. He or she will return your call as soon as possible. A 15-minute appointment may be arranged for problems that need prompt attention. If you have an acute problem requiring immediate attention (such as chest pain, trauma, broken bones, severe bleeding) you should go to the Acute Treatment Area. Do not ever delay treatment. Call or go directly to the clinic if you feel that your problem is serious. If you need assistance when the clinic is closed, after hours emergency care is available on the fifth floor of the UHS all night from 5:30 PM until 8 AM weekdays, and 24 hours a day on weekends and holidays (617-495-5711). If the emergency line is malfunctioning, phone the University Police Immediately at 617-495-1212.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Center for Wellness & Health Communication at UHS provides information on a wide range of health issues in their resource room. Brochures and handouts are available on a walk-in basis. Video viewing, use of the computer terminal, and interactive software programs to retrieve health information or assess health risk may be arranged by appointment by calling 617-495-9629. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is located on the 2nd floor of HUHS.

If you have questions or need more information about HUHS insurance coverage, call 617-495-2008. If you have problems or concerns about your care at UHS, call Patient Advocate at 617-495-7583. She is available to talk with you about any problems you encounter while using UHS. For questions about UHS services or other health matters contact the Center for Wellness and Health Communication at 617-495-9629.

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD PPO (BCBS PPO)
BCBS PPO insurance covers costs for care that cannot be provided by HUHS. The BCBC PPO Plan for Students and Affiliates is designed to complement the UHS portion of health coverage and has very specific rules and benefits. Except in cases of emergencies, BCBS PPO will pay only the costs incurred for covered services that were recommended by an HUHS physician. There will be a co-payment of $10 for in-network office visits (outside of HUHS). Benefits include:

• Hospital charges: semi-private room, meals, and special services such as use of operating room and equipment, X-rays, laboratory tests, drugs, and intensive care services.
• Physician's charges: surgical and medical (while you are in the hospital), consultations (during a hospital stay), emergency admission services, and anesthesia service.
• Outpatient care: (services performed away from UHS and not requiring hospitalization). Coverage is limited and includes only emergency care, surgery (any medically necessary procedure which involves use of anesthesia and cutting of tissue), suturing (sewing up of wounds), radiation therapy, referred consultations, some ambulance charges, X-rays, and certain specialized tests.
• Mental health benefits: hospital benefits are approximately the same as for physical illnesses, outpatient benefits are limited to $500 per year.
• Dental: in a hospital certain procedures are covered; on an outpatient basis, only treatment for an accident is covered.
• Maternity benefits: hospital room and meals, special services, nursery services, physician's services, anesthesia, services for miscarriage, prenatal visits, and one postnatal visit.

For further details please consult the booklet Harvard University Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan which is available from the Student Insurance Office on the first floor of the UHS (617-495-2008).

PREGNANCY
For those enrolled in the Student and Affiliate Health Plan, obstetrical care may be obtained through the Brigham and Women's Obstetrics/Gynecology Group Practice, or from any other participating Blue Cross/Blue Shield obstetrician or midwife. If you are going to use the Group Practice you must get a referral from your HUHS health care provider. If you would like information about midwives in the area, contact Mary Tinkham (617-496-2815). For those women whose pregnancy is not covered by an insurance plan, Mary Tinkham also has some information on the choices possible for prenatal and obstetrical care.

DENTAL CARE
Routine dental care is not included in the student and affiliate plan. Dental care is available at the Dental Service at HUHS on a fee-for service basis. The use of dental clinics associated with dental schools is a money-saving way to receive good dental care. Call ahead for an appointment. Depending on the level of education of the practitioner, the costs at these clinics are usually less expensive than private dentists. Private dentists are listed in the yellow pages of the telephone directory under Dentists.