Physical Health

Most of the following medical services are included in the students’ health insurance plan. Those services not covered are provided at a very small fee.
 

First Aid
First Aid refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after an injury or illness occurs or soon thereafter. It often consists of a one-time, short term treatment and usually requires minimal intervention.

At the Student Health Services Clinic, first aid care can include:

• cleaning of minor cuts, scrapes or scratches
• treatment of minor burns
• application of bandages or dressings as well as treatment of boils/abscesses
• use of non-prescriptive medicine
• draining of blisters; and
• relief of heat stress by drinking fluids.

Health care providers at SHS Clinic have specific knowledge and skills (i.e. what to do for each type of injury or illness) and the ability to assess a situation and make appropriate decisions for possible referrals or the need to call for emergency medical assistance.

Physical Examinations
A physical examination is an evaluation of the body and its functions using inspection, palpation (feeling with the hands), percussion (tapping with the fingers), and auscultation (listening). A complete health assessment also includes gathering of information about medical history and lifestyle, doing laboratory tests, and/or screening for diseases.

A comprehensive physical examination by the SHS Clinic health care provider provides an opportunity to obtain baseline information It also provides an opportunity to answer questions and teach good health care practices.

http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/specialtopic/influenza-vaccine/overview.html (Flu)

Immunizations
At the SHS Clinic health care the provider offers vaccines to prevent diseases.Vaccines offered at the SHS Clinic help to control many infectious diseases that were once common

Those provided at the SHS Clinic include:

• Flu vaccine
• Diphtheria/tetanus
• Mumps, Measles and Rubella
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Meningitis
• Tuberculosis testing (PPD)
• Varicella

Referral to County Health Department for other vaccine that maybe required for out of USA

www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/meningitis.html (Meningitis)
www.cdc.gov/tb/ (Tuberculosis)
www.cdc.gov/Features/ViralHepatitis/ (Hepatitis A, B, C)

Other tests provided at SHS Clinic:

• Pregnancy
• Hepatitis titers for Hepatitis B and C
• HIV
• All sexually transmitted diseases (STD):
• Bacterial Vaginosis
• Candidiasis
• Chancroid
• Chlamydia
• Genital warts
• Gonorrhea
• Herpes
• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• Syphilis
• Trichomonas

www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/ (HIV)
www.cdc.gov/std/ (Sexually transmitted diseases)

Breast Examinations/Teaching Breast Self-Examination (BSE)
A clinical breast examination (CBE) is a physical examination of the breast done by the health care providersClinical breast examinations are used to check women and men for breast cancer as well as to check for other breast problems. However, an annual mammogram and/or a sonogram is recommended for women for a full assessment of breast cancer. A sonogram is recommended for younger women whose breast density might prevent an accurate result with the use of mammography.
A clinical breast examination may be part of your regular checkup. The SHS Clinic recommends that female students’ examination be 1-2 weeks after their menstrual period so that breasts are less likely to be tender at this time of your exam. Students will be asked questions about any problems they may have, their medical history and their risk factors for breast cancer. At the time of clinical breast examination at the SHS clinic, students will be taught how to do breast self examinations (SBE) for monthly checks at home.

Top Risk Factors for Breast Cancer:

• Female, although men have been diagnosed with breast cancer as well
• Personal history of breast cancer
• Family history-increases if the mother, sister, daughter, or two or more other close relatives such as cousins especially diagnosed before age of 50

Breast changes http://www.coolnurse.com/breast_exams.htm (Breast examinations) http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/types/breast (Breast cancer)
http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/self_exam/bse_steps.jsp

Testicular Examinations/Teaching of Testicular Self-Examination
A testicular examination includes a complete physical examination of the groin and genital organs (penis, scrotum and testiclesTesticular examination can deterct if there is a presence  of lumps, swelling, shrinking or other visual signs of an abnormality.  A genital exam is especially important if there is any pain, swelling, or discharge from the penis.

Regular testicular examination is recommended for men between the ages of 15 and 40 to detect testicular cancer in its early stages. Testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in men younger than age 35. Testicular cancer found early and treated promptly has a high cure rate. At the SHS Clinic the health care provider will also teach you how to do a testicular self-examination (TSE). Many testicular cancers are first discovered by self-examination as a painless lump or an enlarged testicle.

www.questdiagnostic.com/kbase/topic/medtest/hw234856/descrip.htm (testicular examinations)

GYN examinations and Pap Smears
The GYN (pelvic) examination is an important component of preventive health care for women. It is essential for early detection and, therefore, better management of genital cancer, infections, sexually transmitted diseases or other abnormalities. It also helps with maintaining good reproductive health.

When a female student schedules her first GYN examination she is encouraged to meet with the SHS Clinic health care provider before the examination for a consult on what to expect with this type of examination. The SHS Clinic health care provider is here to provide information that will help decrease the sense of embarrassment that may be felt with this type of examination.

Prior to the examination, your health care provider will ask for information concerning your medical history, menstrual, sexual and contraceptive history. The pelvic examination provides an opportunity to talk with your health care provider about safer sex and/or birth control methods. If you are not sexually active, this is an opportunity for you to become well-informed before having to make decisions. If birth control is your primary concern, a contraceptive program will be tailored to meet your needs. If you are concerned about sexually transmitted diseases or other issues, you can discuss your concerns with your provider.

Pap (Papanicolaou) Smears
A Pap smear is done to check for abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix (lower opening of the uterus). A Pap smear can detect cervical cancer early, while it is still curable. Pap smears are usually recommended 3 years after first time intercourse or by age 21, whichever comes first.

Abnormal Pap Smears
Abnormal Pap smears or dysplasias are terms that have been used to describe abnormal cells seen in a Pap smear that may be precancerous. If this occurs further testing maybe needed through additional Pap smears, colposcopy (special instrument to look at cervix), biopsy or specific STD screening may be necessary to accurately diagnose and properly treat the condition.

http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/papsmears/a/pap101smears.htm (Gyn Pap smear)

Family Planning
Family planning enables couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly on the number of children they want to have and spacing of their children, and to have the information and means to do so. It also means that you will have ongoing availability of a full range of safe and effective contraceptive methods that enable you to take action according to these decisions.

At the SHS Clinic, we believe that it is important that these decisions be made not only freely but also with full information Informed choice is a voluntary, well-considered decision that you make on the basis of options, information and understanding.

long with informed choices comes informed consent, which is the result of communication between you and your health care provider. This enables you to make an informed and voluntary choice to use or receive a birth control method. Informed consent can only be obtained after you have been given full information about the nature of the birth control method, its associated risks and benefits, as well as other alternatives.

http://yellowpages.brownsvilleherald.com/Family+Planning+Services.q.html (Family Planning Clinics)

Over-the-Counter Medications
Over-the-counter medications (OTC) are drugs you can buy without a prescription. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration decides whether a medicine is safe enough to sell over-the-counter. Taking these OTC medicines still has risks. Some interact with other medicines, supplements, foods or drinks. When it comes to medicines, more does not necessarily mean better. You should never take OTC medicines longer or in higher doses than the label recommends.

When you visit the SHS Clinic you are encouraged to inform the staff and health care provider of any OTC medicines you may be currently on or any home remedies you might be taking. If a prescription medication is warranted for your diagnosis we want to be sure that there will not be an adverse reaction between your prescribed medication and the ones you are taking.

Prescribed Medications
These are medicines that are prescribed for certain diagnosis on your visit to the SHS Clinic. It is important that you inform your health care provider of other prescribed medicines or home remedies you maybe on as well as OTCs.

When you are prescribed medicines, here are some important tips on how to use your medicines safely:

• Do not use other people’s prescription medicine and do not share your prescription medicines, with other people.

• Use your prescription medicine as directed. For example, be sure to complete all antibiotics for the length of time, dosage, and frequency instructed. If you do not, they will not be effective against the organism the medication has been prescribed for, and they could make that organism resistant to the type of antibiotic you are on.

• Use the medicine dose listed on the label. Do not use more. Also use at the time indicated and stay consistent. Most medications need to be at a certain level in your blood stream in order to be effective.

• Do not combine medicines that are prescribed with other OTCs or prescribed medicines unless discussed with your health care provider.

• If you experience any side effects, please come back to see practitioner to be evaluated.

• Medication for mental health problems usually take time to be felt. Ask the practitioner about it. If you experience any side effects after taking the medications, come back to see the psychiatrist for reevaluation.

• Remember – Do not use alcohol or drugs while taking medications.