Boettcher Health Center
Boettcher Health Center has been awarded full accreditation by the Association of Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. The mission of the Health Center is to foster an environment that supports the educational mission of Colorado College by providing students with urgent medical and mental health care for acute illnesses, health and wellness education to prevent future illnesses, and epidemic control to protect the entire college community. Boettcher Health Center strives to promote in students responsibility for their health care, create informed medical consumers, and remove any physical and mental health related barriers to the academic and extra-curricular success of each student.
Boettcher staff sees patients on a first-come, first-served basis and by appointment, depending on the nature of the illness or injury. A physician, physician assistant, and adult nurse practitioner provide approximately 60 hours of clinic coverage each week. A registered nurse, who can also treat many illnesses and injuries, is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the regular academic year. A women’s health nurse practitioner is available by appointment for gynecological care. Infirmary overnight care is available for students who are ill or recuperating from surgery. All currently enrolled students are welcome and encouraged to use the health center, regardless of what type of insurance they have. Students enrolled in the student insurance plan have the benefit of most services provided by BHC being covered 100 percent. Students who do not have student insurance will be charged a fee for visits to the nurse, physician, physician assistant, gynecological nurse practitioner, and counselor. Discounted fees apply for labs, well physicals, and some special services. Fees not paid for at the time of service may be charged to a student’s account. No student will be denied care because of financial hardship. Financial assistance for medical treatment may be requested through the student life office.
Confidentiality and Consent for Treatment
All medical records are confidential by law, unless students give us their written permission to release records to their parents or other medical providers at the time of treatment. We notify parents only in cases of a life-threatening emergency. According to Colorado state law, individuals who are at least 18 years old or married have the right to authorize their own medical treatment without their parents’ consent. If a student should require ambulance transport and/or hospitalization and is unable to give his or her verbal consent for treatment, the medical staff at Boettcher Health Center will, by virtue of their enrollment at Colorado College, have their implied consent to direct their treatment and to inform their parent(s)/guardian and the college administrator on emergency call duty of their medical situation.
Counseling Center
Boettcher’s Counseling Center is a confidential environment where students can receive psychological consultation, short-term counseling, and information on a variety of mental health issues. One of the members of the counseling staff is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the academic year. The first counseling session is free unless referred for conduct reasons, and there is a fee charged for each subsequent visit. Our consulting psychiatrist can work with students to manage any medications that might be necessary. We are happy to provide referrals to off-campus resources and discuss options for alternative treatments. If the situation requires urgent care, the Boettcher staff can make special emergency arrangements.
Emergencies
Hospital emergency rooms should only be used for life-threatening situations or if special treatment is needed. In case of a serious emergency, students should call an ambulance to take them to a local hospital. It will be students’ responsibility to pay for the cost of ambulance transportation.
For urgent care, students can ask other students, residence hall staff, or a campus safety officer to bring them to Boettcher Health Center. Though campus safety officers can assist students getting to Boettcher Health Center, safety officers are not paramedics, EMTs, or first-aid specialists and cannot accept responsibility for medical care during transport.
Student Health Insurance
The college requires all degree-seeking students to have health insurance. An enrollment/waiver card must be signed each academic year and proof of insurance provided if you have coverage under a family plan. Colorado College partners with United Healthcare Student Resources, underwritten by United Healthcare, to provide a competitive student health insurance plan designed specifically for college students. Coverage extends to all college programs, including those off campus, and all college vacation periods. The insurance pays for all covered services at Boettcher as well as in-network community providers beyond the co-pay amount. For a full description of the new plan benefits see the “Student Health Insurance Program” (SHIP) brochure mailed to each student’s home every summer, or pick up a copy at the health center.available at the Health Center or online at: www.uhcsr.com and go to “Find my School’s Plan”.
