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Frequently Asked Questions: Health Center COVID-19 Response

Can I walk into the Whitworth Student Health Center to be seen if I am sick?

In order to protect your health and safety, our services will be available by appointment only. Please call in advance to schedule an appointment, as walk-in services will not be available. Telehealth and in-person appointment options will be offered. The nurse or nurse practitioner will use their clinical discretion to determine what type of visit is most appropriate for the student seeking care. Each person entering Schumacher Hall will undergo temperature and symptom/exposure screening.

I am a student who is not on campus and would still like to speak to a nurse or nurse practitioner; is this possible?

Yes. Please call the Whitworth Health Center at 509.777.3259, or contact us via email at healthcenter@whitworth.edu to set up a time for a phone call. (Please do not communicate any personal medical or health information via email, as it is not a secure form of communication.) We are able to provide telephonic and telehealth services to students who are currently residing in Washington state. For a medical concern that is not appropriate for this type of service, we will assist you with your questions, perform triage, provide education and refer to appropriate resources in your local area as indicated.

What if I am a student and have questions about the university's response to COVID-19?

Please first refer to the COVID-19 webpage. This is where you can find the latest university updates and information about COVID-19. There are also frequently asked questions and answers that you can review.

If you have specific medical or health concerns regarding COVID-19, you can either email us at healthcenter@whitworth.edu to arrange a time for a phone call or give us a call at 509.777.3259.

You can also contact the COVID Care Team at covidcareteam@whitworth.edu.

What if I am worried I have COVID-19?

Below are steps for health center-eligible students to take if they think they have COVID-19 or were exposed to someone with COVID-19.

  1. For any life-threatening emergencies, call 911. 
  2. If you are ill or have been exposed to COVID-19, stay home in your residence hall or place of residence off campus (go home if you are at class or work when you feel sick or learn of a potential exposure).
  3. During regular business hours, call the health center to speak with a nurse or nurse practitioner for medical guidance. 
  4. After hours, you can contact the Nurse Advice Line on your health insurance card for medical advice. If uninsured, you can call the 24/7 CHAS Nurse Advice Hotline at 509.444.8200 to discuss your medical concerns. 
  5. The medical guidance you receive will help determine if you need further medical evaluation, if you need to be tested, or if you need to isolate or quarantine for a specific length of time.
  6. If indicated, on-campus students will be provided with instructions from the COVID Care Team for temporarily staying in quarantine or isolation housing. 
  7. To report a COVID-19 exposure (including if you have been advised to quarantine or isolate), or to notify the university of pending COVID-19 testing or confirmed COVID-19, please contact the Whitworth COVID Care Team at covidcareteam@whitworth or through the LiveSafe app "Report a COVID Concern" option. 

Additional helpful information can be found here.

How do I get tested for COVID-19?

Please refer to additional FAQ information found on our webpage: Testing & Isolation/Quarantine.

What if I am being tested for COVID-19 or am diagnosed with COVID-19?

Please follow your health care provider's instructions carefully. You will need to self-isolate away from others in accordance with the latest updates.

If a student is undergoing testing for COVID-19, we request you notify us via email at healthcenter@whitworth.edu. For protection of your medical privacy, you do not need to be specific in your email, but please include your name and contact information, so we can call you to find out when you were tested and to be notified of your results. You can also call 509.777.3259 to notify us of any COVID-19 testing or results.  

What if I need to access medical care when the health center is not open (such as during the evening or weekend)?

If you are sick, please call ahead to urgent care or another health care provider's office before arriving in person. Only go to the emergency room if absolutely necessary for a medical emergency. If you are not sick with a fever or cough and you need medical care, please consult with a primary care provider or family medicine clinic in the community (i.e. treatment needed for mild injury or request for medication refill) or an urgent care provider.

Where is the closest urgent care and hospital to the main campus?

How do I find reputable sources of information pertaining to COVID-19?

We recommend you refer to recognized local, state, federal and international health authority sources. Use caution when referencing information found on news or media sites, social media or information that you are unable to trace back to the original source. You can check out the resources listed on the university's COVID-19 page, which also can be found below:

Resources

The Washington State Department of Health has established a call center to address questions from the public. If you have questions about what is happening in Washington, how the virus is spread, and what to do if you have symptoms, please call 800.525.0127 and press # or go to www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus.

Please refer to the following resources for additional information on COVID-19: