UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Beginning March 16, Penn State University Health Services (UHS) at University Park will limit services to patients with a scheduled appointment only.
For the limited number of students who have been unable to return home and remain on campus during the remote-learning period, UHS will remain open. However, out of an abundance of caution for patients and staff, only patients with scheduled appointments will be seen. Students experiencing upper respiratory infection or flu-like illness must call the UHS Advice Nurse line at 814-863-4463 for appointment scheduling.
Upper respiratory or flu-like symptoms can include, but are not limited to, fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and muscle/body aches. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness.
All other individuals with medical concerns should call the UHS appointment line at 814-863-0774 to schedule an appointment. UHS will not be seeing walk-ins at this time. Students with questions or health concerns should call the nurse advice line at 814-863-4463.
Coronavirus precautions
To protect the Penn State community, a new set of measures will be enacted to treat patients experiencing upper respiratory infection and flu-like illness. Patients with these symptoms must call the UHS Advice Nurse line at 814-863-4463. Patients who meet criteria for COVID-19 testing will have scheduled appointment times and be provided with further instructions. Students with upper respiratory symptoms or flu-like illness who present without prescreening and nurse-scheduled appointments will not be accommodated. All other appointments can access the Student Health Center through the front doors of the facility.
Please follow the following guidelines to keep yourself and others healthy and safe:
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or inside of your elbow.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or if not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces daily.
- Stay home and avoid contact with others if you are sick, except to get medical care.
For additional information, please review the following resources: