Medical Services

If you are experiencing a true emergency, call 911.

Services

Our staff of registered nurses and a physician assistant assess and treat illnesses and injuries. They dispense over-the-counter medications and can prescribe medications as needed. They can also schedule appointments with local providers as needed.

Please make sure to upload your health insurance card into the health portal. While SHAW does not bill insurance for services, some labs, referrals, and prescriptions may require this.

SHAW FAQs

Focused shot of stethoscope draped over books with unfocused hand typing on laptop in background

SHAW Medical Information

Details about what the medical area of SHAW has to offer. You can also review SHAW’s FAQ webpage.

Wellness and Prevention

  • sexually transmitted infection testing — individual testing and sexually transmitted infections (STI) event testing on campus
  • immunizations — limited but SHAW will help with referrals
  • flu shots — on-campus flu vaccine clinics in the early fall.
  • free safer-sex supplies available in the lobby; no appointment necessary
  • outreach and health education

Acute Issues

  • strep throat
  • sinus infections
  • urinary tract infections
  • seasonal allergies
  • gastrointestinal issues
  • skin rashes/lesions
  • orthopedic injuries
  • ear pain
  • upper respiratory infections
  • allergic reactions
  • sunburn
  • bug bites

Minor Procedures

  • foreign body removal
  • laceration repair

Other Services

  • contraception consultation and prescriptions
  • STI consultations
  • pregnancy tests
  • study abroad consultations/physical
  • education and assistance with insurance issues

SHAW has been approved to be part of the Community-Based Screening Services (CBSS). CBSS is a collaborative project between the Family Planning Council of Iowa (FPCI), the Iowa Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) family planning and STI programs, and the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa (SHL). Supported by resources from the state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), testing and treatment for chlamydia and gonorrhea are done in clinic sites across the state.

STI Test Options

SHAW offers free treatment and testing for:

  • Gonorrhea (urine, throat swab, rectal swab — self-collected)
  • Chlamydia (urine, throat swab, rectal swab — self-collected)
  • HIV (blood draw)
  • Syphilis (blood draw)
  • Hepatitis B & C (blood draw)

As part of this program, there are questionnaires that will be filled out during check-in to determine what tests students need/qualify for. As with all SHAW in-house visits, everything will be confidential and NOT be billed through insurance.

Please either call (641-269-3230), stop in, or go online to schedule an appointment (online scheduling temporarily disable due to staffing).


SHIC

SHAW employs student workers to provide peer and after-hours support. Some of these workers manage the Sexual Health Information Center or SHIC.

Please call 641-269-3230 to schedule a medical appointment. After hours or on weekends, students can call SHAW’s main line, 641-269-3230, and follow the prompts to connect with our Need-a-Nurse line. You may also leave a voicemail if you prefer to wait until SHAW’s normal business hours to consult with a SHAW provider.

Please make sure to upload your health insurance card into the health portal. While SHAW does not bill insurance for services, some labs, referrals, and prescriptions may require this.

Student can also schedule medical appointments through the Health Portal.

In-Person Appointments

In-person appointments will be in the lower level of the Forum. Please use the main entrance via the west door. If you are experiencing symptoms, please wear a mask when in SHAW (and in buildings around campus). Students are required to wear masks when riding in the SHAW van. 

Before every medical appointment at SHAW, you will be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire. Your actual appointment may take between 10–30 minutes, depending on the nature of your symptoms.

We encourage you to ask questions and make sure you understand what you need to do to feel better. The provider you see will ask you questions about your symptoms, complete an assessment, possibly monitor your vital signs (temperature, pulse, blood pressure), conduct additional lab testing if applicable, and then work to provide you with any additional treatment options you need including free over-the-counter medications, ice pack, bandages, crutches, etc.

If your provider feels that you may need more extensive or specialized treatment, you will be referred to a physician in the community or region, the local walk-in clinic, or the emergency room at UnityPoint Grinnell Regional Medical Center. The nurse will help ensure you have transportation in these cases.

SHAW asks all students to sign the SHAW consent for treatment upon arrival to campus as first years. This document allows our SHAW staff to communicate with our local medical providers to help facilitate your care needs if you are referred to services off-campus. The SHAW provider will ask for your permission to make that referral and then consult with those service providers about you. Consultation of this sort is the standard of care in the health and mental health professions.

SHAW works with a variety of other departments on campus to help students succeed while at Grinnell College. 

Student Support and Advocacy
The goal of Student Support and Advocacy is to support and guide students in prioritizing their wellbeing. Student Support and Advocacy is able to provide assistance in meeting physical and psychological health needs, navigating financial stressors, processing familial concerns, addressing food/housing issues, and exploring leave of absences and withdrawals. With appropriate releases, SHAW is able to collaborate with Student Support and Advocacy to create a plan for student's individualized needs.

Disability Resources 
Students may benefit from requesting accommodations. If a student needs support or accommodations for longer than a week, they are generally referred to this department as they are the experts at what is and isn't available for students. They regularly work with faculty, dining, housing, and more. Students do not have to meet with SHAW to obtain accommodations and can go directly to this department. However, they do have the option of signing a release to allow the two departments to work together.  

Academic Advising
SHAW knows that health can directly impact academics. Students who work with SHAW may also benefit from working with someone in Academic Advising who work with students on nearly any academic concern. Support they proved can include study skills and time management, peer tutoring, support for managing academics while dealing with a personal challenge, clarify understanding of academic policy, or apply for a leave of absence.

Athletics Department
SHAW and the athletic trainers have a unique relationship. Athletes sign a release that allows the two departments to discuss and work together on health concerns. 

Grinnell College Student Health and Wellness 24/7 Physical and Mental Health Services

Virtual Care Group (VCG)

Grinnell College Student Health and Wellness has a partnership with Virtual Care Group. Students can schedule appointments with a doctor at any time. Common issues that VCG doctors see students for include: cold and flu, cough, diarrhea, dizziness, fever, headache, nausea, sinus congestion, skin rash, sore throat, urinary problems, and more.

If you aren’t sure if it is ok to wait until SHAW opens or if you should go to a walk-in clinic or the ER, this service is a good place to start.  While it is a great resource, as they are virtual, they cannot do any diagnostic testing. Remember, SHAW provides free testing for things like strep, influenza, and COVID.

How to Access Services

To access VCG services you will need to activate your account. This is very easy to do and we recommend you do this as soon as you can so that you don’t have to do it when you feel unwell.

  • You may remember seeing an activation email from NoReply@TheVirtualCareGroup.com. You can activate your account directly from that email.
  • Another way to activate is to go to TheVirtualCareGroup.com/Grinnell and enter your last name, date of birth, and 50112 (this is the school’s zip code). Once this is activated, you can log in and access your free telehealth services.
  • Physical health appointments can be booked online, by phone, or via the app.
  • You can also download their app (via the Apple Store or Google Play) to register and make appointments.
  • You can also call 866-533-1827 to be connected to VCG’s customer service line. 

For medical appointments, VCG guarantees that you will be able to speak with someone within 2 hours for medical services. While most of the time the wait is much shorter (around 16 minutes), you should be prepared for the possibility of having to wait if you are trying to schedule right away. 

Psychiatry

While VCG does offer psychiatric services, Grinnell College does not cover them. We suggest you work with SHAW to schedule a telepsych appointment with our University of Iowa partner. If you do choose to use this service through VCG, you will be required to enter your credit card and be charged around $215 (initial) or $100. If you are interested in paying for VCG psychiatry, please call 866-533-1827.

Questions or Concerns

VCG partners with many colleges and each has its own contract. You should know that as a Grinnell College student, you should not need to enter a credit card or insurance card for any of the basic services. This includes mental health counseling and physical health visits. If you have any questions or run into any problems, VCG and SHAW are here to help. We recommend contacting VCG directly. However, you can always let SHAW know about your experience.


Healthiest You

Available for free to students on the student health insurance, UnitedHealthCare Student Resources.

During the dates of your student health insurance coverage, you have 24/7 access to medical advice through HealthiestYou, a national telehealth service. By visiting the Healthiest You Student Portal, you have access to board-certified physicians via phone and/or video, where permitted. This service is especially helpful for minor illnesses, such as allergies, sore throat, earache, pink eye, etc. Based on the condition being treated, the doctor can also prescribe certain medications, saving you a trip to the doctor’s office. If you are insured with UnitedHealthCare Student Resources, there is no consultation fee for this service. Every call with a HealthiestYou doctor is covered 100% during your policy period. You can learn more about this benefit and how to use it in My Account

HealthiestYou is not health insurance. It is designed to complement, not replace, the care you receive from your primary care physician.

Walk-In Clinics

Note: These two options bill as doctor’s office visits to health insurance companies. 

Family Providers

  • Family Medicine: 641-236-6740
  • Grinnell Family Care: 641-236-7524
  • UnityPoint Grinnell Regional Family Practice: 641-236-2500

Local Hospital

National

International:

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