Student Health Services
Location: Coors Life Direction Center F-12
Academic Year Hours:
Monday-Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Summer Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Contact: 303.458.3558 (p) | 303.964.5406 (f)
rushs@regis.edu
Student Health Services
Regis University's Student Health Services is here to take care of the diverse medical needs of the student community. In keeping with the Jesuit tradition, we believe that the mind, the body and the spirit are interconnected. We practice traditional medicine but emphasize the whole person in our medical approach.
Stay Healthy at Regis
Schedule an Appointment
We are appointment only and appointments should be made prior to coming to the Coors Life Direction Building. We are also available for telehealth appointments! To make an appointment please go to shs.regis.edu or call 303.458.3558. Please also fill out the COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire prior to your appointment. Faculty and staff may only get a COVID-19 test at Student Health Services. To do so, they must call 303-458-3558 to make an appointment.
Our Ethos and Services
Here at Regis University, we embody the Jesuit value Cura Personalis or care of the whole person. Student Health Services is available to not only help you with illness and disease but to prevent these and to help you achieve good overall health. Your body is amazing; be kind and take care of it, so it can take care of you.
Primary Care
Our team of providers is experienced in treating common medical problems seen on college campuses. We offer initial diagnosis and treatment for a broad spectrum of illnesses and injuries and appropriate follow-up care.
Specialty Care
We can refer you to a variety of medical specialists and connect you with services provided by a network of local experts.
Immunizations
We provide preventive immunization services including: Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR), Influenza (flu), Hepatitis B, Tetanus (Td), Tdap (pertussis), HPV and Meningococcal vaccinations.
Laboratory Testing
In-house laboratory services are available for a fee at the health center and are payable at the time of service. Some examples include rapid strep testing, urinalysis and blood glucose screening. More complex testing will be sent out to an external lab.
Women's Health
Gynecological care services are available. Services include the assessment and treatment of infectious diseases, pelvic examinations and routine care.
Men's Health
We counsel, diagnose, and support the specific needs of men by providing information, education, symptom screening and preventive care.
Student Health Insurance
Our student health insurance provides coverage for students who are required to have health insurance while enrolled in Regis University classes. See if you qualify for the Regis University plan or are eligible to waive this coverage and provide proof of alternate, comparable health insurance coverage.
Required Immunizations
Immunization records must be submitted no later than July 15, 2022. COVID-19 vaccine verification should be submitted using the online form. MMR and Meningitis verification and/or exemption should be emailed to rushs@regis.edu or faxed to (303) 964-5406.
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccination Requirement
Regis University will require all students and employees engaging in on-campus activity at any of the Regis University campuses to be vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus before the start of the academic year (August 2022). Beginning May 16, 2022, students may submit documentation of their completed vaccination by submitting the COVID-19 Vaccine Verification Form online. Please be prepared to upload an image of the completed, state-issued, vaccine card in either *.png, *.jpg, or * pdf file format.
View Frequently Asked Questions
COVID-19 Vaccine Exemption:
Regis requires all students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have a documented request for either medical or non-medical exemption on file. Students will need to download the Medical Exemption Request form and have it filled out by a licensed medical provider to be exempted for a medical reason. If seeking a non-medical exemption, students must complete the Request for Non-Medical Exemption/Accommodation form. Completed forms should be sent to rushs@regis.edu. Please note that should a disease outbreak occur unvaccinated students may be prohibited from coming to campus for their own protection.
Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Meningitis Vaccination Requirement
Regis University and the State of Colorado require all students to provide proof of 2 Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccines. On-campus students are required to provide proof of the meningitis (A, C, W, Y) vaccine within the last five years, and it is recommended that all students also receive the meningitis B vaccine. Students can also have the Certification of Immunization for College/University Students form filled out by a medical provider.
State-Required Vaccine Exemptions:
Colorado law requires all students attending Colorado schools to be vaccinated against certain diseases unless they have a certificate of medical or nonmedical exemption on file. You must file a certificate of exemption at each school the student attends. To protect unvaccinated students with an exemption from one or more required vaccines, they may be kept out of a school during a disease outbreak. Students can have the Colorado Medical Exemption form filled out by a licensed medical provider as required by the State.
Effective July 7, 2022, for the 2022-2023 school year, there will be a new process for submitting a nonmedical exemption. There will be two ways to submit a nonmedical exemption:
- Submit the Certificate of nonmedical exemption with a signature from an immunizing provider in Colorado who is a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathic medicine, advanced practice nurse, delegated physician's assistant or pharmacist.
OR
- Submit the Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption received upon the completion of the Online Immunization Education Module offered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
- The Online Immunization Education Module is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It can take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
- At the completion of the module, you will be able to complete an electronic form to obtain a Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption. You can complete this form for more than one child without having to retake the course.
- Important: Certificates of Nonmedical Exemption expire each year on June 30th. If you submit a Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption on or before June 30th, it will not be valid for the upcoming school year unless you submit the Certificate during early registration.
Health Resources
Aerobic Exercise
- Includes any type of exercise which gets the heart pumping and uses up additional oxygen (i.e., you breath faster and heavier). At least 30 minutes five times a week is the goal for adults.
- Recent research has shown that even five minutes of running per day has health benefits– try jogging up and down stairs in your residence hall during a study break!
- Interested in walking for fitness? Check out The Walking Site for more information or check out the 3.5 mile Regis Wellness Loop around campus and the surrounding community.
- Try biking to the store, to a restaurant, or down the nearby Clear Creek trail off Lowell and 55th. Our Cycle Works program is free to students who want to rent a bike or have their own bike serviced.
Strength Training
- Strength (resistance) training can include both body weight exercises and exercises using other forms of resistance, including dumbbells, free weights, kettlebells, resistance bands, and machines.
- Join Regis’ Fitness Center for free access to equipment as well as Personal Trainers who can help you develop a program tailored to your needs.
Flexibility Training
- Stretching should be done after your muscles have heated up.
- Flexibility can include activities such as stretching, martial arts, ballet, yoga, and Pilates – try yoga stretches while watching TV.
Staying Active
You can participate in fitness activities on campus through intramural or club sports, the Fitness Center, and/or recreational activities with the Outdoor Adventure Program. These include hiking, camping, fishing, and climbing. Using exercise DVDs is another easy, inexpensive way to get started on a fitness program.
Sleep hygiene is a term that describes good sleep habits. It encompasses various practices that are needed to have normal, quality nighttime sleep and full daytime alertness. Sleep needs for young adults range from 7-9 hours each.
Limit daytime naps. Avoid taking naps in the afternoon, because this can interfere with nighttime sleep. If you must nap, limit it to a power nap, less than an hour. Also, never take a nap after 3 p.m.
Avoid wake-promoting agents. Consuming caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and other chemicals can prevent you from falling asleep or disturb your sleep. Try to avoid consuming these wake promoting agents four to six hours before bedtime.
Go to bed only when you are tired. If you are not asleep after 20 minutes of struggling to fall asleep, get out of bed. Try going to another room and doing something relaxing, such as reading or listening to music, until you are tired enough to sleep.
Have the proper sleep environment. A room that is quiet, dark, and cool can help promote better sleep. Reduce the distraction of outside noise with earplugs or a white noise machine. Use heavy curtains, blackout shades, or an eye mask to block light. Make sure your room is well ventilated and at a temperature between 60° and 75° Fahrenheit.
Keep sleep and wake times consistent. Go to bed at the same time every night, even on the weekends. Also, wake up at the same time each day. This will help to set your body’s internal clock and optimize the quality of your sleep.
Seek natural light. Getting the right amount of natural light during the day is important. Light exposure helps maintain a healthy sleep–wake cycle.
Ditch the devices. Turn off all electronic devices with screens, including computers and cell phones, an hour before bedtime. The light from these devices may affect your sleep if left on closer to your bedtime.
Seek professional help when needed. If you consistently find it difficult to fall or stay asleep, feel tired, or feel not rested during the day, despite spending enough time in bed at night, you may have a sleep disorder. Contact your campus health center if these conditions persist.
Overwhelmed?
https://www.mentalhealthishealth.us/
Stressed?
https://www.settogo.org/cardstack/managing-stress/
Need help building friends and support?
https://collegeinfogeek.com/make-friends-college/
If you’re struggling with any of these issues for longer than a couple weeks or it’s making your life difficult to manage, call us at 303.458.3558 or make an appointment online at https://shs.regis.edu/ or schedule an appointment to talk with an Office of Counseling and Personal Development (OCPD) counselor at 303.458.3507.
OCPD After Hours Service Protocol: 844.493.8255
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800.273.TALK available anytime, for anything
College is as good a time as any to learn about nutrition and weight management. It's best to take a whole food approach and focus on adding fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins and good fats. You should still eat as little processed foods as possible, but with a whole food approach you don't have to worry as much about calories and extra bad stuff because you're hitting all the nutritious food groups and getting the vitamins and minerals you need.
You should enjoy your food and go into it thinking, “what do I like and how can I build healthy meals from that?” and it's so much easier.
It’s About (Energy) Balance
Your parents probably gave you some innate sense of what’s “healthy” and how to eat “in moderation.” Still, knowing how to identify healthier foods pales in comparison to understanding the larger concept of energy balance (calories in versus calories out) and how it relates to weight.
After a period of time, it’s the total energy balance that chiefly determines the changes in your body. Put simply: If you eat more calories than you spend (via exercise, non-exercise activity, and basic bodily functions), you’ll gain weight over time. Conversely, eat less than you burn and you’ll lose weight over time.
Since many college meal plans tend toward an all-you-can-eat style, you can steel yourself against temptations with these general guidelines in mind:
- Eat two or three meals daily in dining hall: Save your dining hall trips for when you can sit down and take your time to eat a solid meal. Try to avoid going to the dining hall only for a “light snack.”
- Hit the salad bar: You can turn anything you get in the dining hall into a salad. Load up on fibrous veggies for added food volume (and not to mention, awesome micronutrients and fiber). Unless they’re prepared heavily in fat sources, vegetables typically have lower calories.
- Emphasize protein: You should have access to an assortment of protein options: chicken, burger patties, lunch meats (although these can be higher in sodium), beans, eggs (hardboiled or scrambled), tofu, tuna, peanut butter and so on. Sometimes you may have to alter your food. For example, if only fried chicken is available, remove the fried skin to salvage what is otherwise a perfectly good source of protein. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
- Make special requests: Take more control of your situation by asking food service workers for modifications. Many of them graciously accept reasonable adjustments and requests, such as a burger without the bun. Just explain to them that you’d rather eat what you can than needlessly waste food.
- Drink a ton of water: Drink water with your meal, as it contributes to feeling of fullness. Many times you may confuse hunger signals with mild dehydration.
- Avoid drinking your calories: Steer clear of the fountain drinks. Liquid calories are just too easily over consumed, not to mention unsatisfying. If you’re in a hurry though, a smoothie, a glass of milk, or a bowl of soup are fine, but you want those to be exceptions, not the norm.
- Eat when slightly hungry and until fullness: Common sense, right? Except common sense takes a hike amid a food paradise, where it’s easy to be tempted and ignore satiety cues. We say “slightly hungry” because when you get into full-blown hungry mode, you’re a lot less calculated about healthy choices and are more concerned with cramming things into your belly. Don’t worry if you can’t do these things from the get-go. These self-control tactics are fairly advanced skills that can take some time to develop.
- It’s cool to treat yourself on occasion: It’s smart to balance an otherwise sensible diet with a moderate amount of foods that make you happy, too. The trick is to not completely deprive yourself, but to find the minimum amount of the treat that will satisfy you. This balance will be especially beneficial for when you eat with pals that might have less healthy eating habits.
- The food will still be there tomorrow: Just remember that even if it felt like that meatloaf spoke to your soul, you can still enjoy more food tomorrow or at the next meal.
Eat Well in Your Residence Hall Room
While many may hit up the fast food joints around campus, you can easily cobble together hearty meals in your own dorm room as well. Most dining halls will allow you to take small food items, such as piece of fruit or sandwich, with you. In addition to those, it’s a good idea to have some non-perishable items at the ready.
Some examples of food to keep in your residence hall room:
- Nuts and nut butters
- Dried fruit
- Oatmeal, rice, beans, tortillas, whole wheat bread
- Granola bars (watch the hidden sugars, oils)
- Canned chicken, tuna or sardines
- Hot sauce, various sauces, and spices (to make the food more palatable)
Space is limited in your residence hall room, but here’s a few items you might want to have around.
- Can opener: Yup, it opens cans.
- Mini-fridge: You can live without one, but having it will certainly help diversify your food staples (i.e. eggs, egg whites, milk, etc.)
- Microwave: The things you can cook in the microwave span a surprisingly long list. Think oats, rice, eggs, baked potato.
- Plastic food containers: Very few things beat being able to store your foods and then being able to easily transport them around campus.
- Magic Bullet blender: Perfect for blending smoothies, sauces, and guacamoles. It’s surprisingly tiny— perfect for a residence hall room.
Buy a bag of anything— pretzels, nuts, even chips —and immediately look at the serving size and pre-portion the snack into sandwich bags. Not only does this prevent you from eating half a box of crackers in one sitting, but your snacks don't go stale as quickly and they're portable, so you can grab one and go in the morning.
Don’t hang in the dining hall. Use it to eat. Lingering can cause you to eat more than you need just because you are there. Move the social gathering to another spot.
For college students, it's tough to keep healthy and germ-free at school. Crowded residence halls and classrooms, a lack of sleep, stress, and poor diet can easily add up to a cold or flu. So how can you tell whether to tough out your illness or head to the campus health center?
If you start with a sore throat, have difficulty swallowing, and can't even drink water, that's a pretty significant sore throat. With symptoms that severe, college students may get dehydrated, which is another major health problem. In those cases, it's important to figure out what's behind the severe symptoms and treat whatever can be treated — time to head to your college health center for diagnosis. Other symptoms that warrant college students visiting a health care provider include:
- Any difficulty breathing (you feel that you can't get enough air in)
- Painful inhaling or exhaling
- Wheezing
- Fever of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
- Persistent cough that lasts more than a week
- Coughing that keeps you awake at night
For all these symptoms, you should come in and get evaluated.
Paying attention to the duration of an illness is also a good way to tell what needs treatment. Getting sick with symptoms that last for longer than a week need treatment while most cold and flu bugs will wrap up in just a few days and you'll start feeling better without treatment.
College Students: Strep Throat, Cold, and Flu
These are some of the most common illnesses that college students are faced with, as they're rampant on college campuses and spread very easily from person to person. Here's a brief description of what each is like, how they're different, and how they're treated:
- Strep throat. Suspect this bacterial infection if you get a sudden fever, extremely sore throat, painful or difficult swallowing, white spots or red all over the throat, and painful lymph nodes in your neck. Strep throat needs treatment with antibiotics to get rid of the bacteria and prevent transmission to other people, and mostly to ward off complications including damage to the heart.
- The common cold. This illness is caused by a virus. A cold may cause a fever, achy muscles, headaches, watering eyes, coughing, nasal discharge, stuffed-up nose, sneezing, hoarseness, and a sore throat. The common cold can't be treated, but it will clear up on its own with plenty of rest and clear fluids.
- The flu. This viral infection can often mimic the symptoms of the common cold — only much worse. Fever, achy muscles, headaches, no appetite, coughing, and a stuffed-up nose are common. But the flu also causes nausea, frequent sweating, and the chills. If notified within 48 hours of symptom onset, your doctor may prescribe anti-viral medication to shorten the duration and lessen the severity of the flu. And although there is no treatment per se for the flu, it will improve on its own with plenty of rest and clear fluids.
College Students: Preventing Colds and Flu
The best way to avoid getting the flu is to get the flu vaccine, which is offered by our college campus to keep students safe and healthy. The common cold, however, requires a little effort to keep away the germs.
Do your best to stay away from the sick kids in class. Try to sit on the other side of the room. If you're sick, try to sit by yourself, always cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and try not to touch other people. Wash your hands, wash your hands, remember to get some vitamin C, vitamin D (plenty of sun here), and zinc, and wash your hands!
Confidentiality
Medical records are strictly confidential. Information will not be released without your written authorization except by a court order. If needed, we can provide a release of information authorization form. Be aware that if you are over 18 years of age, you are considered an adult and can legally make decisions regarding your healthcare. We will need written permission to speak with anyone about your visit to our health service.