Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Will confidentiality be respected at the Health Center?
A. Like any health care facility or physician office, Williston Northampton's Health Center is bound to protect patient confidentiality.
Q. What happens if I am sick and cannot attend class?
A. You must come to the Health Center to be excused from classes. If you are a day student at home, a parent must contact the Dean of Student's Office. The Health Center also should be notified if a lengthy absence from school is expected. If you are having academic difficulties due to illness, injury, or emotional problems, you are welcome to visit the Health Center, as well.
Q. Can day students visit the Health Center?
A. Yes, Health Services are available to all students, 24 hours a day while school is in session.
Q. Is a doctor available at all times?
A. There is a physician on call and available 24 hours a day, but he or she may not always be at the Health Center. Registered nurses are on duty 24 hours a day while school is in session. If a day student is in need of emergency care, the Health Center is able to provide that. For insurance purposes, however, we suggest that day students follow up with their primary care physician.
Q. Is there a policy regarding prescription medications?
A. Students are premitted to keep and take certain prescribed medications in their dormitories. However, to insure student safety, all psychotropic medication for attention deficit disorder, depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders are held in the Health Center are dispersed to students daily. In some cases, exceptions will be made so that students may receive medication for more than just that day.
Q. If I’m in the Health Center, what happens if I miss meals and classes?
A. The Health Center always has food available for all meals (including fresh banana bread every morning!), and the staff will help talk to your teachers about any missing class or assignments and to coaches about any missed practices or games.
Q. Does the Health Center administer flu vaccine?
A. Yes. The Health Center will vaccinate for the seasonal influenza if a parent has completed the consent to administer the flu vaccine form. Boarding students are the first group of students to receive the vaccination because we assume some day families will be seeing their primary care providers for this service.
Q. Why do I need to fill out health forms each year?
A. New Health Forms must be completed every year, and they are due to the Health Center by August 1. All required forms are available online.
The first form is Permission to Treat. This must be updated annually, and the form is needed in order for any student to receive treatment. This is particularly important if medical care is needed while a student is traveling with a team or a class off the Williston campus.
Q. Is my child required to have a physical exam every year?
A. All students are required to have a physical prior to returning to school each year. Annual physicals ensure that students are well and fit for attending school and participating in extra-curricular activities.
Understanding that the timing of physicals is often complicated by insurance requirements, the Health Center requests that students have a new physical within 30 days of the one-year anniversary of their last physical. This allows the school to have updated records and ensures that students have been seen by a medical provider to ascertain that they are able to participate in the life of the school.
Q. What happens if my child’s physical is not scheduled to be completed by August 1st?
A. Please provide a copy of the most recent physical on record. While we understand this may be the same copy the Health Center has in its files, we need an additional for the current health file. When the updated physical takes place, please send the new record to replace the older record on file.
The Health Center will be in touch with you in the month before your child’s physical is due to make sure that one is scheduled and that parents are aware that the office is in need of a copy for the child’s current record.
Please note that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has specific immunizations requirements in order for a student to attend the school. These are listed in the health form. Medical and religious exceptions are allowed with proper documentation.