A Message From Our Director

Dear UW Parent or Guardian,

Welcome to the University of Washington!  I would like to tell you briefly about the health services available to your student at Hall Health Primary Care Center, commonly called “Hall Health.”

We are a multi-specialty group practice closely associated with UW Medicine, the clinical arm of the UW School of Medicine, one of the finest medical schools in the country.  We have over 30 practitioners representing the fields of family medicine, internal medicine, primary care sports medicine, gynecology, travel medicine, and mental health. 

We see both UW students and members of the university community; about 70% of our visits are by UW students.  UW students who pay the quarterly Services & Activities Fee along with their tuition are eligible for many valuable health services at no further cost. Between the services we provide, and those available within UW Medicine, we are able to meet the health care needs of nearly all UW students. If your student has any medical condition for which he/she would like our help on an ongoing basis, it is best for them to set up a visit with one of our providers by calling (206) 616-2495.

Unlike in the Fall of 2009, we are not facing an epidemic of influenza at the start of our school year. We advise all students and patients to continue with habits such as “covering your cough” and handwashing to help reduce the spread of respiratory illness. When it becomes available, we will be offering influenza vaccines and recommend that all students get one. See our web site for more information about influenza prevention.

Hall Health Center works closely with the Office of Student Life, and among their Departments is Health and Wellness; to learn more about this service, read on for an article written by Shannon Bailie, the Director of Health and Wellness for the Office of Student Life.

In August, Hall Health began a year long renovation project. We have been planning this effort for over 2 years, and have worked extensively with student groups to develop our plans. We will be operating all of our usual services during this time and we look forward to serving you and your family.  Please send us feedback via our website.

David C. Dugdale, MD, FACP
Director, Hall Health Primary Care Center
Professor, Department of Medicine
University of Washington

The Nuts and Bolts of Billing

Financing your student's education is always a major concern for parents of incoming students. Understanding how Hall Health Center bills your medical insurance will help alleviate much of the stress of student medical care.  Based on our experience here in the Billing Office, we have formulated some guidelines for parents to best ensure that their students receive the best healthcare with the least costs out of pocket for you:

• To find out if your insurance covers services at Hall Health Center, call your insurance and provide them with Hall Health Center's tax identification number (911220843).
• To ensure we bill your insurance properly, provide your student with their insurance card or other proof of insurance (a front and back copy of your card will do if they are under your policy).
• Remind your student to authorize you to access his/her account.  See sidebar for more details.
• Many services are subsidized by the Services and Activity Fee which are available to currently enrolled students.  You can find more information here.

If Hall Health isn't contracted with your insurance:

• Find out if your insurance has Out-Of-Network Benefits, which ensures your student will receive coverage at a lower rate.
• Call your insurance for alternative clinics in the area that your student may access for follow up care and unsubsidized services.
• Currently enrolled students have access to our walk-in nurses, who advise students and help determine if they need to see a doctor.
• Hall Health Center will always see your student and will bill your insurance (on request) whether we are contracted with your insurance or not.
• The University offers two insurance plans to students interested in coverage during their time here at UW.

Spotlight on Health and Wellness

A few years ago the Division of Student Life created a new unit – Health and Wellness – to address the health and mental health concerns of our students. Health and Wellness works closely with other units on campus, including Hall Health Primary Care Center, to better serve those who may be struggling with issues impacting student success here at the University. 

Health and Wellness has established four distinct programs that focus on prevention and intervention, the broadest of which is the Consultation and Assessment Program. In addition, we also oversee the Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Information Service, Alcohol and Other Drug Education, and the Suicide Intervention Program. Students who are connected via one of the Health and Wellness programs receive the support and assessment associated with the broader scope of the consultation program.

Often students are struggling with multiple stressors and our team works to diffuse the most immediate concern while paying attention to contributing factors that may continue to pose problems with students if they go unaddressed. We utilize the full range of services in Student Life, often drawing on colleagues from other departments like Financial Aid, Disability Services, and the Registrar’ Office, just to name a few, for assistance and support of our students. The relationships we build across campus, within the academic departments, and in the community allow us unparalleled access and the ability to work with students on a truly holistic level.

Comprehensive information on the services provided by Health and Wellness such as alcohol and drug education, suicide intervention, and sexual assault and relationship violence resources, as well as individual dimensions of wellness, is available online at http://www.washington.edu/provost/studentlife/healthandwellness/.  You can also reach us by phone at 206.543.6085, or by email at livewell@uw.edu.

FDA Approves Vaccines for 2010-11 Flu Season

Vaccines have been approved for the next influenza season, the FDA announced recently.

The big news?

• This year’s influenza vaccine will include both the usual ‘seasonal’ strain and the H1N1-lke virus strain in one vaccine.  
• Influenza vaccine is now recommended for everyone over the age of 6 months.
• The 2010--11 trivalent vaccines will contain A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like, A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like, and B/Brisbane/60/2008-like antigens. The influenza A (H1N1) vaccine virus is derived from a 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus.

The recommendations were published by the CDC and are available online. More detailed information follows.  

Especially For Younger Children 

• Routine influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged ≥6 months.
• As in previous recommendations, all children aged 6 months to 8 years who receive a seasonal influenza vaccine for the first time should receive 2 doses. 

• Children aged 6 months--8 years who did not receive at least 1 dose of an influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine should receive 2 doses of a 2010--11 combined seasonal-H1N1-like influenza vaccine. This is regardless of previous influenza vaccination history.

• Children aged 6 months--8 years for whom the previous 2009--10 seasonal or influenza A (H1N1) 2009 vaccine history cannot be determined should receive 2 doses of a 2010--11 seasonal influenza vaccine.

The Importance of Getting a Good Night's Sleep

One of the most frequent problems experienced by college students is fatigue.  Students have a busy and demanding lifestyle that often leaves precious few hours for rest.  One essential tool in combating fatigue is an adequate amount of restful sleep.  While this may vary with different individuals, a minimum of 7 hours can be a good starting point to aim for.

Here are ten tips offered by the Better Sleep Council on how to maximize the benefit of your valuable sleep time:

1. Stick to a regular schedule.
2. Exercise regularly.  Exercise enhances sleep by burning of tensions that accumulate during the day.  It’s best not to exercise late in the evening right before bedtime.
3. Stay away from stimulants.  If you love coffee, have your last cup of the day no later than 6-8 hours before your bedtime.  Caffeine used to “turn on” your concentration for studying often makes it impossible to “turn off” when it comes time to sleep.  Nicotine is an even stronger stimulant than caffeine, so it is best not to smoke.
4. Drink only in moderation.  Too much alcohol early in the evening can make it hard to fall asleep, and too much at bed time can make it harder to stay asleep.
5. Go for quality sleep, not quantity.  Your goal should be to sleep only as much as you need in order to feel refreshed the next day.
6. Set aside planning time early in the evening to get rid of distractions.  Identify what needs to be done tomorrow and make lists so you don’t feel you have to keep reminding yourself of things to do when you are trying to fall asleep.  Worrying about what needs to be done the next day is a frequent cause of insomnia.
7. Don’t nap if you’re having problems sleeping at night.  For some people, particularly insomniacs, naps make sleep problems worse.
8. Don’t go to bed stuffed or starved.  A big meal late at night forces your digestive system to work overtime and a rumbling stomach interferes with your ability to settle down and sleep through the night.
9. Don’t eat, study, or watch TV in bed.  It often helps to set aside the bed as a place associated with sleeping only.  Making your bed clean and attractive also helps preserve its image as a comfortable place to “get away from it all” and to sleep.
10. Develop a sleep ritual.  It will be easier to make the transition to sleep if you repeat these activities every night before going to bed.                      

Authored by: Health Promotion Department