The National Suicide Prevention Hotline– Hotline offers 24 hour service to anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis. Over 150 crisis centers available nationwide. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Alcoholics Anonymous, Nevada, MO

https://findrecovery.com/aa_meeting/nevada-group-nevada/

A organization of men and women who share their successes and challenges in overcoming alcoholism. Their man goal is to remain sober and to help recovering alcoholics achieve sobriety.

Missouri Tobacco Quitline– https://health.mo.gov/living/wellness/tobacco/smokingandtobacco/

Missouri Tobacco Quitline provides free and effective counseling by highly trained tobacco specialist.

Narcotics Anonymous, Vernon County, Missouri- https://www.na.org/meetingsearch/text-results.php?country=USA&state=Missouri&city=Nevada&zip=&street=&within=20&day=0&lang=&orderby=datetime

An organization consisting of men and women who share their successes and challenges in overcoming drug addiction. Membership is open to all drug addicts, regardless of the particular drug or combinations of drugs used.

National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) provides help to individuals and families affected by eating disorders. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

Understand Health Insurance for College Students and New Grads https://www.healthcare.gov/young-adults/college-students/

HealthCare.gov includes both public and private health insurance information. https://www.healthcare.gov/

Local Pharmacies- Pharmacy Information

Nevada Regional Medical Center, Nevada, Missouri- https://www.nrmchealth.com/?utm_source=GMBSocialClimb&utm_medium=NevadaRegionalMedicalCenter

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention offers information on health and safety topics, health statistics and publications. https://www.cdc.gov/

MyPlate provides useful resources for healthy eating. Using this website it can personalize recommendations for menu planning, calorie intake and physical activity levels. https://www.myplate.gov/

CampusWell By Student Health 101- A quick resource guide for common health questions for students today. https://selfcareguide.readsh101.com/

Cottey College requires all incoming students to obtain the required vaccinations and screenings to prevent disease that may be spread to others by respiratory transmission and therefore can pose a risk to others in the residence halls, attending classes, using College facilities or attending College events on and off campus. Students are required to provide documentation showing vaccination history and/or disease specific antibody titers. Documentation is accepted from your physician’s office, health department, previous high school, or college record, or childhood records. If immunization documentation cannot be found the individual needs to provide documentation of blood titer results showing immunity. Students who do not comply with requirements will be denied class registration and/or housing for the following semester.

Applicants with a medical condition that prevents them from being safely vaccinated may apply for medical exemption by having a licensed, treating medical provider, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant complete a medical exemption request form. Applicants must then submit the completed form to the health services office. Requests that specify a statement from the treating medical provider that the physical condition of the person, or medical circumstances relating to the person are such that immunizations are not considered safe, indicating the specific nature and probable duration of the medical condition or circumstance that contraindicate immunizations with the vaccine will meet criteria for approval of the medical exemption. Medical exemption requests outside of these categories will be denied. All exemption forms will be reviewed by Cottey’s lead physician, Director of Counseling and Health Services and Vice President for Student Life before approval is granted.

For students seeking religious exemption, the student must send a letter of request to the Vice President for Student Life. In addition to the letter, the student should also include supporting documentation as it relates to the religious exemption request. Examples of supporting documentation may include, but are not limited to, a state issued religious exemption form and/or signed letter from a head of church.

Students who receive the immunization exemption approval will be required to sign the Cottey College Exemption Certificate. All exemption documentation must be submitted to the Health Services office by August 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester. All exemption forms will be reviewed by Cottey’s lead physician, Director of Health and Counseling Services and Vice President for Student Life before approval is granted.

REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), two doses at least 28 days apart
• Diphtheria-Pertussis-Tetanuss (DPT), primary series, four doses acceptable
• Polio, primary series, doses at least 28 days apart, three doses acceptable
• Tdap or Tetanus Booster, must be within the past ten years
• Hepatitis A, two doses, at least six months apart
• Hepatitis B, three doses
• Meningococcal (hyper link to Meningitis on Campus)
• Varicella, or disease history

Please note that vaccines are not available at Cottey College Health Services

Certain college students are at increased risk for meningococcal disease, a potentially fatal bacterial infection commonly referred to as meningitis.

In fact, freshmen living in dorms or residence halls are found to have a sixfold increased risk for the disease. A U.S. health advisory panel recommends that college students, particularly freshmen living in dorms, learn more about meningitis and vaccination.

WHAT IS MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS?

Meningitis is rare. But when it strikes, this potentially fatal bacterial disease can lead to swelling of fluid surrounding the brain and spinal column as well as severe and permanent disabilities, such as hearing loss, brain damage, seizures, limb amputation and even death.

HOW IS IT SPREAD?

Meningococcal meningitis is spread through the air via respiratory secretions or close contact with an infected person. This can include coughing, sneezing, kissing or sharing items like utensils, cigarettes and drinking glasses.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis often resemble the flu and can include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, vomiting, lethargy and confusion.

WHO IS AT RISK?

Certain college students, particularly freshmen who live in dor­mitories or residence halls, have been found to have an increased risk for meningococcal meningitis. Other undergraduates can also consider vaccination to reduce their risk for the disease.

CAN MENINGITIS BE PREVENTED?

Yes. A safe and effective vaccine is available to protect against four of the five most common strains of the disease. The vaccine provides protection for approximately three to five years. As with any vaccine, vaccination against meningitis may not protect 100 percent of all susceptible individuals.

To learn more about meningitis and the vaccine, visit your local health care provider. You may also visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), www.cdc.gov or the American College Health Association, www.acha.org

All Cottey College students are required to receive the meningococcal vaccine before arrival to campus, Please note, that vaccines are not available in Cottey College Health Services.

Section 199.290 of the Missouri Revised Statutes requires that all institutions of higher education in Missouri implement a targeted tuberculosis (TB) testing program for all on-campus students. In compliance with and because Cottey’s responsibility to the health and well-being of our students, Cottey has adopted the Tuberculosis (TB) Screening and testing policy for all residential and commuter students.

Incoming Domestic Students: All incoming domestic students must complete a tuberculosis screening form prior to their arrival to campus. If a student meets one or more of the listed criteria, a tuberculosis skin test will be required before arriving to campus. QuantiFERON blood draws are accepted in place of the PPD within two months before arriving at Cottey. A chest x-ray will be required for anyone with a positive tuberculin skin test or QuantiFERON blood draw with documentation received by health services before student’s arrival to campus.

Incoming International Students: Along with the required immunizations, all incoming international students are required to complete a tuberculosis screening form prior to their arrival.

If an international student meets one or more of the listed criteria, a QuantiFERON Blood Draw will be required. The QuantiFERON blood draw is a specialized test administered to aid in the detection of tuberculosis. Because QuantiFERON does not interact with the BCG vaccine, it gives an accurate indication of the presence of tuberculosis germs in the body. The QuantiFERON blood draw is scheduled during orientation at Cottey, and the fee is applied to the student’s account in the Business Office. Incoming students may complete the QuantiFERON blood draw requirements before arriving at Cottey.  Tuberculin skin tests will not be accepted for international students’ tuberculosis requirements.

A positive QuantiFERON test result, will require a chest x-ray to follow. A positive QuantiFERON test and a negative chest x-ray indicates latent tuberculosis infection and preventative medication therapy (e.g., Isoniazid) is required. Medication therapy can be administered by the Cottey College medical provider. A positive QuantiFERON blood draw and positive chest x-ray requires immediate medical attention. Upon completion of medical attention, approval from the vice president for student life and enrollment, and the lead medical provider of Cottey College is required to attend Cottey. All Documentation must be in English and submitted to Health Services Office, including physician’s notes, lab work, chest x-ray report, negative sputum test, and clearance to attend college.

All Returning Students: All returning students are required to complete a tuberculosis screening form upon returning to campus after an extended leave, summer away or after a semester of study abroad. Students who have met one or more of the tuberculosis screening criteria will be required to have tuberculosis screening complete no more than one month prior to returning to Cottey. All returning international students should follow the guidelines, policies, and deadlines for incoming international students. Domestic students should follow guidelines, policies, and deadlines for incoming domestic students. Failure to complete the requirements before returning to campus will put the student at risk for being denied on-campus housing.

Health Requirements for Returning from Study Abroad

Domestic Students: All domestic students who have traveled outside of the United States for study abroad must complete a tuberculosis skin test with results being submitted to Cottey Health Services within one month of return to campus.

International Students: All international students who have traveled outside of the United States for study abroad must complete a QuantiFERON blood draw with results in English being submitted to Cottey Health Services. The QuantiFERON blood draw is scheduled on campus, and the fee is applied to the students account in the Business Office. If testing is completed prior to arrival, QuantiFERON blood draw results must be dated no earlier than one month prior to returning to campus.

Students can make an appointment to see the medical provider by email Robin Conner at rconner@cottey.edu, by calling extension 2157 from any campus phone or by texting the health services texting line 417-765-0343.

Students may walk in to health services to be seen by the medical provider within the first fifteen minutes of the start time. Students who have made an appointment will be seen with walk-ins after, in a first come, first serve

There is a small health fee included in your tuition that will cover your health services needs. Through health services, visits on campus are free at the time of service. If a medical provider recommends blood work, medical testing or imaging of campus, that will be the responsibility of the student. If a medication is needed, the medical providers will provide a script to the student, and the payment for the medication off campus, will be the responsibility of the student.

Immunizations are not available at Health Services; however, the Vernon County Health Department, located within walking distance of campus, has vaccinations available usually at a reduced fee.  The Vernon County Health Department is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and accept walk in appointments throughout the day. Vernon County Health Department can be reached at 417-667-7418 for more information. All required vaccines should be administered before your arrival to campus.

Cottey College Health Services does not excuse a student from class, it is always up to the faculty member’s discretion to excuse an absence. Students may request notification be sent to their faculty members if they were seen by the medical provider in Health Services. A notification release of information may be signed by the student and an e-mail will be sent to her faculty members stating she was seen by the medical provider in Health Services. Generally, no medical information is released.

The closest pharmacy is Woods Supermarket Pharmacy located one block west of Cottey.  Students also use Wal-Mart Pharmacy. For a complete listing of local pharmacies, please tap here.

Please keep in mind, if a student is 18 or older, their medical information is confidential.  If a student wishes their medical information to be shared with family, an individual, or another physician, they may sign a release of information giving Cottey College Health Services members the authorization to discuss their medical information.  Health Services staff encourages the student to discuss medical concerns with parents.

International students are required to carry insurance provided by the college.  Although domestic students are not required to have insurance, it is strongly recommended.  Please see Resource tab for more information on insurance.

If a student has seen by the physician in Health Services and the physician feels an x-ray is necessary, the physician will write an order for an x-ray for the student to take to the Nevada Regional Medical Center.  The x-ray and any fees incurred at the Nevada Regional Medical Center are the responsibility of the student.