HornetCare FAQ & Resources

FAQ

Health Information Forms

Where can I find the required health forms?

The Student Health Portal contains all required health forms. To access it, sign in with the same username and password as your University network account.

Which immunizations are required for undergraduate students?

Please see our Required Health Information Page.

What if I have a religious or medical exemption?

Religious or medical exemption forms are found on the front page of the Student Health Portal.

When are the health forms due?

Summer graduate programs: May 15
Fall entrance: July 15
Spring entrance: Jan. 15

What happens if I turn my health forms in late?

Full-time undergraduate students are subject to a fine of $200 each semester if the required forms still need to be completed.

How can I get a copy of my health information and immunization form?

You can print copies of your immunization records from the Student Health Portal.

Medication and Prescriptions

How do I get my prescriptions filled?

Kroger Pharmacy (434.384.3666) and Genoa Health Pharmacy (434-338-7764) deliver medications to campus. These local pharmacies provide prescription billing and file with insurance companies when required information is provided. You must have a form of payment to pay over the phone. Your existing prescriptions might be transferable from your current pharmacy. Please call Kroger or Genoa Healthcare for more details. Other pharmacies are also available to students but do not provide on-campus delivery.

If I have prescription medications, can I keep them in my room?

Yes, you are responsible for keeping your medications; however, we suggest a lock box to keep medications secure.

Where can I get my birth control prescription?

You can check with your current pharmacy to see if they have a location in Lynchburg. However, if you need transportation, your existing prescriptions might be transferable from your current pharmacy to Kroger Pharmacy (434.384.3666) or Genoa Healthcare Pharmacy (434-338-7764), which delivers to campus. Please call them to complete the transfer. If you need a new birth control prescription, you can make an appointment to see one of the Nurse Practitioners in Health Services.

I am taking medication for ADHD. How do I get my prescription?

We suggest you speak with your provider and plan for when you are at school. Arrangements can be made to fill the written prescriptions at a local pharmacy. If you cannot obtain prescriptions from your home provider, please make an appointment to meet with one of our Nurse Practitioners.

Services and Accessing Care

What should I do if I am sick?

If you are feeling ill, HornetCare Health Services can take appointments on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed from 12 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.). Most sick appointments can be made on the same day. You can schedule an appointment through the Student Health Portal, call 434.544.8616, or come to health services with immediate concerns.

For non-emergent illnesses, we encourage students to keep some of the following self-care items in their rooms:

Cold and flu medicine
A digital thermometer
Pain relievers/fever reducers like Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Ibuprofen (Advil)
Benadryl for allergic reactions
Antibiotic ointment
Bandaids

If self-care does not improve symptoms until the HornetCare Health Center reopens, several community options are available.

Where should I go if I am sick, and HornetCare is closed?

For an emergency:

University of Lynchburg Emergency Medical Services

Dial 5555 from any campus phone or 434.544.5555 from your cell phone. In an actual emergency where 911 is called, campus security will need to be notified to direct EMS to the student’s location.

Several walk-in care clinics can see ill students. Please click below for Additional information regarding emergency and after-hours care.

Is there a cost to be seen at HornetCare Health Services?

There is no cost to be seen in the Health Center. However, lab work, medications, and select services may incur charges, which will be applied to your student account.

Can I get a prescription at the Health Center?

Yes, we have Nurse Practitioners on staff who are licensed to prescribe medications when medically needed.

Do you file with insurance?

We do not file with insurance. However, all students are expected to have health insurance. Students should have a current insurance card (including a prescription card) available for emergency or other off-campus medical care. As a courtesy, Health Services can send insurance information to LabCorp when lab work is needed. LabCorp will file with the insurance company.

What if I have an off-campus medical appointment and have no transportation?

If you need a ride to an appointment, please call or come to HornetCare during our office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., and we will help arrange transportation. These arrangements must be made 24 hours before the appointment.

Do you offer immunizations for students?

No, the Health Center does not give immunizations. Please call HornetCare at 434.544.8616 for more information on where you can receive immunizations.

I have to have allergy shots. Can I get them at HornetCare Health Services?

Yes, we can administer allergy shots at HornetCare. We will need specific medical orders and the serum from your physician, who will also need to complete our Allergy Immunotherapy Order Form. Please make an appointment with one of our Nurse practitioners before your first injection is due to review and sign our allergy immunotherapy policy. Each allergy injection is $5, and this fee will be charged to your student account.

Will HornetCare Health Services provide excuses for class?

HornetCare does not provide medical excuses for class absences or tardiness daily. However, with the student’s written permission, at the end of the semester, HornetCare will notify instructors that a health professional at Health Services saw the student.

HornetCare will take signed requests by students during the last week of classes every semester. Upon the student’s written request, the information will be sent to the designated instructor(s), including all dates the student was seen in Health Services for the current semester.

Is there a waiver for parents to access their student's medical records or clinic visits?

Due to Federal and Privacy Regulations, we cannot grant blanket consent for student medical records or visits. However, with written permission from the student, HornetCare Health Services staff can speak with a parent regarding a specific visit to the clinic.

Resources

COVID-19 Resources

Active Minds: Coping and Staying Emotionally Well During Covid-19-related School Closures
CDC: Manage Anxiety and Stress (PDF)
The Conversation: 7 Science-based Strategies to Cope with Coronavirus Anxiety
Verywell Mind: How to Cope with Anxiety About Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Vox: I have OCD. Here’s how I’m dealing with coronavirus fears.

General Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Adult BMI Calculator
Do I have prediabetes?: Take the Risk Test
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLB): Calculate Your Body Mass Index
WebMD

Campus Resources

Online Solution Center Find quick, convenient answers to frequent questions about University of Lynchburg campus resources and support services.
Bias Education Response Team (BERT) Address violations of human rights (including biases, discrimination, verbal abuse, etc.) within the University of Lynchburg community.

National Resources

Alcoholics Anonymous A 12-step program to help alcoholics achieve sobriety.
Command Education College student mental health resources.
Freedom From Fear Anxiety and depression resource.
Go Ask Alice! Columbia University online health resource.
MentalHealth.com Services for people with mental illness and their families.
MindWise Innovations Online screening resource for depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and alcohol abuse.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) The nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) The lead federal agency for research on mental disorders.
Student Counseling Virtual Pamphlet Collection Information on a number of topics from other college and university counseling centers.
The JED Foundation A mental health resource center.
The Trevor Project Support for LGBTQIA+ youth.

Flu Guidelines for Campus Safety

If you exhibit flu or flu-like symptoms – cough, sore throat, fever – please stay home (commuter students, faculty, and staff) or self-isolate (residential students) in your residence hall room. Also, it is best to avoid crowded indoor spaces and events. Students missing class because of the flu will not be penalized in any way.

Recommendations for Preventing the Flu and Guidance for Those Who Contract the Virus

Get a flu shot if you have not received one already. The CDC is still recommending the flu shot if you have not yet received one this flu season.

If You Have the Flu

Self-isolate to prevent spreading the virus. Consider going home to rest. If you are not able to go home, do not attend classes or events until your fever is gone for 24 hours without having to take ibuprofen or Tylenol.
Eat meals in your room until your fever is gone. Meal passes are provided by HornetCare Health Center to allow friends to bring meals to ill students.
Rest, drink lots of fluids, and take ibuprofen or Tylenol for fever.
Return to HornetCare if your symptoms worsen.

Common Questions Regarding the Flu

What is the flu?

The flu is an illness caused by flu viruses. The flu may make people cough and have a sore throat and fever. They may also have a runny or stuffy nose, feel tired, have body aches, or show other signs they are not well. The flu happens every year and is more common in the fall and winter.

How does the flu spread?

People who have the flu can spread the virus by coughing or sneezing. Droplets released when a sick person coughs, sneezes, or talks can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. The droplets can also be inhaled into the lungs. People may also catch the flu by touching their mouth or nose after touching something with the virus on it, such as doorknobs, tables, or an infected person’s dirty hand.

How long can a person with the flu spread the virus to other people?

Most people may be able to spread the flu from 1 day before showing symptoms to 5 to 7 days after symptoms begin.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

Get a flu shot. It is not too late. Vaccines are still available at local pharmacies.
Wash your hands. Soap and water is more effective against the flu virus than hand sanitizers.
Stay away from people who are sick.
Get plenty of rest.

Are there medicines to treat the flu?

Yes. Prescription medicines called antiviral drugs can treat the flu. Most people who get sick get better without the need for these medicines. But, if you need help getting well, your doctor may decide to give you antiviral drugs.

For additional information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).