Student Health Office Policies
To help us provide the best care possible, we’ve outlined a few important policies regarding appointments, forms, and confidentiality. Whether you're here for a physical, immunization, or ongoing care, please review these guidelines before your visit. If you have any questions, our team is happy to help!
Drexel Student Health is committed to protecting your privacy. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), all medical information shared with our office is confidential. We do not release any details about your visits, diagnoses, test results, or treatment to anyone—including family members—without your written permission, except when required by law. When providing written permission, patients have the right to disclose what details they would like released and what they would like to remain private.
Parent/Guardian Access to Student Health Information
We understand that parents and guardians often want to be involved in their student's healthcare. However, once a student turns 18 years old, their medical records are legally protected under HIPAA. This means that:- We cannot speak with or share information with parents about a student's health, appointments, or records without the student's signed consent.
- Parents and/or guardians of students will not be permitted in the clinical area and waiting room.
- Students may choose to complete a Release of Information (ROI) form if they want to allow a parent or another individual to access specific health information.
For questions about privacy or to complete an ROI form, please contact our office for assistance.
Many Drexel professors have a mandatory attendance policy for their classes and require documentation if the student misses more than one or two classes. The Student Health Center will NOT provide notes to excuse absences from students missing class or exams due to their visit to the Health Center, or because they are experiencing an illness.
According to the updated policy as of May 2025, students should never offer, and faculty should never request medical-based evidence or documentation regarding student absence. Please refer to Drexel Absence from Class Policy for additional information.
We allow a 10-minute grace period for lateness. Patients arriving after the grace period will be assessed by an RN (Registered Nurse) or CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) to determine the urgency of the visit/concern. Visits/concerns found to be not urgent will be rescheduled for the next business day.
If you arrive more than 10 minutes late or do not show to your scheduled appointment, you will NOT be seen during that same business day. Do not self–schedule via MyChart for the same day at a later time— the office staff will contact you for that appointment to be rescheduled.
To ensure timely and accurate completion of physical exam forms, all patients are required to:
- Bring a printed copy of any physical or medical clearance forms to their appointment (i.e. Drexel club sports physicals, driver's license physicals, etc.)
- Complete the patient section of the form before arriving, including your name, date of birth, and any other required personal or medical history fields.
Digital-only forms will not be accepted. We will not print or complete forms that are not filled out in advance. Students who do not have the necessary forms printed out with their portion completed at the time of their appointment will be rescheduled for the next business day.
All new and returning allergy immunotherapy patients must review and complete an Allergy Immunotherapy Consent for Administration Packet [PDF] prior to receiving allergy shots at the Health Center. Your referring Allergist must review and complete the packet in full, and it must be submitted to the Health Center before we are able to schedule your appointment for administration. These packets will expire at the end of the academic year (Aug. 31) and new packets will be required each year.
All serum vials must be hand delivered to the Health Center. Any vials mailed directly to the Health Center will not be viable. All first doses of new serum configurations must be given at the allergist office.
To promote patient safety and comfort during medical care, Drexel Student Health requires healthcare providers to use trained chaperones during any sensitive physical examination or procedure involving the breasts, genitalia, or rectum, or whenever a patient requests one for personal, cultural, or psychological reasons. This requirement applies to all patients regardless of gender and also includes virtual visits when sensitive areas are exposed.
A family member or accompanying caregiver may be present during sensitive exams or procedures but cannot serve as a Chaperone. Chaperones must be trained members of the healthcare team, such as nurses, medical assistants, or office staff, but cannot be medical students or trainees. Their primary role is to observe the exam, serve as a witness for both the patient and provider, and assist as needed. All Drexel Medicine staff and providers must complete mandatory chaperone training upon hire and annually, with medical and administrative directors responsible for policy oversight. If a patient declines a chaperone, the refusal must be documented and witnessed, and any sensitive portions of the exam must be omitted.
If any inappropriate behavior or misconduct is witnessed by a chaperone, the exam or procedure will immediately stop, and a report will be submitted to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance.