General Wellness Center Questions
Telephone: 315-792-7172
Fax: 315-792-7371
On Campus: Campus Center, Suite 217
Mail:
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Wellness Center
100 Seymour Road
Utica NY 13502
When classes are in session, the Wellness Center is open: Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the last appointment scheduled at 4:30 p.m.
Fall, Winter and Spring breaks: Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Summer hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., administrative services only, no clinical services.
SUNY Poly acknowledges that health issues may occur “after hours” while students reside on campus. If healthcare services are required outside the usual Wellness Center hours, healthcare services should be sought at local urgent care or emergency room facility. Fortunately the Utica area has sufficient urgent care or emergency room facilities in the Utica area when students require services “after hours”.
- Emergency Situations
Off campus/cell phone - dial 911 or 315-792-7111. On campus phone: dial 7111
University Police will call the appropriate medical personnel.
- The Utica area has 2 local hospitals within a 6 mile distance, approximately 10 minutes from campus, that are part of the Mohawk Valley Health Systems (MVHS);
- St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital campus - 1656 Champlain Ave, Utica
- St. Elizabeth’s Hospital campus - 2206 Genesee St, Utica
Both of these hospitals are approximately 10 minutes from the SUNY Poly campus.
- Less Serious Conditions
The Utica area has multiple Urgent Care (UC) facilities within a 6 mile distance, approximately 10 minutes from campus, including:- Faxton Campus UC (MVHS) - 1676 Sunset Ave, Utica
- Primary Care UC - 1904 Genesee St, Utica
- Slocum Dickson Medical group UC - 1729 Burrstone Road, New Hartford
- WellNow UC - 230 North Genesee St, Utica
Medical Services: Appointments are highly recommended as they decrease your waiting time. Call 315-792-7172 to make an appointment. Walk-ins are welcomed and will be accommodated with the earliest available appointment.
Counseling Services: Appointments are required. Call 315-792-7172 to make an appointment. Students in crisis are evaluated and scheduled per need.
Health Promotion: Appointments are preferred however walk-ins are welcomed and will be accommodated with the earliest available appointment. Call 315-792-7808 to make an appointment.
There is no cost. All services provided at the Wellness Center are covered by your mandatory health service fee, thus there are no additional charges. We do not bill your insurance company and do not charge or collect co-pays and/or deductibles.
Please note that all external healthcare procedures/services received by the student (i.e. laboratory services, X-rays, urgent care/emergency room visits, etc.) are the financial responsibility of the student. These would include co-pays, deductibles, balances, etc. billed by the laboratory, hospital, urgent care, emergency room, etc. to the student and/or their personal medical insurance. It is important for the student to have their personal medical insurance card when external healthcare procedures/services are obtained.
Yes, you have already paid the mandatory health service fee that entitles you to the Wellness Center Services.
All registered students can utilize the services. A health history and physical examination, completed within the last 2 years is required to access services. Your health history and physical exam provide our healthcare providers essential medical information to deliver to you the best possible services.
The Wellness Center is a merged Center providing Medical, Counseling and Health Promotion services. Services are provided by licensed healthcare professionals including a physician, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and mental health counselors.
Confidentiality is of utmost importance. Health information is only shared with written consent from the student unless a crisis/emergency deems it otherwise.
No. For students 18 years and older, we do not contact parents, guardians, etc. unless we receive your written permission. With that said, dependent on the specific health situation, usually more emergent health situations, the Wellness Center staff encourages students to inform their parents, guardians, etc. as many times they are the student’s biggest support system and can assist the student with their medical need. The staff will collaborate with the student regarding their medical needs and encourages parent, guardian, etc. involvement.
For students under 18 years of age, by law we must contact the student’s parent or guardian, unless they are legally independent.
- Sick/Injury Care: Evaluation and treatment of colds/other respiratory illnesses, rashes, ear/eye infections, urinary tract infections, sore throat, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, sprain/strains, abrasions/cuts/bruises/minor burns, etc.
- Medical Supplies/Equipment: band-aids, cough drops, ace bandages, ice packs, crutches, etc.
- Laboratory Services: Internal (at the Center) laboratory testing for specific illness such as strep throat, mononucleosis, urinary tract infections, etc.is available for students. No charge for these “quick” medical tests. LabCorp Inc., an external laboratory, also collects specimens as ordered by the medical provider, however as this is an external service it will be billed by LabCorp Inc. The student’s private medical insurance information must be provided to LabCorp Inc. for specimen testing.
- Sexual Health Care: In consultation with a medical provider birth control and contraceptives, STI testing and GYN exams, free HIV testing using the Oraquick Advance HIV 1/2 Rapid Antibody Test and free condoms (male and female).
- Medication: Over the Counter (OTC) and Prescription (Rx) - Available at no cost to students for short term use, the Wellness Center has OTC medication such as ibuprofen, cold medicine, anti-itch creams, etc. Also a limited number of Rx medications, mostly generic such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, etc. are available as recommended by our medical provider. These medications are offered to the student at no additional cost. Also Rx medications may be ordered by the Wellness Center medical provider for fulfillment at an off campus pharmacy. The student is responsible for the cost of the Rx medication filled by off campus pharmacies.
Please note that we are not dispensing pharmacy. Students would visit an off-campus pharmacy to have a prescription filled or re-filled.
No. Dental services are not provided at the Wellness Center. The Wellness Center staff can provide a list local dentists for student reference.
No. Routine vision testing and eye glasses are not provided at the Wellness Center. The Wellness Center staff can provide a list local eye specialists for student reference.
A Dietitian is available through the Wildcat Hospitality. The staff work closely with students to accommodate their special dietary needs. Call 315-854-3007.
The Wellness Center will provide bio-hazard canisters to student for needle/syringes for students for medically related health issues. We will also accept full bio-hazard containers for disposal.
New York State requires Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) and Meningitis documentation for these contagious diseases. The college requires a health history & physical examination, completed within the last 2 years to access services at the Wellness Center.
The due dates are August 1 for fall admission, January 1 for spring admission.
It is recommended that you provide the Wellness Center the required health documentation as soon as possible for prompt data input.
Please note that student athletes and Department of Nursing students have more stringent health requirements.
Per New York State you cannot attend class, thus you are de-registered from your classes. Once you are de-registered, you are no longer a SUNY Poly student, thus cannot attend class, access all college services, etc. The re-registration process is cumbersome and costly.
The best place to start is with your primary health care provider or the high school that you attended. Contact the Wellness Center if you are having difficulty and we will assist you to the best of our ability.
No. SUNY Poly requires that all students comply with health insurance regulations as federally mandated the Affordable Care Act. This law requires that all individuals have health insurance.
Students that are in need of health insurance can access information and guidelines for various plans, including Medicaid, by contacting these resources:
New York State of Health - nystateofhealth.ny.gov
315-355-5777
Health insurance navigators
- Community Service Society of New York: 315-475-2430
- Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network: 315-732-4657
