Health & Wellness
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In This Section
Saint Vincent College Wellness Center provides outpatient care and treatment for a wide variety of both physical and mental health issues at no cost to students in a professional and caring atmosphere without needing to leave campus. We do not collect or utilize health insurance in the Wellness Center. We also provide relevant health and wellness programming services including educational/informational workshops, Wellness Wednesday events, and regular visits from therapy dogs.
Hours and Location
We are open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and are conveniently located on the 1st floor of the Robert S. Carey Student Center next to the College Bookstore.
Appointments
We can be reached by stopping in, calling (724) 805-2115 (X2115), or emailing wellnesscenter@stvincent.edu.
We have a registered nurse (RN) available daily, and appointments may be scheduled with our certified registered nurse practitioner (CRNP) on Tuesday mornings from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or our medical doctor (MD) on Wednesday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Student Life
Health Services
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Students can receive care for illnesses or injuries, typically on the same day, from a member of our health care team. We can provide many over the counter (OTC) medications as well as some common prescription medications, also at no cost.
Some of our many health services include:
- Rapid testing for strep throat, influenzas A & B, and covid
- Blood sugar testing
- Urinalysis to assess for urinary tract infection (UTI)
- TB tests
- Physicals (athletic, driver’s license, employment, etc…)
- Flu shots every October
- Nutritional counseling
- Allergy shots with necessary information and serum provided from your home allergist
After-Hours Care
If a student needs care after hours or over the weekend, our residence hall staff members are available to assist students with medical or injury needs. In the event of an after-hours emergency, call either 911 or Public Safety at (724) 805-2911 (X2911) and the operator will contact the appropriate response personnel. Independence Health System Latrobe Hospital is minutes away from campus in case of emergency.
Counseling Services
Counseling services are provided in conjunction with UPMC Workpartners. We have licensed professional counselors (LPCs) that provide a supportive atmosphere for students to explore a wide range of issues with a caring professional staff member. Counseling offers an opportunity for self-exploration, personal growth, and assistance in the time of crisis with the perspective of an objective listener. The counseling process allows students to discover resources to assist with life challenges. Counseling sessions are covered by the student’s “health services fee” included in their tuition invoice and there are no additional charges or limits for the scheduled sessions.
Some common reasons that students seek counseling:
- Anxiety
- Stress management
- Conflict management
- Self-esteem issues
- Interpersonal relationship concerns
- Adjusting to college life
- Overcoming homesickness
- Eating disorders
Requied Information for Incoming Students
All incoming students are required to submit their immunization information by August 15 each year. The following link is also part of each admitted student’s Enrollment Portfolio.
2026 - 2027 Student Immunization Submission Link
Required immunizations are as follows:
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) series of two doses.
The first dose must have been given on or after the student’s first birthday with the second dose being at least four weeks later.
- Meningococcal A (also known as MCV-4, Menveo, Menactra, or MenQuadfi). The first dose is typically given between the ages of 11-12, with a booster dose on or after the student’s sixteenth birthday. If only one dose has been received, it must be on or after the student’s sixteenth birthday.
For the safety of our campus community, students who do not supply proper evidence of immunity or waive their right to immunize using the Student Immunization Submission Link may be removed from campus during a communicable disease outbreak in accordance with Pennsylvania state code.
Immunizations for International Students
In addition to the above immunizations required for all freshmen, a tuberculosis (TB) skin test or blood test is required for foreign-born students at high risk for TB.
An interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) blood test (also called a QuantiFERON Gold Plus or T-SPOT test) is preferred over a tuberculin skin test for students not born in the United States. Students considered to be at high risk for tuberculosis (TB) include those who were born, traveled, or resided in a country with an elevated TB rate for at least a month – this list changes annually but currently includes any country other than the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or a country in western or northern Europe.
Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) used in many countries where the disease is endemic. This vaccine is generally not used in the United States and can cause a false-positive TB skin test reaction. Because there is no reliable way to distinguish a positive TB skin test reaction from a reaction caused by the BCG vaccine, the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) blood test is the preferred method of testing. Testing needs to be done within 6 months prior to arriving on campus with results submitted via the Student Immunization Submission Link.
Emergency Contacts
Saint Vincent College Public Safety (724) 805-2911 (X2911)
Blackburn Center (Sexual or Domestic Violence Services)
Westmoreland County Crisis Hotline
Crisis Text Line (text 741741)
Young People of Color Crisis Text Line (text STEVE to 741741)
Trans Lifeline (Transgender Peer Support)
Confidentiality Policy
Health services and counseling records are NOT part of a student’s academic record. No one other than the staff of the Wellness Center has access to them. Students must sign a written consent in order for any information to be shared outside of our office.
The Wellness Center observes the principles of confidentiality as dictated by the ethical standards of the medical and counseling professions, and by the statutes of the State of Pennsylvania. The primary responsibility of the Wellness Center is to the client. Thus, our policy is that no information, verbal or written, will be released without specific permission of the student, EXCEPT when the student is considered to be in danger of harming him/herself, harming another, or is unable to care for him/herself. In all other cases when confidential information is disclosed to persons outside our services, the client must agree to the disclosure and sign a Release of Information consent form.