Medical and Health Services
 

Emergency Care

In cases of serious illness or injuries that need immediate attention:

On Campus Emergency (including the CGU Apartments), contact Campus Safety
Campus Safety from an on campus phone: 7-2000 or 1-8170
Campus Safety from an off campus phone: 909-607-2000 or 909-621-8170
Use an Emergency Phone - Emergency phones are located throughout the campuses for a direct, automatic connection to Campus Safety. (Some phones have blue lights, some phones are red or orange in boxes)

Off Campus Emergency, contact 911
From an off campus phone: 911
From an on campus phone: 9-911

Medical Insurance

Health care in the U.S. can be very expensive. It is very important that all students, scholars and their families possess and maintain adequate health insurance for the entire time that they are in the U.S. Most of The Claremont Colleges require international students to be enrolled in the Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan offered through Renaissance Agencies or show proof of enrollment in your own medical insurance plan. Check with your college or International Place to see if your college has such a requirement. Note that the plan offered through Renaissance Agencies does not include dental or vision insurance. A separate dental and vision plan is available through Renaissance. Brochures, claims forms, dental and vision plan information and other information about the Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan for students and scholars at The Claremont Colleges can be found at www.renstudent.com.

The Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan for students and scholars at The Claremont Colleges uses a preferred provider organization (PPO). This means that the plan pays insurance benefits according to the health care provider that is used. Patients who utilize doctors and health care facilities that are members of the PPO will pay lower out of pocket expenses for their medical care while those patients who utilize doctors and health care facilities that are not members of the PPO will pay more for their health care expenses. Information about which doctors and health care facilities are members of the PPO can be found at www.renstudent.com or you can contact I-Place for assistance.

On Campus Medical Care

On campus medical services are open only during the school year (closed during school breaks, including winter break and summer break). Further, these services are not available to students’ family members and non-student exchange visitors (researchers, scholars and visiting faculty). For information about options for medical services for non-students or for students during school breaks, see Off Campus Medical Care.
Student Health Services (SHS), available to all students at The Claremont Colleges, is a comprehensive health center staffed by qualified medical doctors and nurses. Located in the Tranquada Student Services Center (across from Honnold Mudd Library), SHS offers: emergency services; urgent care; cold/flu care; screening (STI, mono, strep, basic vision, TB, blood pressure); medications/prescriptions; physical exams (sports, preventative, study abroad, employment); x-ray/lab care for sports injuries (sprains, fractures, abrasions, burns; women’s health care; and more. While visits are free, appointments must be made in advance and there are modest fees for certain services (lab tests, medications, x-rays). Walk-in hours (services without an appointment) are limited and there is a charge for walk-ins.

Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services (MCAPS), available to all students at The Claremont Colleges, is staffed by qualified professional psychologists. Located in the Tranquada Student Services Center (across from Honnold Mudd Library), MCAPS offers: individual short-term psychotherapy; psychiatric consultation and treatment; referrals; crisis intervention; emergency services after hours; self-exploration, support, and theme-focused groups. One-to-one counseling is offered as well as a variety of group workshops on such issues as: depression; anxiety; eating disorders; test anxiety; relationship difficulty; substance abuse; previous psychiatric treatment; body-image; suicidal thoughts or feelings; difficult transition to college; feeling overwhelmed; and other emotional or psychological concerns. All inquiries and discussions are completely confidential. The counselors and psychologists are bound by law to keep all records, files, and the conversations with the client confidential unless the client threatens to hurt another person or threatens to commit suicide. Nothing leaves the office, not even to parents or the administrators of the client's school or work. Visits are free, and it is best to make an appointment in advance. However, it is possible to walk-in during normal office hours.

Health Education Outreach (HEO) is dedicated to helping students find the most appropriate health and wellness information and support available. HEO provides educational workshops, services, and resources that enable students to play an active role in achieving, protecting and sustaining health and wellness, including the following: nutrition information and diet analysis, body composition measurement, sexual health information, free and anonymous HIV testing, wellness counseling, and referrals to local and national information and help lines.

Off Campus Medical Care

While there are many quality off campus doctors and health facilities in the area, it is a good idea to review your health insurance benefits before deciding which doctor, clinic or hospital to utilize since many insurance benefits are based on which health care provider is used. Students and scholars who have their own insurance plan need to contact their insurance provider for details.

While there are a number of low-cost or free medical services available throughout the community, it is important for visa students and scholars to understand that U.S. immigration regulations prohibit non-immigrants and their dependents to utilize Government Public Health Programs. Doing so may jeopardize your legal status in the US.

Students of The Claremont Colleges should utilize on campus medical care before going to an off campus provider whenever possible. This is particularly important for students participating in the medical insurance plan offered through The Claremont Colleges. Off campus options for medical services for non-students or for students during school breaks include specialists, general practitioners, urgent care centers, hospitals, and pharmacies.

Specialists and General Practitioners offer specialized care (such as cardiology, dermatology, obstetrics, psychiatry, for example) or general care (such as family medicine). The selection of a particular doctor will depend on the patient’s needs and their health insurance benefits. Students who are referred to an off campus doctor by Student Health Services or Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services will receive a list of possible doctors to see. Generally, non students and students with families will visit a general practitioner before trying to see a specialist; the general practitioner will often be able to assist the patient or, if not, will be able to refer the patient to the appropriate specialist. It is important to always check your insurance plan to determine how your health insurance benefits will be applied to any off campus doctor before you visit that doctor. Generally, an appointment is required in order to see a doctor.

Urgent Care Centers offer immediate medical care for patients who need to see a doctor but are unable to get an appointment soon enough. While there are a number of urgent care centers close to The Claremont Colleges, it is important to always check your insurance plan to determine how your health insurance benefits will be applied to any off campus urgent care center before you visit that center. Local urgent care centers include:

Pomona Valley Health Center at Claremont 1601 Monte Vista Avenue (at Claremont Blvd.) Claremont, CA 91711 909-865-9977

Central Avenue Urgent Care Center 8891 Central Avenue (at Arrow Hwy.) Montclair, CA 91763 909-865-9977

DV Urgent Care 7777 Milliken Ave Ste A (N. of Foothill Blvd.) Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 909-948-8050

Hospitals offer comprehensive medical services. Typically, hospitals are used in cases where the patient requires an overnight stay, when a physician refers the patient or schedules a patient for a procedure that requires hospital services, or in the case of a need for emergency room services. Generally, for urgent care that is not immediately life-threatening, it is best for patients to use Student Health Services (for students) or an Urgent Care Center (for non students or when SHS is closed) instead of the hospital emergency room. As with choosing a doctor or urgent care center, it is important to always check your insurance plan to determine how your health insurance benefits will be applied to a particular hospital before your visit.

There are three full-service hospitals located within 5 miles of The Claremont Colleges:

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center 1798 N. Garey Avenue (N. of the 10 Fwy. on Garey Ave.) Pomona, CA 91767 909-865-9500

Montclair Hospital Medical Center 5000 San Bernardino St. (S. of the 10 Fwy. on Monte Vista Ave.) Montclair, CA 91763 909-625-5411

San Antonio Community Hospital 999 San Bernardino Road (and Arrow Hwy.) Upland, CA 91786 909-985-2811

Pharmacies offer prescriptions drugs, non-prescription health products and medications, and other health and wellness services. While prescription drugs require a doctor’s authorization, pharmacists are often able to provide advice about non-prescription remedies for some medical conditions. Student Health Services offers pharmacy services to students. Pharmacies are often located inside or near grocery stores and there are several within easy walking distance of The Claremont Colleges.