Health and Counseling Services

The following clinical services are available to all currently enrolled Ramapo College of New Jersey students:

• Diagnosis, treatment and management of acute common illnesses and injuries.
• First Aid and Emergency Care
• Removal of stitches
• Testing of Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Emergency Contraception ("the morning after pill," "Plan B") (PDF)
• Pregnancy Testing
• Smoking cessation assistance
• Flu Clinics
• Well Women's Clinic
• Well Men's Clinic

[ return to top ]

Health Services provides diagnostic and primary health care for a wide variety of illnesses as well as education and prevention services to all enrolled students. Nurse Practitioners and a collaborating Physician staff it. The Nurse Practitioner (APN) coordinates office services and works independently according to state law and the scope of practice. Some services do have a fee associated, such as flu vaccine, medications and pregnancy testing.

If a student requires non-emergency medical attention when Health Services is closed, you can see a community medical provider. Locally there are several urgent care type facilities conveniently located to Ramapo College of NJ. Please direct all calls regarding their office hours, cost and insurance coverage directly to the Valley Health Medical Group.

The following locations are available for your use:

• 140 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick, New Jersey 201-447-3603
• 72 Hamburg Turnpike, Riverdale, New Jersey 973-835-7290
• 1114 Goffle Road, Hawthorne, New Jersey 973-423-1364
• 40 Washington Ave., Dumont, New Jersey 201-387-7055
• 780 Cedar Lane, Teaneck, New Jersey 201-386-7664
• 85 Chestnut Ridge Road, Montvale, New Jersey 201-930-1700

Assumption of Costs: If using the above or other facilities the College will not assume financial responsibility. The student and/or family are responsible for all associated costs which may be paid by insurance or personal funds.

In the case of an emergency, your only option is to go to the emergency department of a local hospital. If you believe that you have a condition that cannot wait until Health Services is open, call Public Safety at 201-684-6666 or x 6666 or dial 9-911. Public Safety will immediately respond to your location. The Mahwah Police and an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Unit will also respond. EMS is staffed with certified emergency medical technicians. EMS will assess your condition and transport you by ambulance to the local emergency room. The student is responsible for all associated costs.

Health Services is NOT an Emergency Department and cannot provide the level of care that Emergency Departments do provide. Invasive procedures and emergencies are referred to community providers, local hospitals or local health care facilities. It may be medically necessary to have a student seek more definitive care at the Emergency Department or with a local specialist. The student is responsible for all associated costs.

[ return to top ]

 Do I need an appointment to be seen?

Yes. Same day appointments are usually available for sickness. Call early in the day to ensure a same-day appointment. During the cold and flu seasons, appointments fill up quickly. Appointments are not provided for routine medical physicals.

Can I be seen without an appointment?

Students whose medical condition necessitates immediate medical attention will be seen without an appointment as an emergency.

Is there a charge for a visit to Health Services?

The office visit is free. However, there is a charge for medications dispensed, laboratory testing, and specialty clinics (Well Women’s Clinic, Flu Clinic).

Can any student use Health Services or do I have to have the school insurance in order to use this service?

Any currently enrolled student can use Health Services for your healthcare needs. You do not have to be enrolled in the school health insurance plan.

Would I be seeing a doctor if I go to Health Services?

A Nurse Practitioner would most likely see you. Our staff consists of a part time Board Certified Family Practice Physician, and 3 Board Certified Nurse Practitioners. Nurse Practitioners can examine, diagnose, and treat patients as well as prescribe medications and treatments.

How are prescriptions handled?

The College does not have an in-house pharmacy. We do dispense some of the more common medications such as antibiotics and Plan B. If you receive a medication from Health Services, the cost is billed to your college account. We do not accept payment in Health Services. If you are given a prescription, you will need to take this prescription to the local pharmacy to have it filled.

I need regular blood tests because of the type of medicine I am taking. Can Health Services’ draw my blood so I do not have to go off campus?

No, Health Services is not a laboratory draw site and cannot accept a prescription from a community medical provider. If you are utilizing an insurance plan to cover the cost of your laboratory work, you must check with your medical insurance provider as to which laboratory is covered under your plan.

My doctor has ordered Physical Therapy for me. Can I get that on campus?

No, Physical Therapy is not available on campus. Check with your medical insurance provider to Physical Therapy offices in the area.

I take allergy shots. Can I get them in Health Services?

No, Health Services does not provide this service. You will need to establish with a community physician for your allergy injections.

I live off campus. Can I still use Health Services?

Yes. Health Services is available to any currently enrolled student, full time or part time, undergraduate or graduate.

What do I do if I am too sick to come to Health Services? Do you make house calls to my room?

Health Services does not make house calls. If you are on campus, you can call Public Safety to transport you to Health Services. A Campus Public Safety Officer, if available, will be dispatched to assist you. You can also dial 911 for emergency assistance. EMS, Campus Public Safety and Mahwah Police will be dispatched to assist you. If you live off campus, you can certainly call Health Services and we will advise you or you can call 911.

What do I do if I need medical attention after hours?

If a student requires non-emergency medical attention when Health Services is closed, you can see a community medical provider. Locally there are several urgent care type facilities conveniently located to Ramapo College of NJ. Please direct all calls regarding their office hours, cost and insurance coverage directly to the Valley Health Medical Group.

The following locations are available for your use:

• 140 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick, New Jersey 201-447-3603
• 72 Hamburg Turnpike, Riverdale, New Jersey 973-835-7290
• 1114 Goffle Road, Hawthorne, New Jersey 973-423-1364
• 40 Washington Ave., Dumont, New Jersey 201-387-7055
• 780 Cedar Lane, Teaneck, New Jersey 201-386-7664
• 85 Chestnut Ridge Road, Montvale, New Jersey 201-930-1700

Assumption of Costs: If using the above or other facilities the College will not assume financial responsibility. The student and/or family are responsible for all associated costs, which may be paid by insurance or personal funds.

In the case of an emergency, your only option is to go to the emergency department of a local hospital. If you believe that you have a condition that cannot wait until Health Services is open, call Public Safety at 201-684-6666 or x 6666 or dial 9-911. Public Safety will immediately respond to your location. The Mahwah Police and an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Unit will also respond. EMS is staffed with certified emergency medical technicians.  EMS will assess your condition and transport you by ambulance to the local emergency room. The student is responsible for all associated costs.

Health Services is NOT an Emergency Department and cannot provide the level of care that Emergency Departments do provide. Invasive procedures and emergencies are referred to community providers, local hospitals or local health care facilities. It may be medically necessary to have a student seek more definitive care at the Emergency Department or with a local specialist. The student is responsible for all associated costs.

Intoxication, self-injurious or other dangerous behavior: If a student is referred or required to be transported by the College to a hospital Emergency Room or other medical facility due to intoxication, potential or actual self-injurious or other dangerous behavior, the College will not assume financial responsibility.

Assumption of Costs: If using the above or other facilities the College will not assume financial responsibility. The student and/or family are responsible for all associated costs, which may be paid by insurance or personal funds.

Do I have to go to the hospital by ambulance? Can Public Safety take me to the emergency room?

Unless you have a friend with a car, ambulance transport is your only choice. Sometimes, an ambulance is your best choice especially for more severe injuries and illnesses. Public Safety does not transport sick or injured students.

I do not live in campus housing. Do I still call Public Safety if I need medical assistance after hours?

No, Call 911 to activate your local emergency response system.

What if I have an emergency?

In the event of an emergency, dial 9-911 from any campus telephone to activate the emergency response system. You can also contact Public Safety by dialing 6666 from any campus telephone.

What hospitals are in the area?

Good Samaritan Hospital & Trauma Center 255 Lafayette Avenue, Suffern, NY 10901 is approximately 10 minutes from campus.
Valley Health Care Systems 223 North Van Dien Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 is approximately 16 minutes from campus.
Bergen Regional Medical Center 230 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07652 is approximately 20 minutes from campus.
Hackensack University Medical & Trauma Center 30 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07601 is approximately 26 minutes from campus.

Can I keep medicine in my room?

Yes.

Can Health Services store my medicine for me?

No, it is the student’s responsibility to store his or her own medicine.

Does Health Services need to know what medicine I keep in my room?

No. However, we would like to know that you are taking medicine. Please make sure you note this on you Health History Form that you would complete upon your first visit to our office.

I take medication that I have to inject. How do I dispose of used needles and sharps?

Health Services will supply you with a rigid, puncture resistant sharps container. When the container is full, return it to Health Services and you will receive another container. We will make sure to dispose of your sharps container through our Hazardous Waste Disposal.

Please note that improper disposal of syringes or hypodermic needles are regulated by NJ State Law. This Statute prohibits any person from discarding disposable or reusable syringes, needles and other medical sharps in public or private places that are accessible to other person without destroying the needle and syringe. Violators of this State Law can be fined up to $500,000 and/or imprisoned. You can also be sued if someone was injured by your improper disposal.

[ return to top ]

If a student is referred or required to be transported by the College to a hospital Emergency Room or other medical facility due to intoxication, potential or actual self-injurious or other dangerous behavior, the College will not assume financial responsibility.

Assumption of Costs: If a student is referred/and or required to be transported to the Emergency Room of a hospital or other medical facility due to substance intoxication, potential or actual self-injurious or other dangerous behavior the student and/or family are responsible for all student Emergency Room charges and associated costs. These may be paid by insurance or personal funds. The College will not be responsible for any of these costs.

The Ramapo College Health Center is guided in its mission by the following principles:

• Delivery of prevention and educational health programs
• Delivery of high quality care
• Delivery of care in a cost effective manner
• Active Involvement with the campus community and the higher education community.

[ return to top ]

The primary responsibility of Health Services is to keep students healthy and in class. The staff of Health Services believes that the main focus of our services is to teach students responsible health behaviors, to help provide treatment and symptom relief of their illnesses, and to teach health measures to prevent the spread of disease to others. This will minimize the students’ absence from class.

Since most of the illnesses and injuries seen in Health Services are of the acute episodic type and usually minor in nature, we allow students to make their own decisions regarding attending class.  We encourage students to communicate their decision to their professor(s).  This is considered part of our effort to teach responsible health behaviors.  Certain illnesses, such as the common cold or a virus, are best treated with self care measures and do not require a medical evaluation by a Health Care Provider.  Therefore, written excuses for missed classes are NOT provided by Health Services. 

When a complicated or serious illness requires hospitalization or home care and the student will have a prolonged absence from Ramapo College of New Jersey of one week or more, please contact the Student Affairs Office at 201-684-7456 or 7457 for assistance in notifying your professors.

[ return to top ]