Eligibility
All students and spouses, domestic partners, and children of students who pay the Student Health Fee are eligible for services at the SCRS. Members of the Student Health Insurance Plan who wish to use their outpatient mental health benefits for therapy outside the SCRS should first be assessed and referred by the SCRS. Alumni are allowed one session at SCRS to discuss referral options.
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Confidentiality
The Student Counseling and Resource Service keeps medical records in accordance with professional, legal, and ethical guidelines. Other than authorized SCRS staff, no one will have access to records unless the patient releases them in writing. They will not become part of the patient's academic file, and even the fact that the patient has come to SCRS will not be divulged to anyone without the patient's permission.
Therapists may consult with supervisors and colleagues to improve his or her skills and to provide the patient with the highest quality services possible. This will be done without the use of the patient's name whenever possible. If the therapist is being supervised, the patient will be informed of the name of his or her supervisor. The patient's sessions will never be taped without the patient's written consent. Statistics are compiled on SCRS activities, and from time to time the SCRS staff may make presentations and write articles as part of their work in an academic setting. In these cases, specific identifying information is either absent or highly disguised.
An exception to confidentiality would be a situation in which the patient was assessed to be a danger to themselves or others, the patient's records were subpoenaed, or reporting (e.g., of the patient's abuse or neglect of a minor) were required by law. Even in these cases, the patient would be informed if possible and no more information than necessary would be released.
Effective therapy requires an atmosphere of trust. Questions about the confidentiality policy can be raised with the patient's therapist, or with Thomas Kramer, MD, Director of the SCRS.
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Number of Visits
The Student Counseling and Resource Service operates on a short-term therapy model. The number of visits is determined individually for each patient depending on his or her condition, but is not unlimited.
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Payment for Services
Payment of the Student Health Fee enables registered students of the University of Chicago to receive their basic health care from SCRS and The Student Care Center. All registered students are automatically billed the Student Health Fee with their quarterly tuition. If a student is unsure of his or her Health Fee status, they should contact the Registrar's office at 773-702-7891.
At SCRS, this fee covers intake, diagnostic assessment, and short-term treatment and/or referral.
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Insurance Benefits
All students are required to carry supplemental health insurance that covers medications, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations (services not covered by the student health fee.) Students may choose to enroll in the Student Medical Plan offered by the University, or seek other insurance coverage comparable to the University's Plan.
Students with questions about the Student Medical Plan should contact the On-Campus Coordinator for the Chickering Group, Tammie Halbert, by dialing 773-834-4543 or by email at sas@chickering.uchicago.edu.
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Referrals
The SCRS serves as the "gatekeeper" for the Student Medical Plan. If a student wishes to see an outside clinician, he or she must make an appointment at SCRS to obtain referral forms before meeting with their new clinician. If the forms are not obtained before the first visit, the student will incur a penalty of $25 per appointment.
If the student is not satisfied with the therapist to whom he/she was referred and want a second referral to a different therapist, the student will need to have a new referral form completed by an SCRS clinician, and signed by the Director.
The SCRS refers students only to licensed clinicians, and are unable to backdate referral forms. If a student would like to be referred to more than one outside clinician for treatment, a separate referral form must be obtained for each.
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For Students with Eating Disorders
Students who believe they may have an eating disorder are strongly encouraged to seek assistance through resources available at
the University. A student may be motivated to seek help on his/her own; alternatively he/she may be referred for evaluation by Housing staff, college advisors, faculty members, athletic coaches, concerned family or friends, or by their Dean of Students. Resources available on campus include the Student Care Center (SCC), the Student Counseling and Resource Service (SCRS), and The University of Chicago Eating Disorders Program at the University of Chicago Hospitals. Representatives of these clinics meet monthly as the Multi-Disciplinary Eating Disorders Team to coordinate care for patients with eating disorders. Such contacts will be kept confidential, except as required by law or by concern for the immediate health, safety or security of the individual or others. The costs of such treatment must be covered in whole or in part by the student's individual health insurance. Further details about the services can be found on the web sites of both the
Student Care Center and Student Counseling and Resource Service.
Although the University strives to provide all necessary resources for these students, at times an illness may not be compatible with a registered student status. This includes:
- A condition that poses a threat to the health of the student unless treated
- A condition requiring intensive treatment that would interfere with academic activities,
- A condition with physical or mental effects that interfere with academic progress or
- A condition that results in disruption of the student community by the affected student.
The University has the right to intervene and take necessary action to protect the health, safety, and security of the affected individual or of other members of the University community, including deciding whether, when, and under what conditions a student should be mandated to take a medical leave of absence from studies, or whether, when, and under what conditions a student may return following such a leave. In these events, the University will facilitate referral for treatment and suspension of the academic program with the goal of the student's eventual return to the University and successful completion of his/her academic program. A student who develops medical or psychiatric complications which pose an immediate threat to his/her well-being will be referred for immediate hospitalization and inpatient treatment and placed on medical leave. Involuntary admission follows similar guidelines to that in other psychiatric conditions, i.e. imminent risk of harm to self or others, or inability to take care of oneself. The decision to hospitalize a student and/or involve the student's family members will be made on a case-by-case basis, and the student's wishes will be respected as fully as possible, while adhering to legal and ethical standards.
Following a medical leave for treatment of an eating disorder, students must meet and receive clearance from
- Medical staff of the SCC
- Mental health staff of SCRS,
- The area Dean of Students, and
- When applicable residential life staff.
These staff will evaluate the student for appropriateness of return and assist the student in developing an on-campus monitoring and treatment program.
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