Where to Go for Medical Care
If you are feeling sick, do not hesitate to get help. Unless you have a real emergency, however, such as uncontrolled bleeding or a broken bone, do not go to a hospital emergency room for treatment. Emergency rooms are very expensive and, if your condition is not life threatening, you may have to wait a long time for care.
When you need medical care, go first to the health service on campus. Because the range of health-care services offered by colleges and universities varies from small clinics to sophisticated hospitals, you may be treated on campus or referred to an outside clinic.
Most clinics in the United States are staffed by physicians, nurse practitioners (registered nurses qualified to evaluate, diagnose, and treat many common conditions), midwives (registered nurses specializing in prenatal and childbirth practice), registered nurses, and a variety of other health-care workers. You may not see a physician when you first seek medical care.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may receive care immediately, later the same day, or the next day. You may be offered a choice of doctors or other health-care providers. Consider whether you would prefer to see a man or a woman, an older practitioner or a younger one, etc. Even if you are not asked, you should make your preferences known. For the best medical care, it is important to choose one clinic and use it throughout your stay. In this way, all those who see you will know you and your medical history and will be able to treat you most appropriately.
The time you spend with health-care providers may seem very brief, with little opportunity for conversation. The doctor or nurse will ask you many questions; some may appear unnecessary or intrusive, but you should try to answer them as completely as possible. You may think the approach abrupt and impersonal; however, the workers are only trying to be efficient and thorough, characteristics central to American culture. It is expected that patients will ask questions about their health, diagnosis, treatment, and costs. American physicians expect their patients to participate in making decisions about medications and treatment choices. If you ever have difficulty understanding anything about your medical status or treatment, ask for clarification. You can ask workers to talk more slowly, to repeat, or to write something down. If you think you will need a translator, ask when you make your appointment if someone can assist you, or bring a friend.
Foreign students often hesitate to consult professionals about mental-health problems. You may never have had the need to talk to a psychologist, psychiatric social worker, or psychiatrist at home, and you may think only “crazy” people with very severe mental problems are treated by such professionals. It is not uncommon in the United States, however, for students or other individuals with emotional problems to seek professional help. As a foreign student, far from home and lacking your usual support system of family and close friends, you may find it helpful to consult a mental-health professional when dealing with issues of adjustment, depression, or strain. The process will be completely confidential.
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