Welcome to Health & Counseling Services
By: Libby Skiles, Director
Health & Counseling Services functions as a private physician’s office and counseling center just for Gonzaga students. The Health & Counseling Services staff have a strong focus on wellness and want our students to fully benefit from Gonzaga’s Jesuit education.
Newly Consolidated Team: Previously operating as two separate departments—the Health Center and the Counseling Center —this newly consolidated Health & Counseling Services department is an important step for the University. By bringing both of these services into one collaborative department, we will be able to better serve our students in many ways. This new structure allows all students to seek care in one confidential setting where a team of professionals can serve their comprehensive health needs.
Services We Provide: Located at 704 E. Sharp, our Board Certified Family Physicians, Psychiatrist, Psychologists, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses and Counselors are here to give students our expertise and care in a confidential setting. Our clinicians are able to diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, provide psychological counseling, and support students with long-term health concerns. Our team can provide many of the same services your student would be able to access at your family doctor’s office, counseling office, or urgent care center.
Hours and Availability: We are open Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri 8 am – 5 pm, and Wed 10 am – 5 pm. We do encourage students to schedule an appointment to access care quickly and easily; however, walk-ins are accommodated to the best of our ability.
Costs and Billing: Due to the various types of insurance plans and companies that our students carry, Health & Counseling Services does not submit claims to insurance companies. Students will be responsible for the minimal charges that are incurred during their medical visit i.e. provider visit fee, immunizations, in-office laboratory testing, supplies, etc. There is no fee for the individual counseling services (with the exception of psychiatric services). Students will always be given an itemized receipt that includes the proper medical codes for utilization in self submission to their insurance company. Health & Counseling Services accepts the following types of payment for the services rendered: check, credit/debit (Visa and MasterCard), or students are allowed to charge their services to their student account. If the student account option is chosen, the fees will be included on the student’s tuition bill as a “Student Health Fee.”
After Hours: For care needs that arise after hours, we provide a Health Ride Program. This program provides a taxi service from campus to local medical providers for scheduled appointments and evening/weekend urgent care needs. Students can also consult with a physician after hours by calling 509-624-2313.
Free Consultation with Nurses: One of the most important things for you to remember as a parent or family member is that your student can always consult with a registered nurse for free. When they aren’t sure what to do, we will help guide them and connect them to community resources, as needed.
How We Work with Parents and Families: Having a support network is incredibly important—particularly in healthcare. We strongly encourage students to communicate with their support network when they have health and wellness needs or concerns. Due to privacy regulations, Health & Counseling Services can only communicate with parents or families when expressly given permission by the student. We will gladly communicate with you, if the student asks to have you involved in his or her care. This must be done on a case by case basis; students cannot sign a release giving us ongoing permission to speak with you about their care.
Come Meet Us During Orientation: Health & Counseling Services will be open on Friday (8am – 5pm), Saturday (8am – 4pm), and Sunday (12pm – 3pm) of Orientation Weekend. We will also have staff at the Resource Fair on Friday, and at Parent & Family Orientation on Saturday.
For detailed information about our staff, services, and other ways we can support you and your student during their time at Gonzaga, please visit our website.