Health Services
The Health & Wellness Center is committed to helping you make your health a priority. That’s why we offer a range of services at no additional cost to you. For more information or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at 215-646-7300, ext. 21306.
For your health and wellness, we encourage any member of the University community to inform the Health & Wellness Center of any personal health problems which would require immediate care in an emergency, such as heart disease, allergies, asthma, diabetes, and seizure disorders so that our nurses can respond appropriately should the need arise.
- Location: St. Brigid Hall
- Our office hours are Monday through Friday (while school is in session) 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Physicians are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Walk-ins are welcome and will be seen if time allows, so we encourage you to give us a call to make an appointment.
Medical History Form
Healthy Campus Initiative
Health and Wellness Services
Confidentiality
Coronavirus Information
Monkey Pox Information
Zika Virus Announcement
Flu Information
Mumps Information
Medical History Form
All new and transfer students must complete a Medical History Form prior to moving into the residence halls and starting classes. See instructions on our New Student Health page.
GMercyU's Healthy Campus Initiative
Gwynedd Mercy University is committed to providing a quality education that supports the intellectual, spiritual, moral, and physical health and safety of our students and the entire GMercyU Community. To carry out this mission, GMercyU has launched the Healthy Campus Initiative.
The Healthy Campus Initiative is comprised of various resources and campaigns geared towards making campus a healthy and safe place to learn, work, and live and reinforces GMercyU's commitment to the environment - one of the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.
Annual Health & Wellness Fair: The annual event hosted by GMercyU's Health and Wellness Center provides the GMercyU Community with resources and tools to live a healthier lifestyle. Topics vary each year but nutritional counseling, cancer screening tips, and eye exams are some of the many services that have been available.
Intramurals and Recreation: Started in fall 2016 with flag football, the program has since added numerous sports and activities including co-ed basketball and softball leagues, dodgeball and ultimate frisbee. The programs strive to provide a competitive, safe and enjoyable atmosphere that encourages sportsmanship, teamwork and leadership development for students of all athletic abilities and interests.
Fitness Classes: If sports aren't your thing, no worries! GMercyU offers many ways to stay active through one-credit fitness classes. Don't forget you can always explore GMercyU's beautiful 314-acre campus, which includes plenty of beautiful places to run, walk or bike.
Healthy Dining: In partnership with Griffin Dining, GMercyU uses organic and locally sourced food as often as possible across all campus dining facilities.
Hydration Stations: Hydration Stations have been placed strategically around campus to allow students and members of the campus community to refill their water bottles and reduce plastic bottle waste and litter.
Tobacco and Smoke-Free Campus: On August 1, 2017, GMercyU joined nearly 1,800 other college and university campuses across the country in going completely tobacco and smoke-free. The policy prohibits the use of all tobacco and smoke-inducing products in all GMercyU campus locations, including parking areas.
The decision to go smoke-free was based on requests from GMercyU's Student Government Association, and is on par with our commitment to promoting healthy and environmentally-responsible living on campus.
Tobacco and Smoke-Free Campus Policy
Smoking-Cessation Resources - If you wish to quit smoking, there are several resources available to help you work towards your goal.
Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
American Public Health Association
American Cancer Society
American Lung Association
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Mesothelioma Guide
Smoke-Free Environments Law Project
Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights
Visit GMercyU' s portal to access resources from the American Red Cross and Independence Blue Cross.
Health and Wellness Services
The following are some of the services we provide to students:
Immunizations/Screenings
- TB Screening (PPD)
- Hepatitis B and MMR available by referral to doctor's office
- Flu Vaccine--Prices Vary By Year
Illness-Injury
Evaluation and treatment of medical conditions such as:
- Cold and flu
- Upper respiratory infections
- Skin conditions
- Bladder infection
- Gastro-intestinal problems
- Wound care
- Post-surgical follow-up
- Post-emergency follow-up
Health and Wellness
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Seminars on health and wellness
- Pamphlets and prevention materials available for personal use
- Annual wellness fair
- Flu vaccines available for a nominal fee
- Nutritional education
Please note, any services provided to you outside of the Health & Wellness Center are your financial responsibility.
*All new and transfer students must complete a health form (Adobe Sign) before the start of classes or moving into the residence halls.*
Confidentiality
All of the services provided by the Health & Wellness Center are confidential. Medical and personal information is not released to anyone, including parents, without written consent, unless the student is in critical condition or there is a threat of harm to self or others.
You can find the consent form for release of confidential information here (PDF)
Coronavirus Information
View all of GMercyU's protocols and updates at gmercyu.edu/covid-19.
Please alert the Health and Wellness Center if you exhibit any symptoms of the Coronavirus or have had exposure to a positive case of COVID-19.
To learn more, go to this page on the CDC's website.
Lastly, it's not too late to get a flu shot to help prevent the spread of influenza. Please contact us if you need one, while supplies last.
Monkey Pox
The Health and Wellness Center is closely monitoring developments around monkey pox and will respond to our community needs accordingly. For the most up-to-date information, please review resources at U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and www.montcopa.org.
If you are experiencing symptoms that might be monkey pox, including fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a rash that can look like pimples or blisters, it is essential that you:
- Immediately isolate yourself from others; do not report to work or school until evaluated and cleared by a healthcare professional.
- All students should immediately contact the Health and Wellness Center at healthandwellnessctr@gmercyu.edu.
- Resident students should stay in their room and await further instructions from the Health and Wellness Center.
- Commuter students should not proceed to campus until cleared by their primary care physician.
- All faculty and staff should email the Health and Wellness Center at healthandwellnessctr@gmercyu.edu so they are aware of possible/actual cases.
Anyone who is made aware of a positive case, suspected case, or is in close contact with monkey pox should immediately notify the Health and Wellness Center at healthandwellnessctr@gmercyu.edu.
If you have a specific concern that is not addressed in this message or available through the Montgomery County Office of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control, or your local and state department of health, please email healthandwellnessctr@gmercyu.edu.
Zika Virus Announcement
Please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website for recent information regarding the Zika Virus.
Influenza Information
Due to the seriousness of the flu this season, please take some time to read the information on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website. The CDC provides important information including prevention methods, symptoms, and treatment methods.
Mumps Information
Due to the recent increase in cases of the mumps in Pennsylvania, please read the message below:
While no Gwynedd Mercy University students have reported symptoms of the mumps, we are providing the following information regarding the virus, its symptoms, and prevention and treatment of this illness.
Mumps is an infectious disease caused by a virus. It can result in high fever, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, decreased appetite, and the tell-tale sign of swelling of one or both parotid salivary glands in the cheek and jaw area below the ear. Symptoms usually appear about 16-18 days after exposure to infection but can range from 12-25 days after exposure. Persons infected with mumps are most contagious from three days before the onset of their symptoms to five days after their symptoms began. Some people who get mumps have very mild symptoms. Most people with mumps recover completely in a few weeks. Mumps can occasionally cause complications, especially in adults. Complications include deafness, inflammation of the testicles, ovaries, brain, and tissue covering the brain.
Mumps is highly contagious and is spread through saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose or throat. An infected person can spread the virus by coughing, sneezing, talking or kissing; sharing items such as drinks, cigarettes or eating utensils; and touching objects or surfaces with unwashed hands that are then touched by others shortly after.
To prevent the spread of the mumps virus: wash your hands frequently, don’t share food, beverages, eating utensils or cigarettes. Cover your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze, and avoid close contact with ill individuals. Clean and disinfect surfaces.
Mumps can be prevented with the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine series. The vaccines are usually given as part of routine childhood immunizations. While the majority of students at Gwynedd Mercy University have been fully immunized with the MMR series, this does not mean they are completely immune. The mumps vaccine is usually recommended for persons 12 months or older born after 1957. Two doses of the vaccine are recommended. If you are vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, your risk of mumps infection is lower; however, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms because even fully vaccinated individuals can get the illness. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting vaccinated if you haven’t already been vaccinated.
Persons with symptoms should avoid contact with others. They should not go to work or school. Students should contact the Student Health Center Ext. 21306 or email ferguson.d@gmercyu.edu if they experience any symptoms. Faculty and staff who develop symptoms should consult with their healthcare providers.