Primary Care Health Service

A new virus, coronavirus 2019-nCoV, has been discovered coming from an animal market in Wuhan, China.  The number of cases is rapidly increasing in China, and cases have now been identified in South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and most recently in the U.S as well.  This virus causes symptoms that range from the common cold to a form of severe pneumonia that can be fatal (usually in older adults).  

Travelers from Wuhan to the U.S. are now being rerouted only to airports equipped to perform screening for those with symptoms of the illness, in order to limit the spread of this virus.  In order to accomplish a similar screening, we at the PCHS have contacted all students who are from this area and are in close contact with them to observe for symptoms.  We also encourage anyone who has travelled to this area to report to us so that we can assist you with monitoring for symptoms, for your safety. 

We will continue to closely monitor the CDC and NYS Department of Health websites and will manage the situation as per their recommendations. 

For now, because we are also in the midst of cold and flu season, we encourage all students to abide by the following:

• Do not share any food or drinks with anyone
• Avoid contact with anyone who is coughing or sneezing; and cover your own cough/sneezing with your elbow.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap for at least 20-30 seconds and/or use hand sanitizer as directed as often as possible throughout the day, especially before meals.
• Try to get 7-9 hours of sleep at night.

If you develop symptoms, such as fever (Temperature >100.5), productive cough, severe sore throat, and/or body aches, please feel free to come in to the Primary Care Health Service during our walk-in hours (9-11:30am, except Thursdays, which are until 11:00 am) or call to schedule an appointment, and we’d be happy to see you.

Location:

Lower Level Brooks Hall

» Campus accessibility map

Phone: 1-212-854-2091
Fax: 1-212-854-2702

Hours:

The PCHS is open for clinical care during the academic year. We are closed for all College holidays.

Walk-In Urgent Care Hours:

Monday - Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Friday: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Scheduled & Same Day Appointments:

Monday - Wednesday: 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Thursday: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Friday: 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Administrative Hours:

Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

The PCHS closes every Thursday from 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM for a staff meeting.

Clinician On-Call:

1-855-622-1903

The Barnard Primary Care Health Service recognizes that serious illness will not always be confined to weekday, daytime hours. 

For those urgent or potentially dangerous situations that cannot wait until Primary Care re-opens, telephone advice is available throughout the academic year, including Thanksgiving, and spring breaks. 

• The Clinician On-Call is not available during winter or summer break.

The Clinician On-Call is only available when the Primary Care Health Service is NOT open.

• During regular business hours, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday, please call Primary Care directly at 1-212-854-2091.

For more information and FAQs about the Clinician On-Call Service, please click here. 

We hope you stay healthy day and night… but if an after-hours emergency arises, the Clinician On-Call is available to help.

• Frequently Asked Questions 
• Insurance Information: Printing Your Aetna Student Health Card, Claim Forms & Waiver Link
• Open Communicator: Online Appointments, Secure Messaging, Forms
• Medical Records and Authorization to Release Medical Records Form
• End of Life, Advanced Directives & Health Care Proxy Form

Dear Barnard Community:

In recent weeks, you may have heard about a number of companies advertising "at home evidence collection kits." These kits have been marketed to colleges and universities as well as individual consumers as an alternative to standard hospital forensic exams for survivors of sexual violence. As healthcare professionals and sexual violence educators, we cannot, in good conscience, endorse these products.

We have grave concerns over the high potential for harm and re-traumatization that these kits pose.

• As they currently exist, there is a high likelihood that the kits will not be admissible evidence in legal proceedings.

• The companies have not made clear what happens to a survivor’s personal information once it is submitted.  

• These companies are charging survivors for the kits whereas hospital forensic exams are provided free for survivors who wish to have them done.

We urge survivors of sexual violence who wish to have evidence collected to seek out professional medical attention and support services.

• Advocates at Sexual Violence Response (SVR) are available to help you navigate the process and accompany you to the ER. Their helpline – 212.854.HELP(4357) – is available 24/7.

• Mt. Sinai-St.Lukes is the closest emergency room with a dedicated medical team for survivors of sexual violence. Trained, trauma-informed professionals can walk you through the evidence collection process, follow the proper protocols including following the chain of custody required for legal evidence, as well as provide any necessary testing and preventative medication.

• Primary Care Health Service can assist you with a medical evaluation, testing,  and/or referral to an appropriate resource

• Furman Counseling Center can provide counseling support, often so crucial after experiencing trauma

• Title IX support, which can enable you to access accommodations which many survivors find helpful in the aftermath of trauma. Additionally, Title IX can assist you if you choose to file a report.

• Additional information about the evidence collection process can be found on the Title IX website.

While every survivor’s path to healing is different and we encourage each individual to make the choices that feel best and safest to them, we also feel it is our duty to inform our campus community of the potential harm of these at-home kits so that individuals are informed and aware.

Sincerely,

MJ Murphy - Executive Director of Student Health & Wellness Services
Marjorie Seidenfeld - Medical Director
Jessica Cannon - Director of Health Promotion & Education
Cristen Kennedy - Program Coordinator of Prevention Education

If you are a survivor of sexual or relationship violence or you are caring for a survivor and you need support, please reach out to the following confidential resources: 

Sexual Violence Response
Barnard: 105 Hewitt Hall
Morningside: 700 Lerner Hall
24/7 Helpline: 212.854.HELP (4357) 

Being Barnard
122 Reid Hall
212.853.0145

Furman Counseling
100 Hewitt Hall
212.854.2092

Primary Care Health Service
Lower Level Brooks Hall
212.854.2091

_______________

​To date, a number of survivor support agencies, colleges and universities, medical institutions, and government entities have released statements regarding these kits such as the Campus Advocacy& Prevention Professionals Association, International Association of Forensic Nurses, New York Attorney General, and many more. You can read their statements below:

Campus Advocacy & Prevention Professionals Association:
http://www.nationalcappa.org/me-too-kits

International Association of Forensic Nurses: 
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.forensicnurses.org/resource/resmgr/docs/Responding_to_Victim_Adminis.pdf

University of Utah SAAVI Program:
http://www.usu.edu/today/?id=58594

New York AG Office: 
https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2019/attorney-general-james-orders-sexual-assault-evidence-kit-companies-cease-and

Virginia AG Office:   
https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/1525-september-10-2019-herring-issues-warning-about-self-administered-sexual-assault-evidence-kits

North Carolina AG Office:
https://ncdoj.gov/attorney-general-josh-stein-me-too-at-home-sexual-assault-kits-are-dangerous-and-misleading/

Michigan AG:
https://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-359-92297_47203-506020--,00.html