Health Services

The Health Services Center provides students with direct and preventive care, health counseling, and education outreach. Its staff includes a family practice physician, registered nurses, a nurse midwife, and a registered dietician.

The staff of Health Services can prescribe medication and refill existing prescriptions. Health Services is also responsible for issuing health-related alerts and communication to the Bennington community. Free safe sex and first aid supplies are available to students from Health Services, as well as in the student houses.

The Health Services staff provides services one would expect at family practices in Vermont, such as “well” visits (check-ups and physicals), evaluation and management of acute and chronic medical problems, coordination of care with home physicians, health counseling, specialist referrals when necessary, some laboratory tests, and prescriptions for medications. Nutritional consultation is also available to students through Health Services. The services of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) in Bennington are used as needed for laboratory tests, x-rays, emergency care, and specialist consultation.

All students participate in a supplemental accident and sickness plan as part of the required health service charge. The plan provides year-round supplemental health insurance coverage for students, which includes most office visits and laboratory tests performed by Health Services.

Physicians are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and make referrals for consultation by outside providers when appropriate. During non-term times, a referral service is available for students needing health care locally.