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Otago University Student Health

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    We are a team of qualified professionals providing high quality health care to students of the University of Otago.

    Student Health Services (SHS) is centrally located on campus in a purpose built facility. We have approximately 50 staff, comprising nurses, general practitioners, mental health & well-being clinicians and administrative staff.

    Student Health is not a member of a PHO, therefore we do not receive any capitation funding for the provision of your primary health care.

    Students may choose to remain registered at their current GP practice/PHO and still attend Student Health.

    For a full list of our team at Student Health please see our website - https://www.otago.ac.nz/studenthealth/about/people/index.html

    Immunisation

    Immunisation is the safest and most effective way to provide protection for you and your tamariki’s health. For more information view the NZ immunisation schedule.

    Minor Accident Care

    Primary care practices offer a range of services and are able to deal with most minor accident care. If they are not able to deal with an injury they will refer on to the appropriate service.

    Minor Surgery

    Minor surgery is commonly provided in primary care practices, providing fast, competent removal and biopsies of skin lesions. Other services include cosmetic work such as removal of benign moles and skin tags. Ingrown toenail surgery is also commonly provided. 
    These conditions do not need to be referred to a hospital, perhaps saving you a long wait or a cancelled appointment when a more serious case takes priority. 
    If your doctor is unable to provide the procedure you need, he/she may know a neighbouring GP who does. Otherwise, the PHO will have a list of GPs trained in particular operations.

    Lab Results

    Sometimes your doctor needs to take a sample of blood or urine either to discover what is wrong with you or to measure something in your blood so that the right medication is given to you. These tests could be anything from blood sugar to a full blood count or a sample of tissue to test for cancer.

    While urine can generally be tested in the surgery, blood and other specimens are usually sent away for testing at a laboratory. Most results come back within 48 hours unless a very rare test is needed which has to go to a specialist lab further away when it might take a little longer.

    Cervical Screening

    All women and people with a cervix aged 25 – 69 who have ever had intimate skin-to-skin contact or been sexually active should have regular cervical screening. This includes women who have been immunised against HPV. Together, regular screening and HPV immunisation provide the best protection against cervical cancer.

    There are now more options for how you have cervical screening done:

    • a simple vaginal swab test for HPV, either done yourself or with help from a healthcare professional
    • a cervical sample taken by a healthcare professional (used to be known as a smear test).

    Talk with your healthcare provider to decide which option is best for you.

    If HPV is found, you may need to have a follow-up test or be referred directly for colposcopy.

    If you’ve not yet had HPV testing, you should be screened 3 years after your last test (or 1 year if immune deficient). Once you have had an HPV test, and providing HPV is not found, your next screening will be in 5 years (or 3 years if immune deficient).

    For more information: Cervical screening | Time to Screen - National Screening Unit

    ECG

    An ECG is a recording of your heart's electrical activity. Electrode patches are attached to your skin to measure the electrical impulses given off by your heart. The result is a trace that can be read by a doctor. It can give information of previous heart attacks or problems with the heart rhythm.

    Spirometry

    Spirometry is a tool that measures how effectively your lungs are working. It is able to show how much air lungs are able to hold (their volume) and how much air can be breathed in and out (inhaled and exhaled) which is called flow. This tool is used to assess damage caused by conditions like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – a group that includes bronchitis and emphysema), pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis and asthma. Results are shown on a graph called a pneumotachograph.

    For more information click on the following link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirometry

    Patient Portal

    A patient portal is a secure online tool provided by GP practices that can allow convenient access to your health information as well as interaction with the practice e.g. booking appointments and requesting repeat prescriptions.

    Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC)

    LARC methods are very effective at preventing unplanned pregnancy and are “fit and forget” forms of contraception – you don’t need to remember them every day or every month. LARC methods:

    • Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCD or IUD) are inserted through the cervix into a woman’s uterus. IUCDs may be either hormonal (Mirena® or Jaydess® ) or non-hormonal (copper IUCD).
    • Jadelle® is a hormone-releasing implant that is inserted just under the skin of the upper arm.

    Depending on the type of device, it will need to be changed after between three and ten years.

    Read more about LARC methods here

    Liquid Nitrogen

    Liquid nitrogen is a fast, effective treatment provided in many practices to treat viral warts, sun damaged skin, skin tags and many benign cosmetic lesions. It comes in a container with a nozzle and is usually applied by swab or spray. Often one treatment is all that is needed but sometimes it may need repeating after two weeks.
    Because it cannot be stored for too long, you will often find that your GP will treat a number of patients one after the other. 

    For more information click here.

    Travel Advice / Immunisations

    Another service offered to you at your GP surgery (primary care practice) is advice and immunisation before you go to another country. While you are likely to have the immunisations needed to live in New Zealand, there may be other injections you need to protect yourself before going for example to Africa or South America. In some places you will need protection from rabies or malaria. Yellow fever vaccinations are only available at approved centres; please click here to view the centres in New Zealand. Your doctor will be able to tell you what diseases you will need to be protected from in any named country and advise you on other medical matters. 

    Covid-19 testing

    This practice provides Covid-19 testing to enrolled Otago University students. Please call the practice on 0800 479 821 for more information.

    If you are offered a test for COVID-19, please take it. It will help us ensure we don't have community transmission, and help keep your friends and whanau safe. Regardless of where you are tested, COVID-19 testing is free of charge.

    Outside of our normal business hours please call 0800 VIRUS19 (0800 847 8719) to get tested.

    0800 VIRUS 19 Call Centre Hours

    9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday

    9am to 12pm, Weekends

    This clinic provides pre-departure repatriation testing for students who are travelling. Please call to book an appointment. There is a charge for this testing.

    Fee comment

    Our fees schedule can be found on our website - https://www.otago.ac.nz/studenthealth/about/otago020527.html