In accordance with our mission statement, SHS seeks to model and provide excellence throughout a full range of primary care services. We also serve as your gateway to and referral source for specialty services should those be required.

A dedicated staff, experienced in college health, recognizes that health sciences students have busy schedules, complex and often stressful lives, and specific health care needs and requirements. We also recognize that students in different schools experience different pressures, concerns and preferences. Our first priority is providing excellent and accessible health care services to all students in the health sciences programs, both clinical and non-clinical.

Beginning February 17th, Student Health Service will charge a $25 “No Show Fee” for all appointments not kept by students unless they are cancelled at least 24 hours in advance. (For example, an 8:30 a.m. appointment would need to be cancelled no later than 8:30 a.m. the preceding day). A $25 fee will also be charged for any “Urgent Appointments” (made through the triage nurse) that are not kept. These fees will be transferred to your SSOL account at the time of the missed appointment. We hope this will decrease the rate of “No Show” appointments, which adversely affects the ability of other students to be seen in a timely manner. Cancellations can be made by leaving a voicemail at 212-305-3400, press 1, or by emailing cumc-student-health-service@ columbia.edu.

Student Health Service will continue to send email reminders 48 hours before your appointment. We hope that this new policy will encourage students to be responsible toward their colleagues and notify us of appointments they cannot keep. To reduce waiting time for your colleagues, we would also like to remind you that if you arrive more than 10 minutes late for an appointment, you will have to reschedule. (If you arrive AFTER the time your appointment is over, it will be considered a “No Show” and charged accordingly.) Remember, beginning February 17th, 2009 there will be a $25 charge for all appointments not cancelled at least 24 hours ahead of time. There will be a similar charge for urgent appointments made through the nurse that are not kept.

SHS Overview Brochure