Health & Counseling Services FAQs

All new students must complete health forms by July 1 (for fall semester start) or January 5 (for spring semester start). A physical exam is required within 12 months prior to the first day of class. Immunizations are also required. Access information about the required health forms.

The college requires a physical exam within 12 months prior to the first day of class.

If your physical exam is scheduled during July, please submit your entire health form as one single file after your July physical is completed. If your physical is scheduled in August, please call LVPG Family Medicine- Muhlenberg College at 484-664-3199 for information about health form submission.

If you need central air conditioning or have another special housing request, please refer to the Special Housing Request Process. You will need to submit the special housing request form and medical documentation to the Office of Disability Services. You will be notified by the Office of Disability Services on the status of your request.

For requests to use window air conditioner units, please refer to the college’s Air Conditioner Policy. You will need to upload medical documentation through the PyraMed Health Portal to support your request for the use of a window AC unit to Health Services. You will be notified by Housing & Residence Life when your request to use a window air conditioner unit has been approved.

Yes, the College requires one dose of the Meningococcal Quadrivalent vaccine on or after a student’s 16th birthday.

While classes are in session during the fall and spring semesters, LVPG Family Medicine - Muhlenberg College is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Center is staffed by full-time registered nurses and a nurse practitioner, with physician services available during select hours daily.

Students can contact Campus Safety (484-664-3110) year-round for emergencies.  During fall and spring semesters while classes are in session. Muhlenberg College EMS is typically available by calling Campus Safety.

After hours, students may also speak with a nurse at the LVHN Nurse Triage line (835-215-5475) who can help connect them with the services they need.

LVPG Family Medicine - Muhlenberg College is located in the Life Sports Center, 1st floor. Services are offered to any full-time traditional Muhlenberg College student with a completed Muhlenberg College Health Form on file.

Students receiving allergy injections may bring the serum and current schedules to LVPG Family Medicine - Muhlenberg College where the serum will be stored and administered in accordance with the schedule provided by their physicians.  Injections are administered only during the physician hours of LVPG Family Medicine - Muhlenberg College.

Within the city limits of Allentown, transportation may be arranged for freshmen students by contacting the Health Center staff, who will then coordinate transportation through Campus Safety for off-campus appointments. The College requires transportation be scheduled at least 48 business hours in advance. Transportation is available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A parent may always call to report his/her concerns or provide further information regarding a student. However, LVPG Family Medicine - Muhlenberg College staff will not share health care information or office visits with a parent without the permission of the student except in life-threatening situations or when the student is a danger to self or a danger to others. Students should designate on their LVPG Communication Form the names of persons to whom the staff are permitted to disclose medical information.

The College offers students an option to enroll in our college-sponsored student health insurance plan. A copy of the plan brochure and other information is available at www.RCMDstudentbenefits.com.

• Assess risk if applicable.
• Assist students in enhancing the repertoire of available coping strategies.
• Provide students with the important emotional support needed at the time and assist in identifying potential support systems.
• Provide referrals where applicable.
• Access crisis services if needed.

• There will be no limits placed on how many times a student may access counseling.
• Counseling sessions will be approximately 45-50 minutes in length.
• Counseling can be conducted either remotely, via secure video conferencing, or in-person at the Counseling Center.
• Students may request a specific counselor with whom they have established a previous relationship or request an appointment with someone new.
• Counseling will occur within regular business hours 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. though other arrangements may be available as per agreement by the student and clinician.
• There are no changes to after-hours emergency consultations. Students can access urgent care 24/7 after hours by calling our office at 484-664-3178.

It is highly recommended that you find a distraction-free space.

Furthermore, it is expected that you give the session your full attention and avoid multitasking during the session. Headphones are often helpful, but it is important that you are aware of your surroundings to ensure the session is confidential.

Students are strongly advised to transition to a treatment provider in their community if they wish to engage in regular ongoing therapy. The Shrink Space is a referral website Muhlenberg College has partnered with to help students connect with off-campus mental health care providers. Visit this website to search for providers who meet your particular needs.

Discussion groups tackling specific issues change every semester. Contact the Counseling Center ([email protected]) to learn more about what’s currently being offered and when.

Students can call 484-664-3199 or walk-in to the office to schedule medical appointments. Students may also complete this form to request an appointment with one of our medical professionals.

As an LVPG family medicine practice, students will have access to a faster and more robust referral network. Students will experience a greater continuity of care between their providers at the campus health center and their own providers due to a shared record system that will support students both while at College and at home. Also, there will be a better continuity of care when students are transported to the hospital or experiencing acute health concerns outside of the typical college health spectrum. This partnership will afford greater support for the College in responding to and managing major public health challenges (e.g., H1N1, COVID-19, meningitis outbreaks). There also will be greater access to training and development for Muhlenberg’s clinical team to continue to up-skill in providing excellent care.

Initially, only Muhlenberg College students will be eligible for services.

The health and wellness fee does not cover direct clinical care resources and services. The fee goes specifically to support prevention education efforts including peer education around mental health, physical health, healthy eating, healthy relationships and gender violence prevention. In addition, it provides support to critical one-time and ongoing health and wellness initiatives including online mental health and alcohol prevention training modules, Muhlenberg College EMS and campus safety equipment and technology needs, and more, including mental health after-hours support, which is not covered through the LVHN partnership.

Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) is Lehigh Valley Health Network’s (LVHN) physician group and one of the largest in the United States. LVPG has clinicians representing more than 50 medical specialties at more than 300 practice locations. For more information about LVPG, click here. For more information about LVHN, click here.

There will be no charge for counseling visits.

The Counseling Service clinical care model is remaining the same. This model has a proven track record of helping the College to maintain low wait times, high accessibility to students for care and a strong referral service to support students with more complex mental health needs. The clinical care model seeks to maximize student well-being and emotional success by offering the appropriate dosage and frequency of therapy without session limits and based on the specific, individual needs of each student as determined by clinical conversations between the therapist and student.

As there will be no charge for counseling visits, these visits will not be charged to health insurance.

Our counseling team will continue to serve Muhlenberg College. That said, staff transitions are typical in any organization and happen from time to time in our center. The College will remain fully involved in the hiring and supervision of our counselors and in all hiring processes relating to student health. Our focus will remain on clinicians whose primary area of expertise and experience is in college student counseling.

Yes, health insurance claims will be submitted for visits to the health center only. This will be managed just like when students visit their health care providers at home. Copays will be collected, and all visits will be run through the student’s health insurance on record. Students will be responsible for deductibles, coinsurance and other charges not paid by their health insurance.

Students should call their insurance carriers or check their carrier’s website to determine if their insurance participates with LVHN.

Yes. All students can use the health center. If a student’s home health insurance plan does not cover LVHN services, students are encouraged to purchase the student health insurance plan. This plan is specifically for college students and offered at a competitive cost. Regarding copays, students with a significant financial hardship may request that the copay be offset by a financial hardship emergency grant through the College.

Yes. The College offers a student health insurance plan. Information about the student health insurance plan can be found here (rcmdstudentbenefits.com/muhlenbergcollege).

Yes. As in past years, the College requires that all students provide proof of health insurance. By August 1, all students must enroll or waive the student health insurance plan by completing the information online found here.

LVPG does not participate with out-of-state Medicaid plans. Patients with out-of-state Medicaid plans are expected to pay at the time of service or seek services in the state where they are covered. Students with out-of-state Medicaid plans may purchase the College’s student health insurance plan.

We encourage students to sign up for MyLVHN, the health network’s digital portal, so they can pay online prior to the visit. Otherwise, copays will be due at the time of service. If the copay is not paid, the guarantor will be billed. If the student is 18 or older, they are the guarantor. Students who sign up for MyLVHN and opt to go paperless will receive the bill on the portal.

The insurance plan’s explanation of benefits (EOB) will be sent by the insurance carrier to the subscriber/policyholder of the plan.

Patient statements will be sent to the address listed for the guarantor (if over 18 years old, the student) and are available on the MyLVHN portal.

Yes. LVHN accepts payment through this source as it would through any other credit or debit card transaction. Typically, patients are given a debit card for FSA accounts.

The College has an emergency grant fund that can occasionally assist high-need students by providing immediate funds to help address costs, such as copays, lab fees, etc., associated with emergent issues.

LVHN uses Epic.

Care Everywhere lets your health care provider securely access and update your record from other health care organizations. Your providers who use Epic (or another electronic medical record system that can share health information) exchange information when they need to coordinate care for you and other patients. Records are updated automatically between health care providers through a secure network, Care Everywhere. Your doctor sees your information from other health care organizations right within your medical record.

MyLVHN offers personalized and secure online access to view portions of your medical record. It enables you to securely manage and receive information about your health. With MyLVHN, you can:

• Schedule medical appointments.
• View your health information, including medications, allergies, test results and more.
• Request prescription refills.
• Pay or review bills for medical services.
• Send and receive non-urgent messages from your LVHN/LVPG doctors and clinicians.

To enroll in MyLVHN, click the Sign up now button on MyLVHN.org or MyLVHN mobile. Students are encouraged to enroll in MyLVHN before the start of the semester.