Health Services

Health Services creates a culture of care, so you feel cared for as an individual! The staff is committed to encouraging students to collaborate and engage in the services provided. We want you to feel you have inherent value and the right to be treated with dignity. We enhance the educational process by helping to change or modify health-related barriers, promoting optimal wellness and educating students to make informed decisions about health-related concerns.

Our services are professional and confidential.

Services Offered

• Assessment and treatment of illness and injury
• Emergency care
• Referrals and appointments made to appropriate health care providers, such as physicians, dentists, optometrists, and counselors
• Over-the-counter medications and basic medical supplies, free of charge
• Loan of special equipment, including crutches, cold/heat packs, and vaporizers
• Medical treatments and monitoring, such as blood pressure screenings and weight checks
• Suture removal
• Wound care
• Ear irrigation
• CLIA Waived lab tests free of charge
• Injections by request, with client-provided medication, with the exception of allergy injections
• Assistance with billing and insurance questions
• Free influenza vaccine every fall to students, faculty, and staff

Counseling Services

BVU's Counseling Services are offered free of charge to our Storm Lake campus students. Appointments can be conveniently made through our online portal. Our mission is to enhance the academic environment and to promote the wellbeing of our students through mental health services. 

Counseling Services are professional and confidential.

Services Offered

• Individual counseling
• Group counseling
• Consultations, assessments, and treatments
• Off-campus referrals
• Support groups
• Crisis Services Educational Programming

If you need emergency mental health assistance, please use one or more of the following resources:

• Call Campus Security at 712.749.2500
• Call 911
• In a situation of imminent harm, call or have a family member or friend call your local hospital's emergency department. 
• Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255
• Text the Crisis Text Line by texting START to 741741 

Health Services Requirements for Students

First-Year and Transfer Students

Before you can complete the validation process, you will need to submit a completed Student Health Form, which includes immunization records, any exemption requests, front and back of your insurance card. 

Due Dates:  

• Fall entry: August 1
• Spring entry: December 15

Complete Your Student Health Form Here

• Insurance Requirements for Student-Athletes

  Student-athletes are required to have coverage for intercollegiate sport activities to protect athletes in case of injuries or accidents that may occur during training, competition, or travel for your sport. A copy of the primary insurance card must be turned in to the Buena Vista University athletic department on a yearly basis before student-athletes are allowed to participate in any team-related activities. These activities include conditioning, lifting, practicing, and participating in athletic events. This process has not changed from what has been done in prior years. 

  Student-athletes who do not have sufficient coverage for intercollegiate sport activities or don’t have access to a policy will be required to enroll in a Sports Accident policy. Student-athletes will be responsible for paying the premium for the policy and BVU staff can assist in the enrollment process. Student-athletes must be enrolled and the premium paid prior to participating in any sport-related activities. The link to enroll in the Sports Accident policy can be found here. 

  First Care FAQ

• Insurance Requirements for International Students

  International students attending BVU are required to have health insurance coverage to ensure they can access medical services while they are away from their own country. BVU will have a plan designed specially to meet the VISA requirements and all international students will be automatically enrolled in the plan and the premium charge will be charged to the student’s account.

  While insurance requirements are mandatory for all athletes and international students, it is recommended that everyone have appropriate insurance coverage. You can visit the First Agency website or Iowa Medicaid website to explore various options available to all students. 

  Any inquiries, please contact the Business Office at 712.749.2041 or Health Services at 712.749.1238.

Vaccination Policy

Buena Vista University requires students to provide documentation of current immunizations as part of enrollment and campus housing eligibility.

• Immunization Requirements
  • Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): Two doses after 12 months of age
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap): One booster within the past 10 years
  • Polio: Documentation of completion of the primary series
  • Meningococcal: At least one dose within the past five years
• Immunization Exemptions

  In accordance with Iowa law, students may request an exemption from immunization requirements either by (1) submitting a statement from a licensed physician, advanced registered nurse, or physician assistant indicating that specific immunizations would be harmful to the student’s health, or (2) completing a religious exemption affidavit affirming that the immunizations conflict with the tenets of a recognized religious denomination.
  
  Students can also learn more about state immunization requirements and exemptions through the Iowa Department of Public Health.