Student Medical Clinic

Walk-in medical appointments are available for students during our regular hours. Depending on the number of patients requiring care, walk-in visits might fill up before the end of our posted hours. Walk-in visits are for urgent concerns and the doctor may only see you for one concern during the visit. If you have already been seen by a doctor in the clinic for your concern, please book an appointment with that doctor for follow-up.

Staff and visitors may receive urgent first aid treatment on a walk-in basis.

Note: During the spring term (May – August) walk-in appointments are not available. However, same-day appointments can often be booked by visiting our office or calling.

We encourage you to book an appointment so that we know you are coming and can provide the best possible care. Depending on an assessment of the urgency of your concern, you might be able to see a doctor or nurse practitioner the same day or we will usually schedule an appointment within 2-3 days. For prescription refills please make sure to book an appointment in advance with the doctor who gave you the prescription.

University of Waterloo verification of illness certificates are available from Health Services for students who are unable to attend labs and examinations or are late with major assignments.

1. Your faculty determines academic accommodation for medical reasons; therefore we advise you to speak with your professor if you anticipate being unable to fulfill academic requirements because you are sick.
2. Attend University of Waterloo Health Services or your family physician during the illness to receive appropriate medical care and an accurate diagnosis.
3. Bring the University of Waterloo Verification of illness form (PDF) with you to be completed by your physician during your medical appointment.

For more information, see the Undergraduate Calendar, Assignments, Tests, and Final Exams, and Petition procedures (Policy 70)

With a referral from a Health Services physician, you can schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist in the mental health office. Our mental health nurse is also located in Health Services and can provide help with transition of care and phone safety checks. Counsellors from Counselling Services also work in the mental health office and you can schedule your appointments there if you prefer.

We provide laboratory services as ordered by our physicians and nurse practitioners. 

To serve our trans and non-binary identified student’s health needs, Health Services is revising our current care model to offer gender affirmative care. The aim is to establish gender identity supports, coordinate transition related care, and to work toward dedicating our clinic as a gender affirming safe space. Currently, transition related primary care at Health Services is supported by select physicians, nurses, and a dietician. As with many clinics, there may be a range of knowledge and competencies amongst clinicians.

Primary care provision and transition related services for trans and non-binary students include:

• Gender-affirming hormone (feminizing or masculinizing) therapy continuation, maintenance and monitoring 
• Coordination of care and referrals (including initiation of hormones and reassignment surgery)
• Counselling and consultation
• Documentation and letters
• Treatment and monitoring of temporary, acute and chronic illness
• Appropriate preventative health care and cancer screening (PAPs, prostate, chest/breast exams, and more)
• STI screening

Services

If you are interested in gender affirmative care, and/or for further information or self-referral, students can schedule a confidential Intake Appointment with one of our trained nurses. We suggest first booking an intake appointment, which will allow us to get to know you, review your medical history, and collaborate together to establish a pathway toward optimal health.

If you are considering hormone therapy, we recommend learning more about this through Rainbow Health Ontario before your medical visit, to help identify topics you would like to discuss with your primary care clinician. Call 519-888-4069 or visit Health Services to book a confidential Gender Affirmative Care Intake appointment.

Mental Health Care  

Mental health service providers through Campus Wellness include physicians, psychiatrists, mental health nurse, psychologists & social workers. Counselling Services offers inclusive counselling and mental health services to support your academic, personal, career and health-related concerns. You may request counselling support through an Intake Appointment at Counselling Services in Needles Hall. Feel free to drop by our office in Needles Hall North, 2nd Floor or phone 519-888-4567 ext. 32655 to learn more about our services and register for them.

Additional Information 

Names & pronouns 

• Your name in our Campus Wellness system reflects your name in the University system. However, during registration, inform staff of your preferred name(s) and pronouns. These changes will be noted in your medical records and respected by Health Services staff. 
• As of winter 2020, your chosen/preferred first name listed in WatIAM will be used broadly across campus (e.g., LEARN, Quest, WatCard, etc.). Take a moment now to verify or add a preferred first name in WatIAM.
• Additional instructions for name preference changes can be found through WUSA Trans Resources.

Gender inclusive restrooms

• Health Services washrooms are gender-inclusive. Staff can direct you to the closest restroom/changing area.
• Across campus, there are also inclusive restroom options available. Refer to the Inclusive Washroom Map for these options.

Health insurance 

Both UHIP and OHIP cover healthcare provider appointments at Health Services for transitioning and questioning students. If you have been prescribed hormones, and wish to have the cost covered by your student benefit plan, log onto Student Care to access the Restricted Drug Use Form. Alternatively, you can request a copy of this form through Health Services, in which you can then fill out and submit to Student Care for approval.

If you have questions regarding coverage, consult your insurance carrier, Student Care online, by phone: 1-866-369-8794 or visit the on-campus Health & Dental Plan office located within Health Services (Room 1006).

Resources 

On-campus resources:

• UW Trans Resources
• Equity Office
• Gender Inclusive Restrooms
• GLOW

Off-campus resources:

• Rainbow Health Ontario
• SPECTRUM
• The Rainbow Pages
• OK2BME
• CAMH

Our offices are a place where human rights are respected and where LGBTQ+ people and their friends and allies are welcome and supported.

Routine public health immunizations by referral from our physicians.

Routine allergy injections by referral of a physician.

Confidential STI testing, counselling and health monitoring.

Encompasses a wide range of clinical skills including assessment and prescribed medical treatments.

• Family planning.
• Birth control dispensary.
• Emergency contraception (morning after pill).
• Pregnancy tests.
• Birth control counselling and options.
• Same-sex couples.
• LGBTQ2S patients and pregnancy.

Warts are removed in several ways, such as: electrosurgery which cuts and coagulates the tissue; applying chemicals or extreme cold to the wart; or cutting the wart out and stitching the wound. Liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) is available at Health Services. Multiple applications, at one or two week intervals, may be required. Excision or electrocoagulation are not suitable for the face or around fingernails. Over-the-counter chemical treatments are an option for treating oneself and require persistence. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees when treating warts with any of the above methods. About 1/3 or warts recur no matter what treatment is applied. The best option may be to wait since the body's immune response will eventually result in the wart's disappearance without scarring, risk of infection or pain.electrocoagulation are not suitable for the face or around fingernails. Over-the-counter chemical treatments are an option for treating oneself and require persistence. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees when treating warts with any of the above methods. About 1/3 or warts recur no matter what treatment is applied. The best option may be to wait since the body's immune response will eventually result in the wart's disappearance without scarring, risk of infection or pain.

Medical coverage - pay per use services

Ontario Ministry of Health has delisted any services or procedures which are intended "solely to satisfy cosmetic concerns and are not medically necessary for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of illness". Warts are self-limiting viral lesions of the skin and it is not medically necessary that they be removed or treated. Wart removal services are still available to any person who chooses to pay the physician directly.

Exceptions and conditions

This decision does not apply to plantar warts foot, venereal warts or to a patient whose immune system is compromised.

Removal of warts is not covered in Nova Scotia. Conditions for coverage exist in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba (must be medically indicated and not cosmetic) and New Brunswick (the same as the conditions for Ontario).

Fees for removal of warts are not insured by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) or other provincial health plan.

• Assessment of warts - $17.50
• Chemical and/or cryotherapy treatment - $10.50

If you wish to have treatment with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) please book an appointment with our Wart Clinic. Patients who are considering excision or electrocoagulation will need to book an appointment with one of Health Services' doctors who do minor office surgery. (Please inquire about cost). Please inform the receptionist of your goal to ensure that the appropriate booking is made for you.electrocoagulation will need to book an appointment with one of Health Services' doctors who do minor office surgery. (Please inquire about cost). Please inform the receptionist of your goal to ensure that the appropriate booking is made for you.