24/7 Community

Health Services

The purpose of EHS Health Services is to provide quality comprehensive health care to all students of the EHS community. We offer a broad spectrum of primary care specialty services and health education that pertains to both the medical and mental health needs of adolescents. EHS Health Services includes McAllister Health Center, which houses a medical clinic, medication dispensary, and a 12-bed infirmary; the Counseling Department; and the Athletic Training Department.

You can always contact a representative in the McAllister Health Center via email at

healthcenter@episcopalhighschool.org
or by phone at

703-933-4063.

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Medical Clinic

The medical clinic located in the McAllister Health Center is staffed by registered nurses and has a full-time physician available to provide clinical consultation and care. Students are always welcome to be seen in the clinic on a walk-in and or appointment basis. Students desiring medical attention must report in person to the medical clinic directly, or alert an advisor, dorm parent, or faculty member about their desire to seek medical attention.

The nurse on duty will triage each student according to the level of care needed and will make a determination about the students needs. Included in this are determinations about need for physician consultation in the clinic, need for subspecialty consultation outside of the health center, need for emergency care, need for follow up care, need for class or athletic excuse, etc. The nurse on duty will provide class excuse if he/she feels the student’s illness warrants absence from class.

The status of a student requiring absence from class will be posted on the Daily Report available for viewing by faculty, staff, and coaches on the School’s website. Students will not be allowed to miss class for appointments or walk-in visits to the Health Center during class hours unless deemed appropriate by the nurse on duty.

Services available at the clinic include first aid, over-the-counter symptom care, routine primary care for common illnesses, and various other services including but not limited to blood draws, urine testing, asthma treatment, strep throat and mono testing, wound care, health counseling, and vaccinations/ immunizations. In addition, Influenza vaccine is offered to all members of the EHS community during the fall of each session. The flu vaccine is strongly recommended to mitigate the risk of epidemic that comes with a residential community such as ours.

While there is no charge for routine evaluation by the nurse or doctor in the medical clinic, a fee is charged for all vaccines and for some non-routine items. A fee schedule is available at the clinic and provided upon request. Charges are processed through the student’s account, unless otherwise requested by the student or parent.

The clinic also provides several common over-the-counter health related products for sale directly to students in an area adjacent to the reception desk at the McAllister Health Center. This area is known as the “Medicine Cabinet.” Items purchased are charged to the student’s account.
Medication Dispensary

The McAllister Health Center houses a mediation dispensary whereby various prescription medications, especially those classified as controlled substances, are distributed to the students by licensed health center staff. The Health Center and EHS abide by an extensive and strict medication policy dictated by the medical director, state licensing boards, and federal drug laws. The medication policy applies to all students, with particular emphasis on those students taking medications for depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, or other controlled substances.

This policy includes the requirement that students have a prescribing physician outside of the School diagnoses the student and prescribe the appropriate medication. Parents and guardians are responsible for procuring prescriptions according to the medication policy with a notable emphasis on the fact that the dispensary will only accept written scripts and will not accept pills directly from the student or parent at any time. The policy also includes guidelines regarding how a medication will be dispensed when the student requires medications during off-campus school-sponsored activity. The Health Center will not dispense medication to students for times when they are off campus with non-school sponsored activities such as weekends away from campus, school breaks, extended periods of time at home, etc. For such times, families are responsible for maintaining an adequate supply of medication for their student at home.

Students requiring daily medications will have the dispensing procedure reviewed with them during the first weeks of school. Students are strongly encouraged to assume responsibility for taking medications at the appropriate time and for communicating with the health center staff about any concerns related to medications.The Health Center maintains a strong interest in managing a student’s medication compliance, effectiveness, tolerance, and any other concerns surrounding medications. The Health Center will track medication compliance and report this in a compliance report sent electronically every other week to the student, parent, advisor, and any other relevant school faculty.

Counseling Center

Episcopal’s counseling center operates from a wellness model that aims to strengthen our community through education, prevention, and intervention meant to foster healthy adolescent development.

EHS Counselors believe that the capacity to explore obstacles to personal and academic growth in a proactive way is a sign of strength and resilience. Students are encouraged to seek out counselors for short-term, solution-focused sessions aimed at overall wellness, insight-oriented exploration, healthy decision making, and adjustment to life transitions.

There are two full-time counselors available to provide support, assessment, and brief psychotherapy for students during the regular school day. There is always a counselor on call who can be reached through the McAllister Health Center if a student is in need of emergency care. The counselors collaborate with local mental health providers and a consulting psychiatrist and make referrals for ongoing therapy and specialized support.

Students can request an appointment by emailing one of the counselors or filling out a Request for Appointment form at the Health Center. Families can contact the counselors directly to discuss concerns, to schedule an appointment for their student, or to make arrangements for referral to local off campus providers. Referrals can also be made by advisors, faculty, coaches, and other members of the EHS community.

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Confidentiality

The Counseling Department abides by the Episcopal Health Services policy on privacy and confidentiality. The counselors recognize the importance of confidentiality as essential to the success of the counseling relationship and as necessary in building a trusting, therapeutic connection. We encourage students and families to disclose relevant information to the members of our community who are involved in the student's daily life when appropriate, but if they choose not to do so, the counselors will honor confidentiality within the limits of safety and the law. Additionally, counselors collaborate as a clinical team with each other, the Medical Director, the Director of Nursing and other Health Center staff to coordinate care.
New Student Support

The counselors are available to help new students as they make their transition to boarding school life. Conversations often revolve around being away from home, making new friends, living with a roommate, and navigating new academic expectations. Counselors also provide brief mental health counseling for students facing obstacles to personal and academic growth and can make referrals to local mental health providers for ongoing and specialized support as needed. The counselors will be available during orientation to meet new students and talk with families, and they will hold open house hours to introduce themselves to students during the first few weeks of school. Families can contact the Director of Counseling with any questions or counseling requests.
Counseling Center Programming

“Healthy choices” is the theme that guides our daily work with Episcopal students and anchors our health programming. Our goal is to provide relevant and up-to-date information about health matters, encourage dialogue that helps students discern healthy options, and work to create a school culture that is conducive to learning. Through our orientation programs, Health and Wellness course, various small group workshops, substance abuse prevention programs, and other student life programming, we are able to be proactive in our work with students.
Care Related to Substance Use

The Counseling Department supports Episcopal’s policy on substance use and possession while assisting any student with substance related questions or concerns. In addition to collaborating with the Student Assistance Team (SAT) and the Dean’s Office to provide appropriate evaluation and support for students who are placed on a no-use agreement, counselors are available to work with individual students and families to address concerns related to substance use. Students and families can also contact one of the counselors for referral to a local substance abuse specialist.

Please see the Student Handbook for more information about Episcopal’s three responses to substance use and possession or contact the Director of Counseling for more information about the Student Assistance Team (SAT).

Privacy & Confidentiality

All members of Episcopal High School Health Services are guided by federal privacy laws protecting patient information in the health care setting, state laws regarding adolescent access to medical care and right to privacy, and federal laws regarding privacy in the educational setting. Where possible and when necessary, EHS Health Services maintains communication with a student’s advisor, family, dorm parent, etc. while respecting the framework of these laws. In general, personal information about a student and his or her situation is shared only with the people who need to know this information in order to provide for the student’s safety and welfare (“need-to-know basis”). Questions regarding the appropriateness or authorization of disclosing health-related information can be directed to the EHS medical director.