Columbia University Health Services

Understanding how services are provided in the Urgent Care Center will help you to obtain the most effective and appropriate medical care.

Upon your arrival, sign-in and complete a brief registration form at the front desk. If you are experiencing an acute condition like chest pain, shortness of breath, or severe abdominal pain you should inform the Patient Services Assistant before completing the form.

You will then meet with one of our PCMS registered nurses (RN’s) in the triage area of the Urgent Care Center. The triage RN will review your symptoms, complete a brief physical exam, check your vital signs (if appropriate), and determine the best location in PCMS for your care.

If your condition does not require immediate care, the RN may schedule an appointment for you in one of our practice groups. The RN may also provide you with self-care recommendations to help with your symptoms.

If your condition requires immediate attention, the triage nurse will arrange for you to be seen by the provider in the Urgent Care Center.

Students are seen in order of medical priority in the Urgent Care Center. Depending on the nature of your medical concern, this may result in a significant waiting time. It is likely that an extended wait time will incur during the busiest hours of the Urgent Care Center (generally 11am - 2pm, and after 5pm). Your cooperation and patience while waiting are appreciated.

The Urgent Care Center medical assistant will escort you to an examination room and then the provider will meet with you to complete a thorough assessment of your condition and determine the best treatment and follow-up care. Rarely, students have conditions that cannot be fully evaluated or treated in the Urgent Care Center. In these instances arrangements are promptly made for you to be transferred to St. Luke’s Hospital Emergency Room .

Many laboratory tests for acute medical conditions are completed on-site in the Urgent Care Center. Specialized testing is sent to an off-site laboratory and is subject to co-payments and fees according to your insurance coverage.

X-rays and other types of radiology tests are usually completed in the Radiology Department of St. Luke’s Hospital Emergency Room . For radiology services, such as specialized laboratory tests, you will be charged based on your insurance coverage.

Visits to the Urgent Care Center and Primary Care Medical Services are covered by the Health Service Fee . For those students who have not enrolled in the Health Service Program , a fee will be charged per visit. For more information about the costs for care, go to Fees .

PCMS  serves as the primary care provider for all students who carry the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan and also for all students enrolled in the Health Service Program . All visits to PCMS, including the Urgent Care Center, are covered. There is no limit on the frequency or total number of visits. Visits to outside specialists need to be arranged in consultation with a PCMS provider and require a referral issued in advance of the visit.

To obtain a referral, make an appointment to be evaluated by a PCMS provider. Referrals are written at the discretion of providers at the time of your visit.

• Dial 99 from any campus phone or 212 854 5555 from your cell phone to access CAVA .
• Dial 911 if you are off campus.
• St. Luke’s Hospital Emergency Room at 113^th Street and Amsterdam is the nearest emergency room to the Morningside campus, and is open 24 hours a day.

If you are having an urgent concern after scheduled clinical hours, contact the clinician-on-call at 212 854 9797. Your concern will be assessed by one of our expert telephone triage specialists and recommendations for care will be provided.