Announcements

Regarding Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health

Through a statement on social media from USC president Carol L. Folt, the university president confirmed that "When women's reproductive rights are not protected federally, it can lead to harmful disparities that impact women's health and wellbeing. In California, women will retain choice over the most private, personal, difficult decision of their lives, but that will not be true in many other states. As a leading educational institution with a major healthcare system, we must continue to champion safe access to women's reproductive healthcare through our advocacy, research and medical enterprise."

Questions about Student Health? Sign up for for a chat!

USC Student Health is offering one-one chats for new and returning students about a range of health topics including immunization requirements, insurance, and other personalized questions for arrival on campus and in the degree programs. Q and A sessions are available in the months leading up to the beginning of the Fall and Spring terms: June/July and December/January. Sign up for a 10-minute appointment. General questions may also be sent to studenthealth@usc.edu; please include your student ID number in your message.

Fentanyl Advisory 6/1

Anyone who has access to drugs that are not prescribed to them, and not directly dispensed to them through a pharmacy, should be advised to have Narcan, also known as naloxone, available and test any drugs for fentanyl.

Be wary of counterfeit pills obtained through acquaintance/social media purchase.
Assume that all non-prescribed substances contain fentanyl.
Always have Narcan in case of an overdose.
Never use alone (friends can save your life!).
Test your drugs for fentanyl using fentanyl test strips.
Start low and go slow (watch and wait before using more).
Avoid dangerous combinations: fentanyl is especially dangerous when mixed with benzos such as Xanax and Klonopin, but mixing it unknowingly other opiates such as heroin, Vicodin, or Oxycontin or even with alcohol can also lead to an overdose very quickly.

Narcan is a covered benefit of the USC Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP/Aetna), Medi-Cal, and most other insurance plans and does not require a prescription. It can be obtained at USC Pharmacies and other retail pharmacies with a consultation with a pharmacist. Fentanyl testing strips are available at the USC Bookstores. USC students can obtain no-cost kits containing both naloxone and testing strips through the Naloxone SC program run by graduate students in the USC School of Pharmacy. USC Department of Public Safety’s first responders carry Narcan and are trained to administer it; the 24/7 emergency number is 213-740-4321 (UPC); 323-442-1000 (HSC).

Health Advisory for Individuals at Higher Risk of Serious Cases of COVID-19

May 11, 2022—As COVID-19 cases nationally and in Los Angeles County continue to steadily increase in recent weeks, we are sharing the following information as a special advisory for individuals who may be at higher risk of serious symptoms of COVID-19. The best protection is to be up to date on vaccinations, including boosters when eligible. Boosters are safe, and people over the age of 50 can now get an additional booster 4 months after their prior dose to increase their protection further. This is especially important for those 65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe disease from COVID-19 as they are the most likely to benefit from receiving an additional booster dose at this time. Treatment for Individuals Positive for COVID-19 If you are over age 65 or at higher risk of serious COVID-19 illness and develop symptoms of COVID-19, get tested right away. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the severity of your illness. If you are at risk for serious/severe COVID-19 and you have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 5 days, discuss treatment with your healthcare provider right away. You may be eligible for antiviral treatment if you:

Are age 65 and older
Are at high risk of getting more serious symptoms
Have tested positive for COVID-19
Are not in the hospital but have mild to moderate symptoms for 5 days or less

Employees should contact their regular healthcare provider. Students may contact USC Student Health at 213-740-9355 or through mySHR. If you do not have access to a regular healthcare provider, treatment is available through the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health “Test to Treat” program.

Update on COVID-19 Procedures (5/2/22)

In keeping with the state and county’s revised definition of “close contact” (someone sharing the same indoor space for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) the university is revising its COVID-19 notification practices. This change is needed to ensure compliance with the new definition. Beginning on Wednesday, May 4, all currently enrolled students and all university employees will receive a daily email message with an update on reported cases. A sample message is attached. The message contains a link to the daily report of cases, and instructions for individuals who believe that they have been in close contact with a positive individual.

Sarah Van Orman awarded Presidential Medallion for advancing USC’s values in the field of student health

After working in university health care for most of her professional career, Sarah Van Orman was well prepared for her role when she arrived at USC in 2017. Even so, the COVID-19 pandemic would put her and her department to the test.

With calm and perseverance, Van Orman has led USC Student Health throughout these difficulties, earning her a Presidential Medallion. “To say that Student Health at USC has had a challenging five years is an understatement,” Van Orman said, “I am extremely proud of the staff at Student Health and their ability to be resilient through the unprecedented demands related to mental health and navigating a pandemic.” “I am extremely proud of the staff at Student Health, their ability to be resilient, grow, and continue to enhance the care that we’re providing,” she said.

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