University Health Services at Berkeley: A Comprehensive Guide to Services and Resources

The University of California, Berkeley is dedicated to fostering a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. A crucial component of this commitment is ensuring the health and well-being of its students, faculty, and staff through University Health Services (UHS). UHS provides comprehensive medical, mental health, health promotion, sports medicine, and insurance services to all Cal students. It also extends occupational health, worksite health promotion, and employee assistance services to all faculty and staff. With approximately 100,000 visits to the Tang Center (and other campus locations) per year, UHS plays a vital role in the UC Berkeley community.

Comprehensive Healthcare Services

UHS offers a wide array of medical services, functioning much like a regular doctor's office and urgent care center, conveniently located on campus. All registered students are eligible to receive care at University Health Services, regardless of their health insurance coverage.

Primary and Urgent Care

UHS provides both primary and urgent care services, addressing a wide range of health concerns. There are fees for Primary Care and Urgent Care visits, procedures, lab tests, x-rays, and medications if they are indicated.

Mental Health Services

Recognizing the importance of mental well-being, UHS offers a variety of mental health services, including counseling and anonymous online screenings for conditions like depression, anxiety, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress. These screenings can help individuals determine whether seeking professional consultation would be beneficial. Topic-specific confidential counseling services aim to help students strengthen coping skills, problem-solve, and identify resources.

Sports Medicine

UHS provides sports medicine services for student-athletes and those involved in recreational activities, addressing injuries and promoting overall physical health.

Pharmacy Services

The UHS Pharmacy offers a convenient and cost-effective option for prescription medications. While Berkeley SHIP members are not required to use UHS Pharmacy, many prescriptions, including brand-name and specialty medications, have lower copays than those at other pharmacies in the area. The UHS Pharmacy also carries some over-the-counter medications and contraceptive products at discounted prices.

Health Promotion and Wellness

UHS is dedicated to preventive health, focusing on wellness, health maintenance, and disease prevention. It includes general counseling regarding healthy habits and practices and specific advice and testing tailored to the individual depending on personal and familial health risks. UHS departments host free events and workshops with various partners across campus. UHS departments also provide a variety of resources via tabling events. Find health tips and updates in the monthly UHS student newsletter.

Other Specialized Services

UHS provides a range of specialized services to cater to the diverse needs of the UC Berkeley community:

Eating Disorders Clinic: Healthcare providers at UHS assist students with eating disorders (ED).
Biofeedback Therapy: During biofeedback, you're connected to electrical sensors that help you receive information about your body.
Nutrition Counseling: Drop-in Nutrition Counseling sessions allow students to meet with a registered dietitian over video or phone for general nutrition concerns.
Social Services Counseling: Topic-specific confidential counseling services aim to help students strengthen coping skills, problem-solve, and identify resources.
Pregnancy Options Counseling: UHS provides counseling and support for students who think they might be pregnant.

Insurance and Billing

Understanding insurance and billing is crucial for accessing healthcare services.

SHIP (Student Health Insurance Plan)

All registered students at the University of California are required to meet the university’s health insurance mandate. UC Berkeley offers the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). All UC Berkeley students enrolled in SHIP automatically will receive benefits covering well vision exam and prescription glasses or contact lenses.

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Billing and Fees

There are fees for Primary Care and Urgent Care visits, procedures, lab tests, x-rays, and medications if they are indicated. Contact the Billing & Cashiers Office for questions about fees.

Insurance After Graduating/Leaving

Whether you are graduating or leaving the University for a period of time, SHIP coverage cannot continue.

Technology and Information Systems at UHS and RecWell

The IT department within UHS and Recreation and Wellbeing (RecWell) is responsible for providing a variety of IT services. This includes managing all aspects of the department’s computer systems and technical services including the design, development, installation, operation and maintenance of the complex UHS and RecWell technical environments.

Information Systems Operations

The IT department manages all aspects of the department’s computer systems and technical services including the design, development, installation, operation and maintenance of the complex UHS and RecWell technical environments. This involves directing staff in analyzing business practices and operations and developing systems. The team manages evaluation and installation of all new and upgraded systems, installation and repair of systems.

Network Management and Support

The IT department manages the installation, testing, and maintenance of local and wide area network infrastructure (spread across multiple on-campus and off-campus buildings and locations). They manage network and communication services focusing on design, installation, development, and support of the complex and highly secure UHS and RecWell network environments. The team manages evaluation, installation, and repair of all new and upgraded communication systems (including firewalls, VPNs, web filters, network switches, voice/phone systems, etc.).

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Database Management

The IT department manages and directs the integrated database management operations for the department. They manage database services and mission critical database applications in support of the complex UHS medical management system environment. The team manages evaluation, installation, and repair of all new database systems and applications.

Systems Development

The IT department directs and manages information systems development and systems security functions for the Campus departments providing healthcare and clinical operations. They manage a complex and extended suite of systems, applications, and technical services including the Enterprise Practice Management system, Electronic Health Record system, Pharmacy system, Lab system and other mission critical medical management systems. The team manages evaluation, installation, development, and repair of the complex UHS and RecWell systems.

Security and Operations

The IT department manages and coordinates activities related to the security of data maintained on departmental servers. They implement and enforce policies regarding the physical access to computers, computer systems, and data. The team manages the security of information systems access, establishes security systems, appropriate firewall standards and criteria. They develop and maintain standards for disaster recovery and emergency planning and serves as UHS HIPAA Security Officer.

Resource Management

The IT department makes recommendations and implements decisions on issues (operational and budget processes, staff FTE, finance, human resources and space planning) that have unit and department-wide impact. They monitor the daily operation of the expanded IT Unit, coordinates activities of the Unit with responsibility for results in terms of costs, methods, and employees. The team recommends hiring of new employees, salary actions, terminations, and performance ratings and provide direction and guidance to staff members within the latitude of established HR and campus policies. The IT department provides staff development oversight - includes work on committees and assignments that enable the staff member to stretch and grow, along with formal and informal coaching and mentoring and regular training.

Project Management

The IT department regularly leads a cooperative effort among members of cross-functional project teams. In conjunction with subordinate managers, manages the analysis of the needs of functional units and helps to establish priorities for feasibility studies and systems design and implementation to develop new and/or modify information processing systems. The team establishes operational objectives and work plans, and delegates work and project assignments. They are involved in developing long-range plans for all UHS and RecWell systems, communication networks, and business critical software applications (including complex electronic healthcare systems). The IT department manages technical project planning efforts and serves as a member of governance structure and represents UHS and UCB’s interests with the hosting institution (UC Davis Health) for UHS’ electronic health record.

Key Resources and Information

After-Hours Care

Need care when UHS is closed? See After Hours Resources. Call (510) 642-2000 or schedule through MyUCBerkeleyHealth (find out more about scheduling appointments. Call (510) 643-7033, 24 hours a day, to cancel an appointment. You must cancel at least 24 hours in advance or you will be billed a Late Cancellation Fee or No Show Fee.

When UHS is closed, check the resources provided on our Emergency and Crisis webpage or you may call our 24/7 Advice Nurse Line at (510) 643-7197 for referrals.

Fentanyl Test Strips (FTS) and Naloxone Training and Distribution

Use Fentanyl Test Strips (FTS) to test pills and powder substances for fentanyl contamination.

Health Records

Contact the Health Records office for questions about transferring records.

New Student Resources

Information about requirements, etc.

Micromobility Safety

Micromobility refers to small, manually or electrically powered vehicles used to travel short distances.

Wellfleet Student Insurance

Wellfleet Student is a leader in providing colleges and universities with student insurance solutions. Our team works collectively to accomplish one goal - to help empower our student members to lead healthier lives and become better consumers of healthcare.

Be Well Game Plan

Include living a balanced and fulfilled life as part of your definition of success!

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a common virus that can lead to 6 types of sexually transmitted cancers later in life.

Over-the-Counter products available at UHS

The UHS Pharmacy carries some over-the-counter medications and contraceptive products at discounted prices.

Preventive Health and Wellness

Preventive health focuses on wellness, health maintenance, and disease prevention. It includes general counseling regarding healthy habits and practices and specific advice and testing tailored to the individual depending on personal and familial health risks.

Vision Benefits (SHIP)

All UC Berkeley students enrolled in SHIP automatically will receive benefits covering well vision exam and prescription glasses or contact lenses.

Wellness Self-Coaching

What is wellness self-coaching?

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