University of California Health
Student Health Services (SHS)
University of California Health (UC Health) provides medical and clinical risk oversight to the campus Student Health Services (SHS) centers, ensuring that our campus health centers adhere to the highest standards of provider training, ongoing peer review, patient accessibility, quality of care, electronic health records documentation, patient and client privacy, and patient satisfaction.
All University of California Student Health Services centers are devoted to providing accessible, high-quality, cost-effective healthcare and counseling services to their students through a comprehensive approach. University of California students have access to comprehensive primary care medical and mental health services provided at on-campus health centers, regardless of their health insurance carrier. Many services are available on a same-day basis and urgent student needs are prioritized.
The campus student health centers offer a wide range of medical services and preventive health programs. Services include basic urgent care/first aid services, a broad range of primary care services covering the most common healthcare needs and issues for young adults, comprehensive contraception and sexual health services, and others. Clinical services may also include consultation or treatment in selected medical specialties, ancillary services such as laboratory testing, x-ray, and at most campuses, over the counter and prescription medications on-site. UC Student Health Services and their campus partners also provide extensive educational and outreach programs targeting wellness, health promotion and disease prevention for the campus community.
The Student Health Services centers are fully accredited by multiple national independent accrediting agencies to ensure the provision of high-quality, easily accessible and cost-effective care. SHS clinicians are licensed medical and mental healthcare providers, many of whom are board-certified in their clinical specialties. All SHS clinicians undergo comprehensive credentialing verification, ongoing assessments of quality of care and patient satisfaction, and must also meet ongoing continuing education requirements.
Students who need specialty medical care or other specialized services not provided at the clinic are referred to local community provider networks, including UC academic health centers and physicians, where available.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides short-term counseling for academic, career and personal issues. Professional counselors meet with students to talk about a variety of issues including:
- Adjusting to school
- Decisions on major field of study at UC
- Career counseling and career path decisions
- Dealing with family or relationships
- Sexual orientation and identity
- Sexual health, pregnancy, and abortion
- Alcohol and substance abuse
- Other personal concerns
Students with issues such as anxiety, depression, learning disorders or other mental health conditions have access to evaluations and treatment by primary care clinicians, counselors or psychiatry providers. Students with more complex, chronic or severe conditions may be referred to specialists in the communities surrounding each campus.
UC Health, in collaboration with UCOP Graduate, Undergraduate and Equity Affairs, UCOP Risk Services, the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP), and UC’s Academic Health Centers, continues to pursue additional resources for the campus-based SHS and CAPS centers, and to enhance the network of community and UC-affiliated healthcare providers available to provide services to UC students. UC Health is also working with these partners to provide innovative programs and services to improve access to medical, psychiatric and other mental health services and to promote student well-being and academic success.