Clinic Policies & Procedures

Confidentiality

All records within Health Services are confidential. Personal information can only be released outside the Centre with your written consent. Exceptions are only made in the case of life-threatening emergencies or as required by law and/or public health regulations.

Do I have to book an appointment?

When possible, please book an appointment online or by phone (604.513.2024) as this is the most guaranteed way to access our services.

Documentation of Illness for Academic Concession

If you have had an injury or illness that has interfered with your studies, the registrar’s office or a professor may request documentation from your healthcare provider.

A healthcare provider can only document care they have personally provided at the time of illness or injury. If this was a Doctor or nurse at TWU’s Wellness Centre, they will usually be able to provide a letter for you. If you received care from other providers, documentation must come from them.

The doctors or nurses at TWU’s Wellness Centre cannot document care they have not provided. They also cannot document non-medical issues such as a family crisis unless this has had a negative impact on the student’s health in whose care they are involved.

For many common illnesses such as migraines, menstrual cramps or brief “stomach flu”, professional healthcare may not be required. Professors are discouraged from asking students to seek care under such circumstances solely for documentation purposes. This adds to the discomfort of the patient, increases the burden on health care services and may unnecessarily expose others to infectious disease.

Examples:

  1. A student was ill and cared for by their family doctor or a clinic doctor off-campus. Documentation can only be provided by the specific doctor.
  2. A student reports illness or injury that interfered with their studies but was not attended to by any healthcare professional at that time. There is no documentation available in this circumstance.
  3. A student experiences a family or personal crisis that triggers depression, which impairs the student’s cognitive ability. They seek medical and/or counselling care through the Wellness Centre over the course of this illness. As a part of this care the provider can provide documentation to support the student navigating academic support needs.
  4. A student must travel home to manage a family or personal crisis they feel has interfered with their studies. If there has been no healthcare professional involved, then there can be no documentation from a healthcare perspective. There may be non-medical documentation that could be provided from other sources.

Sharp’s Containers

Some students on campus may require the utilization of syringes due to a medical condition. For the safety of our campus community, anyone utilizing syringes must ensure they are safely disposed of in designated Sharp’s Containers. These containers are available free of charge to anyone who requests one through TWU’s Wellness Centre. 

Health Cards

Please remember to bring your BC Services Card or other proof of insurance with you when visiting the Wellness Centre. Proof of Insurance is required to avoid being billed for insured services.  

After Hours Care

If you have a medical problem that you feel cannot wait until our next regular office hours, here are some options for you: