Study Abroad Physicals
Once you have made your decision to study abroad you need to determine whether a physical exam is required.  If required, do not procrastinate or you may miss your deadline.

Making anAppointment

• Obtain the appropriate form by making an appointment at the Student Health Center (SHC) by calling Ext. 2300 as soon as possible. 
• Exams are free-of charge and are done Tuesday-Friday between the hours of 1:30 and 4:30 pm.
• Sick visits take priority and, if the health center happens to be exceptionally busy, appointments occasionally have to be rescheduled. 
• Travel to some countries requires a series of shots or a TB test that needs to be read in 48-72 hours.

Before You Arrive for your Appointment
Make sure you have your name, birthday, and all other requested identifiers on the form and that you have completed your portion of the form, including the health history.

• Many of the study abroad forms simply ask if you are physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy for studying abroad.  These forms require an afternoon physician appointment only. 
• If your physical requires vision testing, urinalysis, blood work, EKG, chest x-ray, etc. you need to let us know when you call. You will be given an appointment with the nurse between the hours of 7:30 am and Noon or 5:30 to 8:30 pm to complete these prior to your regular appointment.
• Although we do not offer x-rays and EKG’s at the health center, the nurse will assist you with making an appointment to have these completed at the office of Davidson Family Medicine (DFM), located across the street behind the Soda Shoppe. 
• DFM physicians provide services at the health center. 
• X-rays, EKG’s and lab work would need to be done several days prior to your physician appointment here in order to have the report available to the physician that is completing your form. 

Travel Immunizations
Prior to your appointment at Student Health you need to visit the travel immunization section of www.cdc.gov. 

• Print out the recommendations and bring them with you to your appointment.
• If you have questions about requirements that the Center for Disease Control site does not answer to your satisfaction, contact the trip leader/coordinator. 
• The Student Health physicians are also familiar with requirements, but you need to come to your appointment prepared.  When you came to Davidson as a freshman you were required to present an immunization record which is stored in your chart at the health center. 
• If you have had other immunizations done elsewhere since then, particularly for other trips abroad, please bring a written record of these.

Vaccines
The Student Health Center (SHC) stocks Hepatitis A and B vaccine and the meningococcal vaccine.  These vaccines can be charged to your tuition bill.  Davidson Family Medicine (DFM) is licensed to provide additional travel immunizations.  Please understand that you must make an appointment at the Student Health Center first in order to get the appropriate order for the vaccine.  If you make an appointment directly with DFM you will incur an office visit charge.  

Typhoid and Yellow Fever vaccines are expensive and have short shelf lives.  If the SHC physician gives you an order to get either of these at DFM, you should call them first at (704) 892-5454 to make sure that they have the vaccine available at the time of your appointment

Payment
If you take your insurance card with you to DFM, they will file your charges as a courtesy, but you should be prepared to pay for vaccines, EKG’s and chest x-rays done at DFM at the time of the service.  DFM will take payment by cash, personal check, VISA, Mastercard or a debit card.  They do not accept CatCards.