MBBS Graduate Student Resources

Table of Contents

    Springfield Resources

    Medical Insurance
    • Springfield medical students are assessed two fees for healthcare:
      • Primary Care Fee – covering basic primary care visits, and basic laboratory studies and simple x-rays ordered by primary care physician.
      • Student Medical Extended Care Fee - Providing the SIU Student Health Insurance Plan that covers expenses such as emergency rooms, hospitalization, surgery, ambulance, specialty care, and advanced laboratory studies and imaging.  Students who already have comparable health insurance coverage may request a refund of the Student Medical Extended Care fee by submitting a Petition to Waive.
    • United Healthcare
    Student Health Services

    The SIU Family and Community Medicine Clinic is the primary care provider for Springfield campus:

    520 North 4th Street, Springfield, IL 62704     
    Hours: Monday - Friday | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

    All students will be assigned to Dr. Rahman or Dr. Schwertman.

    To schedule an appointment, call Kerri Patrick at 217-747-6488.  Identify yourself as a SIU Med student located on the Springfield campus and have your DawgTag number available.

    Sign up for the SIU patient portal (FollowMyHealth).  If you are a Springfield Clinic or Memorial Physicians Services patient portal user, you can use the same portal account and add SIU Medicine as a connected organization.

    After Hours: 5 p.m. - 8 a.m.

    For urgent issues call the answering service as 217-545-8000 and ask for the Center for Family Medicine doctor on call.

    TimelyCare offers a Virtual Urgent Care option that allows you to connect with a provider online in 5 minutes to discuss non-emergency symptoms. Download the TimelyCare app or visit timelycare.com/siumed

    Triage Nurse: 
    Student Primary Care Services:
    • All students are assigned to Dr. Rachel Rahman or Dr. Karie Schwertman, as their primary care physician. As per SIU policy, Dr. Rahman or Dr. Schwertman and all other health professionals who provide health services to medical students are not involved in the academic assessment or promotion of medical students receiving those services, excluding exceptional circumstances.
    • A co-pay of $10 must be paid at the time of each doctor visit at SIU Medicine Center for Family and Community Medicine.
    • To avoid billing for studies ordered by the primary care provider, the following services must be obtained at specific locations:
      • Basic laboratory services must be completed at Quest Laboratory.
      • Simple x-rays must be performed at Memorial Medical Center.  Please show them your SIU School of Medicine Student Photo Identification Card.
      • All lab work, vaccines or studies related to student rotations must be performed at SIU Employee Health.  Please call Employee Health Nurse at 217-545-8970 or EHN@siumed.edu
    • Under the SIU Student Health Insurance Plan, all specialty care, urgent care, emergency room visits and advanced testing require prior approval.  For information about deductibles and co-pays for these services, please refer to the Student Health Insurance Plan Summary.
    Billing Questions:

    Primary Care: Contact Tara South: 217-545-7634 tsouth98@siumed.edu or Stephanie Garman at 217-757-8123

    Extended Care: Contact 1-888-538-0602 or visit www.gallagherstudent.com/SIU

    Carbondale Resources

    Student Medical Insurance
    • Carbondale medical students are assessed two fees for healthcare:
      • Student Health Fee - Providing access to the Student Health Center.  
      • Student Medical Extended Care Fee - Proving the SIU Student Health Insurance Plan that covers expenses such as emergency rooms, hospitalization, surgery, ambulance, specialty care, and advanced laboratory studies and imaging.  Students who already have comparable health insurance coverage may request a refund of the Student Medical Extended Care fee by submitting a Petition to Waive.
    Student Health Services
    • Student Health Services
      • 374 East Grand Avenue, Carbondale, IL 62901 - Mail Code 6740
      • Hours: Monday - Friday  |  8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
      • 618-453-3311 or schinfo@siu.edu
    Local Student Mental Health Services
    • Student Health Services
      • 374 East Grand Avenue, Carbondale, IL 62901 - Mail Code 6740
      • Hours: Monday - Friday  |  8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
      • 618-453-3311 or schinfo@siu.edu

    Helplines

    988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources. 
    Call/Text: 988  |  Chat: 988lifeline.org/chat

    211: The most comprehensive source of information about local resources and services in the country. It will connect you to expert, caring help and resources in your area like housing, food, transportation, and health care resources. Every call is completely confidential.
    Call/Text: 211

    Call Blackline: Provides a space for peer support, counseling, reporting of mistreatment, witnessing and affirming the lived experiences for BIPOC individuals who are most impacted by systematic oppression with an LGBTQ+ Black Femme Lens.
    Call or Text: 800-604-5841

    Crisis Text Line: Free 24/7 support at your fingertips.
    Text: ‘HOME’ to 741-741  |  Chat: connect.crisistextline.org/chat

    IL Helpline for Opioids & Other Substance Use Disorders: The only statewide, public resource for finding substance use treatment and recovery services in Illinois. Services are available 24/7 and always free and confidential.
    Call: 833-234-6343  | Text: ‘HELP’ to 833234  |  Chat: helplineil.org/app/home

    IL Warm Line: The Warm Line is an opportunity in Illinois for anyone age 12 and up to receive free support for emotional support, recovery education, self-advocacy support and referrals. Open Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. – 8p.m., excluding holidays. 
    Call: 866-359-7953

    Illinois Call4Calm Text Line: Call4Calm is free to use, and individuals will remain anonymous. Text the hotline and receive a call within 24 hours from a counselor employed by a local community mental health center to provide support.
    Text: “TALK” (English) or ‘HABLAR’ (Spanish) to 552-020

    Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline: The helpline is toll free, multilingual, and confidential.  It is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
    Call: 877-863-6338 | TTY: 877-863-6339 

    LGBT National Hotline: All support volunteers identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ family and serve the entire community by providing free and confidential peer-support, information, and local resources through national hotlines and online programs.
    Call: 888-843-4564

    NAMI HelpLine: A free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental health condition. HelpLine staff and volunteers are experienced, well-trained and able to provide guidance.
    Call: 800-950-NAMI (6264)  |  Text: ‘HELPLINE’ to 62640  |  Chat: nami.org/help

    National Domestic Violence Hotline: Free and confidential support available 24/7 for those affected by and/or involved with domestic violence.
    Call: 800-799-SAFE (7233)  |  TTY: 800-787-3224 |  Text: ‘START’ to 88788 | Chat: thehotline.org

    National Grad Student Crisis Line: Free and confidential telephone counseling, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and information and referral services for graduate students provided by specially-trained call-takers.
    Call: 877-GRADHLP (472-3457)

    National Sexual Assault Hotline: 24/7 free and confidential support, help, advice, and resources.
    Call: 800-656-HOPE (4673)  |  Chat: hotline.rainn.org/online  |  Visit: rainn.org

    SAMHSA’s National Helpline: SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
    Call: 800-662-HELP (4357)  |  TTY: 800-487-4889  |  Text: ‘HELP4U’ to 43578

    The Trevor Project: Focused on ending suicide among young people that identify as a part LGTBQ community. You can get immediate and free support from a crisis counselor no matter time or day via online chat, phone call or text.
    Call: 866-488-7386  |  Text: ‘START’ to 678-678  |  Chat: www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/

    Trans Lifeline: Trans Lifeline provides trans peer support and is run by and for trans people.
    Call: 877-565-8860

    Mental Health Screening Tool

    This online screening through Mental Health America is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. This tool can help test for addiction, ADHD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorder, postpartum depression, psychosis and schizophrenia and PTSD. It also provides a self-injury survey.

    This is an informational resource and meant to be a quick snapshot of your mental health. If your results indicate you may be experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, consider sharing your results with someone. A mental health provider (such as a doctor or a therapist) can give you a full assessment and talk to you about options for how to feel better.