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Medical Emergencies

The Student Health Center provides non-emergent, outpatient medical care as well as several specialty clinics. The Primary Care and Specialty Clinics are open to all currently enrolled UH students. Appointments are required.

The Student Health Center is not an Urgent Care/Walk-in Center, Emergency Room or extended-hours/24-hour facility.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, even if the Student Health Center is open, call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency room.

Urgent Medical Concerns

Patients who present to the Student Health Center with urgent medical concerns when no appointments are available will be referred to an Urgent Care Center.

Appointments in the Primary Care Clinic can be scheduled online using the Healthy Coog 24/7 patient portal or by calling 713-743-5151 during regular business hours.

Same-day visits are usually available but urgent concerns are prioritized. We strongly encourage you to schedule your same-day appointment as early in the day as possible. Be advised that if you wait until the afternoon to try to be seen in our Primary Care Clinic there is a possibility our provider's schedules are filled to capacity and no other appointments are available for the current day.

Common Urgent Care medical concerns include, but are not limited to:

  • Flu symptoms
  • Fever with a rash
  • Bronchitis or severe cough with fever
  • Sprains or minor fractures
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Minor cuts requiring stitches
  • Minor burns
  • Animal or insect bites
  • Urinary tract infections

Emergency Medical Concerns

Emergency medical concerns are not appropriate for treatment at the Student Health Center. Patients who present to the Student Health Center with emergency medical concerns will be referred to an Emergency Room.

Call 911 or proceed to the nearest Emergency Room if you experience any of the following:

  • Chest pain, pressure or irregular heartbeat
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Symptoms of stroke, severe headache that comes on suddenly
  • Head trauma with loss of consciousness or altered mental status.
  • Altered mental status
  • Sudden dizziness, weakness or loss of coordination or balance
  • Paralysis
  • Seizures
  • Overdose – accidental or intentional
  • Sudden blurred vision or loss of vision or eye injury
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Major trauma, including fractures and dislocations, severe bleeding-deep cuts or bleeding that won't stop
  • Vomiting or coughing up blood
  • Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
  • Severe allergic reactions with facial swelling and difficulty breathing
  • Severe, intractable pain
  • Serious burns
  • Profuse sweating
  • Sudden testicular pain or swelling
  • Labor, and/or other abnormal symptoms when pregnant

Eye Emergencies

In case of an emergency involving your eyes, you may call the Ocular Diagnostic and Medical Eye Service of the UH Eye Institute at 713‐743‐2010 immediately. Symptoms that require prompt attention include sudden loss of vision, seeing flashes of light, unusual light sensitivity, extreme pain, and/or redness of the eye(s). Licensed practitioners are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.