Services We Provide

Plan B (levonorgesterol), an emergency contraception pill, is available at PLU Health Services for a discounted price.  Plan B can be used up to 72-hours after an unprotected sexual encounter.  It is not 100 percent effective, but can significantly reduce the risk of pregnancy.

If the Health Services clinic is closed, you can purchase Plan B without a prescription at most retail pharmacies.

We offer a limited program for immunizations for students.

• TdAP (Free for undergraduate students)
• PPD ($30 per dose)
• MMR vaccine ($100 per dose)

If you have questions about receiving immunizations, please contact the Health Services team.

We have the ability to conduct certain tests on-site at the Health Services clinic.  These include:

• rapid screening for strep throat
• urinalysis
• rapid screening for covid-19
• pregnancy testing
• Pap test
• STI screening (gonorrhea and chlamydia, 1 free per academic year, $30 for each subsequent)

These services are offered at no charge to students covered under the Wellness Access Plan, and for a small fee for other students.

For other laboratory tests, such as urine cultures and wound cultures, we are able to obtain the specimen to send to an off-campus lab. There is a fee for this service, but we offer greatly reduced fees.  We are happy to provide you with a receipt for any laboratory tests so that you can submit it to your insurance company for reimbursement, if applicable.

We do NOT have the ability to draw blood samples in the Health Center, but our provider can provide you with an order to get labs drawn at an outside lab, such as Quest or Labcorp.

PLU Health Services maintains a safe, sensitive, and confidential environment to discuss any issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identification.  Our provider has received specialized education on the unique needs of transgender, non-binary, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and asexual clients.

Information about a student’s health care is always kept strictly confidential.

We are NOT able to initiate gender-affirming hormone/hormone replacement therapy or provide long-term prescription of these medications, but our provider can provide you with an emergency refill if needed on a case-by-case basis with an appointment.

Health Services has an on-site pharmacy stocked with commonly-prescribed medications, some over-the-counter medications.  We offer these medications to you at greatly reduced costs.  We even offer some over-the-counter medications at no cost.

You must have a visit with a PLU nurse practitioner in order to obtain prescription medication from our in-house pharmacy. You may walk in during office hours without an appointment to pick up ibuprofen, Tylenol, cough drops, condoms, and face masks.

We will provide you with a receipt, if requested, for any medication we charge you for.  You are then welcome to submit the receipt to your insurance company for reimbursement, if applicable.

If we do not have medication in our pharmacy, we will happily write a prescription for you, or send an electronic prescription to the pharmacy of your choice.  We are also able to send prescriptions to mail-order pharmacies and Kaiser pharmacies.

It could take up to 72 business hours to process and fill medications at PLU Health Services.

PLU Wellbeing Services and Resources work collaboratively to ensure that each student receives care. PLU offers in-person care, telehealth through our in-house partner, TimelyCare, and also referrals into the local community. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in Health Services offers in-person evaluation and prescription of medication (if needed) for many mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, bipolar, PTSD, ADHD, and more.

PLU Counseling Services provides short-term mental health therapy for a variety of conditions.

TimelyCare provides virtual care for mental health conditions and has providers who prescribe medications (but NOT stimulants) and therapists who provide scheduled mental health therapy. They also have a TalkNow option, where students with an immediate mental health concern can talk to a mental health therapist rapidly. We strongly encourage students to download and use the TimelyCare app as an immediate resource for mental health care.

When needed, PLU Health and Counseling Services and TimelyCare coordinate care and can make referrals to off-campus mental health providers.

Health Services provides physical examinations for general health maintenance at no charge.  This service is provided by appointment.

PLU Health Services does NOT provide physicals for NCAA or Club Sports. NCAA sports physicals should be done by a student’s home PCP if at all possible, at an urgent care clinic, or by the PLU sports medicine physician in the Training Room (there are a limited number of these appointments available, though). Club Sports physicals are offered at least once a semester by the School of Nursing or can be done by a student’s PCP or at an urgent care clinic.

PLU Health Services provides counseling about sexual health issues in a confidential environment.  We are available to discuss and educate about sexual problems or concerns, among other issues, including (but not limited to):

• Gonorrhea, chlamydia screening (no charge for the first screening, $30 for each subsequent screening in the same academic year). An order for an outside blood draw for HIV and syphilis can be provided.
• other sexually transmitted infections
• pregnancy testing (no charge)
• birth control counseling and prescriptions
• cervical cancer screening (pap smears) – recommended for any woman age 21 or older (no charge)
• irregular or painful menstrual periods and other menstrual problems
• breast masses or changes
• vaginal pain or irritation
• painful intercourse
• erectile dysfunction
• scrotal pain or masses

Medical care through the TimelyCare app is available 24/7/365. Students may see a medical provider virtually at no charge. These providers can send in prescriptions if appropriate, and can also advise the student on whether they should seek care in-person, such as at an urgent care clinic or the emergency department.

Urgent Care Clinic

Indigo Urgent Care

5314 176th Street E # A

Tacoma, WA  98446

253-875-7630

Emergency Room

Multicare Emergency – Parkland

14815 Pacific Ave S  

Tacoma, WA 98444

(253) 697-8660