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Health and Wellness

Roo Wellness is here to serve the students of UMKC. It is our mission to keep you healthy, so you can focus on and excel at your educational goals. 

Acute Symptoms or Illnesses 

The providers at Roo Wellness assess acute symptoms and illnesses and supply treatments or referrals as appropriate.  

Common acute complaints 

  • Abdominal discomfort or pain 
  • Allergies 
  • Elevated temperature (fever) 
  • Heartburn 
  • Muscle sprains and strains 
  • Skin rashes and lesions 
  • Upper respiratory infections, coughs, colds, sore throats 
  • Urinary tract symptoms/infections 
  • Vaginal discharge/infections 

Other physical complaints that require further assessment 

  • Additional primary health care services 
  • Routine health/physical exams 
  • Mental health services 
  • Injury evaluations 
  • Travel medicine consultations 
  • Allergy injections for patients receiving immunotherapy by an allergy specialist 
  • Lab testing 
  • Blood pressure checks 
  • Education on health issues and diseases 
  • First aid (non-emergency) 

Chronic Illnesses/Medical Issues 

The providers at Student Health and Wellness assess chronic illnesses and provide treatments or referrals as appropriate.  

Common complaints for assessment 

  • Anemia 
  • Asthma 
  • Diabetes 
  • Hypertension 
  • Thyroid disease 
  • Other illnesses requiring monitoring or further evaluation 

Immunizations 

The following immunizations are recommended for college students. These immunizations build on the primary immunization series received in childhood. Each health care program (nursing, medical school, dental, etc.) may require specific immunizations. Check with the program for more requirements.

These immunizations are available at Roo Wellness. If a student needs an immunization not listed, inquire at the clinic as to whether it can be ordered. 

  • Hepatitis B – Series of three injections: First dose as a newborn, second dose one month later, third dose five months later. Missing a dose does not require starting the series over. 
  • HPV – UMKC Student Health and Wellness offers Gardasil 9 for female and male students. If you are unable to pay for the vaccine, the Gardasil 9 manufacturer offer a patient assistance program.
  • Influenza – Annual vaccination begins in early fall. 
  • Meningitis – One-dose vaccination. Recommended for all college students. Missouri Statute 174.335 mandates the requirement that all college students living in residence halls are vaccinated. 
  • Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) – Two doses for all college students born after 1956. (Now given at 12-15 months and prior to entering school). 
  • Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) – Usually given as a series to infants with a booster of Tdap at age 11-12. 
  • Varicella (chicken pox) – Recommended for all college students without a documented history of chicken pox infection or immunization or negative antibody titer. Two doses one month apart. 

For a complete list of the Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Antibody titers may also be drawn for measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A and B and varicella to show whether immunity exists. 

Important Items All Students Should Have 

Students should keep a list of current medications as well as any known allergies.  
While many local pharmacies offer a variety of over-the-counter items for purchase, we strongly recommend that students keep some basic health care supplies on hand. We encourage you to review Taking Care of Basic Health Needs (PDF) for a thorough list of items to include in a “First Aid Kit”. 

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Testing 

The UMKC Student Health and Wellness Nurse Practitioners are available to meet with you confidentially to discuss any questions or concerns you have about STDs, transmission, prevention, testing and treatment. We offer nonjudgmental and open discussion to empower you to make educated choices and to keep you and your partner safe. 

Sexual consent 

It is important for every person to understand sexual consent and impairment. 
Consent is positive cooperation involving an act of free will, absent of coercion, intimidation, force or the threat of force. A person cannot give effective consent if they are impaired by the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

Women’s Health Services 

Every woman deserves to thrive and be empowered. Women’s health is strongly supported at UMKC Student Health and Wellness. Our goal is to provide comfortable, open communication to address your specific concerns. Women have unique health issues related to contraception, menstrual cycle, conditions of the female organs and menopause. 

Roo Wellness offers many women’s health services. Contact our office to inquire about any services not listed. Fees are subject to change without notification. 

Well-woman exams 

Routine female exams (pap/pelvic and breast exam) can be scheduled by making an appointment. Roo Wellness offers the liquid-based Pap test. If the Pap test is abnormal, further testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) can be conducted and a follow-up will depend on those results. 

Birth control counseling and information 

Birth control counseling is available by scheduling a Nurse Practitioner visit. Contraception options that can be prescribed at Roo Wellness include birth control pills, Depo-Provera (the shot), NuvaRing (vaginal ring), Ortho Evra (the patch) and Intrauterine Devices (IUDs). Referrals can be given for implantations (Nexplanon). Prescriptions can be filled at any retail pharmacy. 

Emergency contraception 

Emergency contraception (the morning-after pill) consists of one dose of hormones that is given to decrease the likelihood of pregnancy when unprotected intercourse has occurred. It is most effective if taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse but can be effective within up to 120 hours. Emergency contraception is currently available in Roo Wellness. No exam is needed. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome; wait times may vary. 

Pregnancy testing and counseling 

Pregnancy testing is available for a minimal fee. No exam is needed. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome; wait times may vary. If you have missed a period, had unprotected intercourse, had a birth control method failure or are experiencing the symptoms of pregnancy, you should consider getting a pregnancy test. 

Common signs of early pregnancy

  • Missed menstrual period 
  • Breast tenderness or enlargement 
  • Fatigue 
  • Nausea 
  • Weight gain 

Remember, pregnancy isn’t the only reason for missing your period. Stress, anxiety, a change in birth control methods, changes in eating or exercise habits and even travel can affect your period. 

Information regarding vaginal discharge 

All women have some vaginal discharge. Normal discharge may appear clear, cloudy white and/or yellowish when dry on clothing. It may also have white flecks and at times may be thin and stringy. Changes in normal discharge can occur for many reasons, including menstrual cycle, emotional stressors, nutritional status, pregnancy, usage of medications – including birth control pills – and sexual arousal. 

  • A vaginal yeast infection produces a thick white discharge, like cottage cheese in texture, which can cause itching. There is no charge for this test. 
  • Bacterial vaginosis is an overgrowth of vaginal bacteria and produces a thin, white discharge, often with a fishy odor. There is no charge for this test. 
  • Trichomonas vaginalis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a protozoa that produces a white to green discharge with a fishy odor. There is a test to help with diagnosis that has a fee. 
  • Vaginal discharge can also be caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia, which are sexually transmitted infections. There is a fee for this test. 

Call or make an appointment to further discuss being evaluated for any of these infections. 

Men’s Health Services

It’s our goal to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men. On average, men die at a significantly younger age than women; the average life expectancy for men is almost five years shorter than it is for women. The primary reason for the poor state of men’s health is that men need to pay more attention to their health.

Men’s healthcare behavior 

  • Lack the information and understanding about health issues specific to men. 
  • Engage in unhealthy and risky activities that threaten their health (for example, men are more likely to smoke and drink than women). 
  • Put off regular health checkups and medical care when needed. 
  • Avoid openly discussing their health and how they’re feeling.  

At Roo Wellness, we provide a multitude of services to keep men healthy. 

  • General health care and routine physical exams. 
  • Support in modifying risk behaviors that negatively affect your health. 
  • Screening for and the management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). 
  • Birth control and safer sex education — We provide condoms! 
  • Diagnosis and treatment of male genital problems: pain, rashes, lumps, etc. 
  • Evaluation of sexual concerns and reproductive health needs, such as premature ejaculation. 
  • Cancer prevention and screening: 
  • Testicular exams — Young men are a higher risk for testicular cancer than older men. 
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine information and immunization. 
  • Urinary tract infection (UTI) testing and treatment 
  • Male pattern baldness information and treatment 

Make an Appointment