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Other Services

Emergency Fund

SHAW manages an emergency fund for health and mental health needs available to students based on their financial need.

Telepsychiatry Services

Free onsite Telepsychiatry Services, in collaboration with University of Iowa Health Care, are available for mental health prescription medication needs. Grinnell College covers the cost of the on-site telepsychiatry sessions and the student’s insurance is not billed. If medication is prescribed, insurance will be utilized at that time to cover the cost of the medications through the pharmacy of the student’s choice.

If you choose to see your provider at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics during breaks, your insurance would then be utilized for those services.

Students will meet with a nurse in the SHAW office to complete paperwork. They are then scheduled for a 90-minute intake appointment. This and all follow-up appointments take place in the SHAW office. Students have their vitals taken by a nurse and are then taken to a private office to meet with the provider via a computer video chat.

Call 641-269-3230 to schedule your appointment.

Prescription Pickup

Grinnell has three local pharmacies, Walmart, Hy-Vee, and Medicap. Two of these pharmacies, Hy-Vee and Medicap, offer free delivery of prescription medications to campus Monday through Thursday. A form of payment must be established with the pharmacy before this service will be provided. Inquire at the front desk for more information.

Medical Transportation

In Town: Student Health and Wellness (SHAW) offers free transportation to your local medical/mental health appointments and to local pharmacies. You may call 641-269-3230, book via the Health Portal, or stop in to schedule a ride. When your appointment is done, you may call SHAW to be picked up and returned to campus. We prefer you call and pre-schedule your transportation 24 hours in advance of your in-town appointment. Currently, all students are required to wear masks when riding in the SHAW van.

Outside of Grinnell: Free transportation is not provided to appointments outside Grinnell. However, you may schedule a ride through Facilities Management. The cost is roughly $150 to Des Moines or Iowa City. People Rides is another option for transportation that requires a small fee. Please see the People Rides section above or visit their Region 6 Planning Commission website.

Insurance Questions

Students can meet with Alexis Steele to discuss medical bills and insurance questions.
To find a local provider who is in-network with your insurance, please visit your health insurance’s website.
Those on the student insurance can visit United Healthcare’s Student Resources website. If you have not done so already, you will need to create an account.
If you need help switching from Iowa Medicaid to your home state, financial aid can help. Financial aid may be contacted through email or by phone at 641-269-3250.

After Hours Support Services

24/7 Services

All students have access to physical and mental health providers through Healthiest You Student Portal. Board-certified physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists and licensed therapists are available to you through a variety of communication methods, including phone and video.

Appointments are available 7 days a week. Visits are secure, discreet and confidential, and you have ongoing support with the same provider.

Visit Healthiest You Student Portal or download their app to access this service.

Need to Talk? 24/7 Counseling Hotline — 641-269-4404

SHAW works with agency service provider that offers a 24/7 counseling hotline (Need to Talk?) for Grinnell College students to have immediate access to counseling services. Students can call the hotline at any time (even when SHAW is open) to speak with a trained counseling professional.

Faculty Notification When Student Is Ill

Students who are currently working with SHAW, will consult with their nursing team to determine if a notice to faculty is warranted. SHAW email notifications are sent more for prolonged illnesses, hospitalizations and serious injuries that could impact the student’s ability to participate in class for a prolonged period of time. Notes are not sent for minor illnesses or injuries.

Students will be encouraged to email their faculty directly when ill as the notice sent by SHAW is a supplement to their direct communication. If the nurse approves a note to be sent, the student will sign a release to the appropriate faculty and faculty advisor allowing the SHAW RN to reach out and notify them. The student will be copied on that communication.