Psychiatric Services at Macalester -
Frequently Asked Questions
Macalester College is fortunate to be able to provide limited psychiatric services at no charge to currently enrolled students. Our psychiatric consultant is Dr. Henry Emmons, a psychiatrist who practices in the Twin Cities area. Before meeting with Dr. Emmons, students must first meet with one of our counselors who can then offer the necessary referral.
How can I use this service?
Before meeting with Dr. Emmons, you must first meet with a counselor from Macalester's Health & Wellness Center who can then offer the necessary referral. You will be limited to 3 sessions with Dr. Emmons during the academic year, after which you will be referred for off-campus psychiatric services.
When is Dr. Emmons available?
Dr. Emmons is on campus on a limited basis. Keep in mind that if you want to use this service, you may need to make special accommodations in your schedule to be available during these hours. The staff member with whom you are working will make an effort to schedule your intake appointment in a timely fashion. Please be aware, however, that there is often a greater demand for services than hours available and there may be a waiting list. You may need to be both flexible and patient.
What happens once the appointment is made?
Dr. Emmons meets with students in the Health & Wellness Center in the Leonard Center. When you arrive for your appointment, please check in first with our front desk reception. Your initial appointment with Dr. Emmons will take about 50 minutes. If follow-up appointments are recommended, you may schedule these directly with the front desk reception. Follow-up appointments generally last 20 minutes.
Does Dr. Emmons provide psychological counseling in addition to prescription services?
Dr. Emmons wants to hear about what is happening in your life but does not actually provide psychological counseling for students. If you are prescribed medication through this service, we strongly recommend that, in addition, you pursue psychological counseling either on or off campus. Research shows that individuals do best when medication and counseling are used to together. If you would like to make a counseling appointment with a counselor at the Health & Wellness Center or ask about an off-campus counseling referral, please call the Health and Wellness Center at 651.696.6275.
What if I need to cancel my appointment with Dr. Emmons?
You may cancel an appointment by calling our office at 651.696.6275. Please cancel at least 24 hours in advance so someone else can use your appointment time. Not canceling an appointment 24 hours in advance may jeopardize your ability to continue to use this service.
What if I need to contact Dr. Emmons between appointment times?
If you feel you can't wait until your next appointment to talk to Dr. Emmons, call the Health & Wellness Center at 651.696.6275. A staff member will relay your message along with your phone number to Dr. Emmons and he will attempt to get back to you within several days.
What if I need emergency psychiatric care?
If you feel you need to speak to a counselor immediately, contact Macalester Health & Wellness Center during the office hours. After hours or on weekends, conctact Ramsey County Mental Health Crisis Program (24 hrs) at 651.266.7900. If you are in a life-threatening emergency situation, call 911 or go directly to the emergency room. The closest emergency room is Regions Hospital, 640 Jackson Street in St. Paul. Call 651.254.1000 in advance when possible.
If medication is recommended, where can I get my prescription filled?
Because some health insurance policies requre that you take your prescription to participating pharmacies, you might want to call your health insurance company to ask about your specific prescription benefits policy. See the list of pharmacies to see which one meets your needs.
Will anyone else know about my appointments with Dr. Emmons?
In general, we do not release any information about your appointments to anyone outside of Macalester's Health & Wellness Center Counseling Services without your written permission (please refer to the informed consent form you receive at your initial counseling appointment for full details regarding our confidentiality policy). However, because the medications prescribed by Dr. Emmons have implications for general medical care, we ask that you give us written permission to inform Macalester's Medical Services of any medication prescribed. Generally, the information released is limited to the names and doses of prescribed medications and does not include any personal information you share during your appointment with Dr. Emmons. Please feel free to ask a counselor if you have any questions regarding this policy. |
