FOR LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIES, CALL
911
Macalester Resources
Macalester
Security 651-696-6555
Be prepared give your name, describe the situation and provide contact
info. Security can also connect you with other campus response personnel.
Security is the best place to start for issues of personal safety.
Your R.A./C.A. or the R.A./C.A. on duty
Telephone numbers are posted on the door of your residence hall
office. R.A./C.A.'s have special training to deal with personal
and community concerns.
Resident Hall Director on duty
There is always an RHD on duty - contact information is posted
on the doors of all residence hall offices. If you can't reach
the RA/CA on duty in your hall or Security, contact the RHD on duty.
Hospitals
These are the hospitals that are closest to Macalester, all of which have emergency rooms:
Regions Hospital - Emergency Room
640 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN
St. Paul, MN
651-254-5000
For both medical and mental health emergencies
Directions via Google maps
United Hospital
333 North Smith Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-241-8000
Directions via Google maps
Urgent Care Facilities
You should call ahead to clarify that your insurance will be accepted and, particularly in the case of influenza symptoms or other communicable disease concerns, if they have special instructions.
Fairview Urgent Care
2155 Ford Parkway
St. Paul, MN 55116
651-696-5070
The clinic is located in the Highland Village area south of campus (about 2 miles).
Directions via Google maps
Aspen Care Clinic
1020 Bandana Blvd.
St. Paul, MN
651-641-7000 (Clinic)
Urgent Care 651-641-7021
Directions via Google maps
Roseville Now Care (Walk-in, first come first served basis only)
1955 West County Road B2 at Prior Avenue
Roseville, MN
651-635-0054
Directions via Google maps
Urgent care facilities are to be utilized when Macalester Health Services is closed
and you believe the medical condition is severe enough that it cannot wait. If the Urgent Care facility is not open, contact a hospital emergency room.
The odds are good that at some point during the year you will feel REALLY sick over the weekend or at night when the Macalester Health and Wellness Center is closed. Who can you call to get some advice and determine if you need to be seen by a doctor? Where can you go to be seen outside of an emergency room? Where is an emergency room?
First determine how urgent it is. Most of the time, symptoms indicate that you can probably wait until a provider is open or you can go to urgent care and you won't need the ER. While the ER is THE place to go for life-threatening emergencies or middle-of-the-night urgent situations, students are encouraged to consider other options first. A visit to an ER for non-urgent situations can translate into many hours in the waiting room and hundreds of dollars.
Note: If you have through Macalester, you are eligible to call their at 1-800-556-1555. It is staffed by registered nurses who will be able to provide information and recommend general options. This is a national center, however, and they will not be familiar with local resources.
Examples of Urgent Conditions
- Severe pain (chest, abdomen, head or ear), especially with fever
- Asthma (when not responding to usual medication)
- Urinary tract infection
- Possible fracture or dislocation
- Laceration (a cut requiring stitches)
- Major bee sting reaction - hives wheezing, or swelling (e.g. whole arm or leg swells)
- Persistent thoughts about committing harm to self or others
- Severe diarrhea and vomiting - dehydration
- Fever of 103F+ sustained
HOW TO DECIDE IF IT IS A LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION
Examples of life-threatening conditions include
- Difficulty breathing
- Major injury (e.g. open chest wound with trouble breathing; spinal or neck injury with loss of responsiveness
- Unconscious or minimally responsive (e.g. drug or alcohol overdose)
- Convulsion that will not stop
In case of a life-threatening emergency, call 911! Remember, this is not for sore throats, nausea, or a light fever, unless you are concerned that it is indicative of a more severe, life-threatening situation. If you call 911 from a cell phone while on campus, be sure to call Security at 651-696-6555 as well to let them know so that they can assist the ambulance. There is no charge for the EMTs to come but if you are transported in an ambulance, there is a significant fee that your insurance may not cover, depending on your insurance. But if it is an emergency, call!
What to do:
- Call the Urgent Care center/Emergency Room first
- As soon as you arrive, indicate why you think it's urgent
- State the main problem first
- Report any past experience with the problem
- Bring any medications you have taken for the problem
Paying for Emergency Visits: Macalester College does not cover
visits to the emergency room; those are billed to your insurance company.
Transportation
If you need treatment and do not have transportation, contact
your RA/CA, the hall director on duty, or Security. Macalester has
taxi cab vouchers that can be given to students for just such urgent
situations. The charge for the cab will then be put on your student
account. Of course, you can always call a cab yourself or take the bus.
Websites
If you are looking for health information, reference some of the self-care provided at a reputable website such the one at the Mayo Clinic - www.mayoclinic.com.
Family Tree Clinic
1619 Dayton Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
651-645-0478
Emergency Contraception Resources press #1
Directions via Google maps
Emergency contraception resources
(remember no Rx needed if 17+. Also available from Macalester HWC)
Sexual Offense Services (S.O.S.)
6651-643-3006
1619 Dayton Avenue
St. Paul, MN
Provides direct services to victims of sexual assault including individual counseling as well as 24-hour information, referral, crisis phone service and hospital outreach and advocacy.
Parkway Family Physicians
721 Snelling Avenue S.
St. Paul, MN 55105
651-690-1311
Directions via Google maps
HealthEast Grand
870 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-326-5650
Directions via Google maps
Family Health Services
1540 Randolph Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105
651-699-8333
Directions via Google maps
Target Clinic
1300 University Ave W
Saint Paul, MN 55104
The clinic sees common concerns such as sore throats, bladder infections, etc. Check the web page for more details and directions to the site, as well as insurance information.
Directions via Google maps
Macalester College Health and Wellness Center offers emergency counseling services for students during office hours whenever school is in session. After hours, if you are having thoughts of harming yourself or are feeling dangerously out of control, you have several resources available to you. If residing on campus, we recommend you first contact your RA/CA or RHD who can help you determine the best option and facilitate your decision. The Crisis Connection (612-379-6363) is a 24-hour crisis line available when simply talking with a trained counselor can help. Finally, consider going to the nearest emergency room or calling 911. The closest emergency room to campus is at Regions Hospital (651-254-1000), located at 640 Jackson Street in downtown St. Paul.
Here are some other steps students can take to help manage times of distress:
- Identify the specific source or distress and write down and review positive strategies for responding to it.
- Talk with a trusted family member, mentor, or friend.
- Engage in activities that help you feel better (e.g. listening to relaxing music, exercising, walking, journaling, or doing a relaxation exercise).
Crisis Connection
612-379-6363
24-hour crisis counseling by telephone
Ramsey County Mental Health Crisis Program
651-266-7999
1919 University Ave., Suite 200
St. Paul, MN
24-hour outreach telephone services
Regions Hospital
651-254-1000
Persons may present at the Emergency Center for crisis counseling, psychiatric assessment and possible admission for inpatient services. Call in advance of arrival when possible.
Located at 640 Jackson St., St. Paul
Sexual Offense Services
651-643-3006
Provides direct services to victims of sexual assault including individual counseling as well as 24-hour information, referral, crisis phone service and hospital outreach.
Located at 1619 Dayton Ave., Ste., 201, St. Paul
Walk-In Center Sites
612-870-0565
Walk-In services are available at three sites in the Twin Cities. All services are free but donations are gratefully accepted. No appointment necessary.
St. Paul
Family Tree Clinic
Monday evenings from 5-8 p.m.
1619 Dayton Ave. # 205, St. Paul
Located just west of Snelling on Marshall; parking lot access off Dayton or Fry.
Enter the north door and ask the Family Tree receptionist for the Walk-In counselor.
Handicapped access is on the Dayton Ave. side; go to the 2nd floor.
First Lutheran Church Love Grows Here Wellness Center
Thursday evening 4:30-7:30 (September – May, no summer activities)
431 Maria Ave., St. Paul
One block north of Metropolitan State University (East 7th and Maria).
Ask for the Walk-In counselor.
Minneapolis
2421 Chicago Ave. S.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday afternoon from 1-3 p.m.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Located just south of downtown between Franklin and Lake Street.
Other
Hennepin Regional Poison Center
1-800-222-1222
24-hour phone consults with pharmacists certified and trained in poison information
