Frequently Asked Questions
What services are offered at the SHC, and are any of them free?
The SHC operates similarly to a family physician's office, adhering to the latest health standards, allowing students to receive care from highly trained medical professionals right here on the Malibu campus. Available services include a wide range of everyday health needs, including men's and women's health, care for illness and injury, immunizations, injections, labs, nutrition, respiratory care, and dermatology. The SHC also offers specialized clinics, including flu vaccination, travel medicine, massage therapy, and STI testing. If a higher level of care is deemed appropriate, practitioners refer patients to an outside specialist.
Nearly all services at the Student Health Center are offered at no charge to any enrolled Pepperdine student, regardless of insurance type. These services are part of the Thrive Wellness Program, the University’s holistic care for Pepperdine students, which includes mental and physical health services as well as fitness, resilience, and community programs. Learn which SHC services are available at no cost by visiting our fees webpage.
When is the SHC open, and what happens if medical attention is needed when it's closed?
The Student Health Center is open Monday-Friday from 8 AM-5 PM*.
Our team understands care may be required outside of the Student Health Center's operating hours. Students may utilize 24/7 virtual health care services through TimelyCare. You must be a currently enrolled Pepperdine student to use these services.
If you think you are experiencing a medical or psychiatric emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. If on campus and it is safe to do so, call 310.506.4441 to notify the Department of Public Safety. Here is a list of local emergency rooms and urgent care centers.
*Operating hours are subject to change. Visit our About Us webpage for the most current information.
How much does it cost to visit the SHC, and do they accept my insurance if I don’t have SHIP?
Nearly all services at the Student Health Center are offered at no charge to any enrolled Pepperdine student, regardless of insurance type. These services are part of the Thrive Wellness Program, the University’s holistic care for Pepperdine students, which includes mental and physical health services as well as fitness, resilience, and community programs.
While infrequent, if a fee is associated with a visit to the SHC, the clinic does not bill insurance directly, but a walkout statement (superbill) is available on the Patient Portal to submit to your insurance carrier. Typically, PPO plans reimburse SHC services at out-of-network rates, while HMO, MediCal, and Medicare plans do not reimburse. Students most often pay these nominal fees by billing their student accounts, but they may also pay in cash or by check.
What forms of payment does the SHC accept?
Although infrequent, when a fee is associated with a student's visit to the SHC, students most often choose to charge their student account, but they can also pay by cash or check.
Where is the SHC and how do I get there?
The Student Health Center is located in the Student Assistance Center (SAC). Student drivers may park their vehicles as designated by their permit type or in one of the two reserved patient spots in the SAC driveway. Parking near the SAC can be challenging some days, so students are encouraged to use the orange route campus shuttle and get off at the SAC stop, or use the nearest blue route stops at the Center for Communication and Business (CCB) or the School of Law (SOL), and walk to the SAC.
Students who are too sick or injured to use the campus shuttle are encouraged to contact the Department of Public Safety at 310.506.4442 to receive a free medical escort. Additionally, the SHC recommends this option for any student who believes their illness may be contagious. A courtesy ride limits illness exposure to other community members.
Can I get medicine from the SHC, or do I have to go to a pharmacy to pick it up? What can the clinicians prescribe?
The SHC maintains a supply of frequently used medications in-house. A written prescription will be provided during an office visit for any medication not available at the SHC. Conveniently, there are multiple pharmacies in the local community.
Clinicians prescribe medications in alignment with their treatment plans. If a higher level of care is deemed appropriate, physicians may refer their patients to a specialist for medications outside their scope of care.
Will the SHC accept “walk‐in” appointments?
The SHC works hard to provide effective, efficient patient care, minimizing wait times whenever possible. While appointments are ideal for both patients and clinic operations, the SHC does its best to accommodate each patient's needs, even when they walk in. Walk-ins are prioritized based on the nature and urgency of the illness or injury. The SHC front office is always happy to work with a non-emergent walk-in patient to schedule an appointment time if the immediate wait time does not accommodate the student's schedule.
What happens if a referral to an outside specialty doctor is needed?
In such cases, it is recommended that an appointment be made with one of our practitioners first, in order to determine if a referral is necessary. We have a substantial referral list if needed.
What professional staff is at the SHC?
The SHC is staffed with board-certified physicians, a physician assistant, a registered dietitian-nutritionist, registered nurses, medical assistants, and administrative personnel. Our medical team includes both male and female providers, allowing students to select a clinician with whom they are most comfortable.
Can previously established medical care be continued while attending Pepperdine?
In some instances, the Student Health Center can continue previously established medical care. For continuity of care, this requires a summary of diagnoses and treatments, including all health records and recommendations from the student's physician or specialist. Depending on the medical issue, a specialist referral may be necessary. The front office staff keeps a substantial referral list when needed.
Is the visit confidential?
The Student Health Center strictly adheres to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines and regards all medical information as highly confidential. Students can rest assured that their permission will be obtained before any health information is shared with anyone not directly involved in their medical care. This applies to parents and University officials. Exceptions required by law include reporting certain communicable diseases, threats of suicide or homicide, or suspected abuse of children or elderly persons.
Does the SHC provide excuse or absent notes?
The Student Health Center does not provide written medical absence excuses to students for missed classes, examinations, extracurricular activities, or employment. You may read more about the Absence Note Policy here.
Does the SHC provide Emotional Support Animal (ESA) evaluations or documentation?
The Pepperdine Student Health Center and Counseling Center are committed to serving our students with excellent medical and mental health care. While we recognize that Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) can play a meaningful role in an individual's well-being, neither the Student Health Center nor the Counseling Center provides ESA evaluations or documentation.
We understand this can be disappointing for students seeking support, and we want to be transparent about why our clinicians do not conduct these assessments:
- Preserving the Therapeutic Relationship: Like many university health services nationwide, our clinicians focus on primary medical care and ongoing therapy. Stepping into the role of a formal disability evaluator can inadvertently complicate or compromise the therapeutic relationship, place clinicians outside their scope of practice, and increase the risk of inappropriate or insufficient documentation.
- Specialized Scope of Practice: Officially documenting an ESA accommodation request requires a formal disability evaluation to ensure the accommodation is appropriate and sufficient. This necessitates highly specialized training in functional limitation assessments, needs for housing accommodations, and, when relevant, human-animal interaction.
Next Steps for Students:
We encourage students exploring an ESA for housing or other disability-related accommodations to connect with an outside specialist who possesses expertise in disability assessment and documentation.
- Evaluation Requirements: To meet accommodation standards, the evaluation should be completed by a licensed clinician (e.g., psychologist, psychiatrist, or specialized medical practitioner) who is experienced in conducting functional assessments and can provide a clear clinical rationale as part of a formal treatment plan.
- University Accommodations: Once you have completed an external evaluation, Pepperdine’s Office of Student Accessibility (OSA) is ready to support and guide you through the official accommodation request process.