Allergy Injection Services
(Antigen Immunotherapy Program)
Location: Primary Care Suite, Foust 202
Phone: (989) 774-6589
TDD: (989) 774-3055
Fax: (989) 774-4335
This information is provided as an overview of the requirements and responsibilities related
to the University Health Services (UHS) allergy injection program for students who are receiving
allergy shots from their allergist at home and who wish to continue with their injections
while attending CMU.
Allergy Review Visit
Receiving Your Injection
Important Safety Concerns
A Team Effort
Quick Guide for Allergy Shot Program
Charges, Billing Payment, and Insurance
Allergy Review Visit (back to
top of page)
In order to receive your allergy injections at Health Services, you must
first schedule an appointment for an allergy (antigen) review with a
medical staff member. The allergy review allows the medical staff member
to review your health history regarding your allergies and any related health concerns
(e.g., asthma), and to review your specific antigen immunotherapy program prior
to assuming responsibility for providing the service to you. Any future allergy
reviews would only be scheduled at your request or at the nurse’s discretion based
on changes in your health status or antigen program. You may call (989) 774-6589 to
schedule an antigen review.
When you obtain your serum from your allergist to bring to Health Services, please
be sure to check that all vials are properly labeled and that your allergist’s instructions
are included. Required information includes:
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Your name
|
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Contents of the
serum
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Dilution
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Serum expiration date
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Dosage schedule
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Frequency of
injections
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Allergist’s instructions for dosage adjustments based on the type of reaction
and/or the interval between injections, etc.
|
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Printed name of the allergist and his/her signature on the instruction sheet
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Allergist’s office address, telephone number, fax number, and office hours. |
It is your responsibility to assure that the information is provided at the time of your
allergy review. Injections will not be administered unless the information is complete.
You will be asked to sign a consent form (HS 205) indicating that you have been informed
about the requirements of antigen immunotherapy program and agree to comply with them.
Receiving Your Injection (back to
top of page)
Allergy shots are offered Monday-Friday, 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m. in the Primary Care Suite,
Foust 202. To minimize waiting time, it is recommended that you schedule a regular
time that works for your class schedule to come in for your allergy shot. (Mornings are generally less busy.)
You can schedule an appointment by calling (989) 774-5693. You can store your antigen serum at
Health Services in a secure, temperature-monitored refrigerator.
Important Safety Concerns (back to
top of page)
The first injection of antigen serum should be administered and monitored in the office of the prescribing allergist. This should also be done if the patient restarts antigen injections after discontinuing them for any length of time. For your safety, a physician is required to be present in the building whenever allergy shots are being given at Health Services.
Always inform the nurse of any medications you are taking before you receive your injection. Certain medications used
to treat eye problems, blood pressure problems, or headaches may contain beta blockers.
Beta blockers can increase the risk of serious reactions to allergy injections.
A thirty (30) minute wait is required after receiving your shot(s) at each visit. There are no exceptions
to this requirement since serious and even fatal allergic reactions can occur during that time period,
even in people who have been receiving allergy injections for a long time. Plan to bring a
book to read or watch TV in the waiting area while you wait. If you know that you will not be able
to stay for the full time on a given day, reschedule your visit for a day when you can.
Failure to comply with the required thirty minute waiting period may result in the service being
discontinued for you at University Health Services.
During the waiting period after you receive your injection, notify the nurse immediately if you
experience any of the following:
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Shortness of breath
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Wheezing
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Facial swelling
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Hives
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Flushing
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Anxiety ("feeling strange")
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Itching
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Excessive coughing
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Excessive sneezing
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Runny nose
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Excessive nasal congestion
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Any other symptom that occurs after your injection and concerns
you
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You must have the nurse inspect the injection site before you leave Health Services after each visit.
Call the nurse at (989) 774-6589 to report any localized reactions that
occur after you leave the clinic. If increased redness and swelling occurs
at the injection site after you leave, you may:
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Apply ice to the injection site
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Take an antihistamine, e.g., Benadryl, 25 mg. by mouth |
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Apply Caladryl lotion to the injection site |
A Team Effort (back to
top of page)
You are responsible for complying with the above conditions in order to be eligible to receive your
allergy injections at University Health Services. They have been developed with your health and safety
in mind. Failure to comply may result in the service being discontinued for you at Health Services.
We look forward to working with you and your allergist to provide this important service for you.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can provide any additional information.
Call us at (989) 774-6589 or e-mail us at healthservices@cmich.edu.
|
Quick Guide for
Allergy Shot Program (back to
top of page) |
| 1. |
Obtain your antigen serum and instruction sheet from your allergist.
|
| 2. |
Schedule an appointment for an allergy review: (989)-774-5693. |
| 3. |
Give your serum to the nurse in the Primary Care Suite, Foust 202, to
refrigerate for you. |
| 4. |
Get answers to any questions you have about the allergy shot program before signing the consent. |
| 5. |
Decide which payment option you want to use. |
| 6. |
Set up an injection appointment time that works for your class schedule by calling (989) 774-5693.
|
| 7. |
Plan to wait the full 30 minutes after your shot. Bring a book along to read. |
| 8. |
Inform the nurse IIMMEDIATELY if you experience any adverse reaction. |
| 9. |
Have the nurse check the injection site before you leave. |
| 10. |
Call us if we can provide any additional information: (989) 774-6589. |
|
Charges, Billing Payment, and Insurance (back to
top of page)
Payment is not required on the date of service. The total charge for the services provided will be forwarded to the CMU Receivable Accounting office and placed on the student’s University account. The student is responsible for payment of the total amount due on his/her account by the posted due date.
Students who wish to pay for all or part of their charges on the date of service may do so by cash, check, money order, MasterCard, Visa, Discover Card, or bank debit card. If payment in full is made on the date of service, no charges will appear on the student’s University account.
If you have additional questions regarding billing or insurance contact the Business Office at 989-774-3059.
University Health Services will bill the student’s primary health insurance plan as a courtesy. The student is responsible for providing current health insurance enrollment information (either an insurance card or a photocopy of it) at the time of the visit. The insurance company will reimburse the subscriber for any covered benefits and that payment can then be applied to the charges on the student’s CMU account. An itemized statement suitable for submission to a secondary health insurance plan is available upon request from the Business Office, Foust 108.
University Health Services participates with Blue Cross Blue Shield traditional plans, Blue Preferred, Community Blue, MESSA, MI Child, Medicare, Medicaid, TriCare, and the CMU Student Health Insurance plans.
Students who belong to HMO or other PPO plans are advised to contact their plan’s customer service representative regarding authorization for payment for non-emergency out-of-network care prior to being seen at Health Services. If authorization is denied by your health plan, you may still be seen at Health Services on a fee for service basis.
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