Columbia University Health Services

The Alice! Health Promotion Program offers a variety of interactive workshops on health-related topics that provide current health information, teach skills necessary to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors, and connect students and staff with appropriate on and off campus resources.
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AlcoholEdu for College was implemented in 2005, and all incoming first year undergraduates were asked to take the course prior to their arrival on campus. AlcoholEdu helps students gain detailed information about alcohol and its effects on the body and mind to increase their knowledge about the effects of high-risk drinking and the consequences associated with its use. AlcoholEdu is non-opinionated and uses science-based research to help students make well-informed decisions about alcohol and helps to identify ways to cope with the drinking behavior of their peers. The program was implemented collaboratively between Health Services at Columbia and Student Affairs for Columbia College and the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and we are joining many top schools in adopting and implementing AlcoholEdu for College as a part of Columbia ’s continued alcohol education and prevention initiatives.

 

Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) provides counseling for individuals and couples and offers a variety of support groups for students including an early recovery group for substance abuse. The Health Service Fee includes limited coverage for certain off-campus services, such as outpatient treatment for chemical abuse. This coverage is available only after a referral has been provided by a CPS clinician, and is arranged through the Chickering Benefit Planning Insurance Agency, Inc. and is underwritten by Aetna Life Insurance Company, but it is separate from the Columbia Student Medical Insurance Plan . It is available to all students enrolled in the Health Service Program regardless of the type of health insurance plan a student carries. There are limits and restrictions on this special coverage. Please review the full coverage descriptions and procedures for utilizing the benefits .

Primary Care Medical Services (PCMS) sponsors a weekly Smoking Cessation Program during the academic year for students who want to learn more about quitting or are ready to do it. Our expert clinical staff will provide you with education and counseling about a variety of modalities available to smokers who want to quit: support groups, relaxation techniques, acupuncture, nicotine replacement and other medication options.

CAVA is a program that works closely with Primary Care Medical Services and is part of Health Services at Columbia (HSC) and the Department of Public Safety . CAVA is a student-operated, New York State-certified, Basic Life Support (BLS) volunteer ambulance corps that provides prehospital emergency medical care, free of charge, to Columbia University's Morningside Heights Campus, surrounding University-owned buildings and the surrounding area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The corps has approximately 65 active members and responds to over 700 emergency calls per year. HSC provides medical direction and administrative support, while Public Safety provides dispatching services and on-scene logistical support.