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Health Information
Student Health Office & Local Urgent Care
The St. John's College Student Health Office is not available to conference guests. Santa Fe has three Urgent Care Centers. ultiMED is located in downtown Santa Fe:
On Call Urgent Care
431 St. Michaels Dr. Ste. B
Santa Fe, NM 87505
505-954-9949
Urgent Care Santa Fe
2801 Rodeo Road
Santa Fe, NM 87507
505-474-0120
ultiMED
707 Paseo de Peralta
Santa Fe, NM 87501
505-989-8707
Hospital
Santa Fe has one public hospital:
CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center
455 St. Michaels Dr.
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 983-3361
Information on Bed Bugs.
SW Health Awareness
Please be aware that there are a few rare diseases that make an occasional appearance in New Mexico. You should be aware of these, especially if you develop symptoms after leaving the area; make sure your doctor knows you have been to New Mexico if you do develop any symptoms described in the below pages.
HANTA Virus is a respiratory virus that is very rare, but can be fatal. It is contracted through deer mice urine and droppings. Read here (link on the word here for more information from the CDC, and here for information from the NM Department of Health.
Bubonic Plague is a bacterial disease of rodents that is spread through infected fleas. Also quite rare, plague is treatable with antibiotics if caught early. If not detected, there can be complications. There are usually a few cases of plague in northern New Mexico each year. Read here for some information, as well as the CDC page for more information.
Altitude Sickness
St. John's College is at an altitude of 7300’ and it can be difficult to safely acclimate to this altitude, even if you are in great shape! Be sure you take it easy the first few days you are in town and drink plenty of water, avoiding caffeine and alcohol. You may also adjust a little more easily if you reduce your fat intake and increase the complex carbs in your diet.
Symptoms of altitude sickness can include dizziness, nausea, fainting, severe and prolonged headaches, extreme thirst, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, and coughing. Your doctor, or a local urgent care physician, may be able to provide you with a prescription medication to help you adjust, if needed.
Highly Contagious Viruses or Pandemics
While there have been a few confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu in New Mexico, there is no need to panic as this strain is not showing itself to be any more severe than the regular seasonal flu. We are educating our community about basic germ-fighting behaviors (wash your hands more and take care of your health; see the information below for other ways to protect yourself), and encourage anyone with flu-like symptoms to stay home for seven days, cough into your elbow rather than your hands, and wear a mask if you have to be out and about so that others are less likely to get sick.
The college will provide updates here in the case of any further developments with H1N1, or if other pandemic-type illnesses present themselves. For more information, read on, and check the below links.
Avoid close contact
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
Stay home when you are sick
If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
Cover your mouth and nose
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or the bend of your arm when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
Clean your hands
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
Practice other good health habits
Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
Updated 4/8/10
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