It’s that time of year again. People start coughing, calls start pouring into the University Health Center and rumors start flying that students can’t book appointments.
Freshman Patrick Doherty has heard since arriving on campus that it’s difficult to schedule an appointment.
“That has kind of deterred me from trying to make my own appointment,” he said.
Paul Myers, director of the Health Center, seeks to dispel these rumors.
“We do get complaints where people will say the Health Center turned them down,” Myers said. “It’s not that we turn them down. It’s that there wasn’t a match to their availability.”
The Health Center, in the past two years, has worked to expand its scope with the addition of a fourth examination room and two new positions.
Will Meek began working as assistant director of counseling and training last November. Susan Chisum, assistant director for primary care services, was hired in January. Myers said the “rearrangement of responsibilities” has increased efficiency, allowing the providers to see more students.
Sophomore Maya Thompson hasn’t had a problem scheduling an appointment.
“They’re not like rude or anything if you come out of the blue because you’re not feeling well,” she said. “They’ll take good care of you.”
Myers is passionate about providing care to all students.
“The verb matters when (students) say we ‘turned them down,’” Myers said. “We’re not in the business of turning students down.”
Senior Kylie Pybus, an RA in Mehling Hall, advises residents to be persistent when booking an appointment.
“Sometimes I tell residents that (the Health Center is) trying to meet so many people’s needs,” she said. “So if you really are concerned, like about your health, you can convey that to them.”
The average wait time, including weekends, is two-and-a-half days, according to Myers. Though the Health Center is not a walk-in clinic, urgent needs, such as a urinary tract infection or strep throat, take priority.
“We work those in rather than waiting to see them the next day,” he said.
As illnesses pass through campus, appointments are typically booked in waves.
“As soon as the weather shifts and the windows close, we see this big jump,” Myers said. “It’s also a function of bringing together freshmen from all over the country. They’re under high stress, they’re not sleeping well, they’re generally not doing a lot of the basics.”
Some students, including Doherty, think expanded hours at the Health Center would be beneficial.
“It’s closed on the weekends,” Doherty said. “I’m not saying it should be changed, but that’s not ideal because people are sick all the time.”
Other resources are available for when students are unable to book an appointment with the Health Center. The Learning Resource Center and the Shepard Freshmen Resource Center help students address academic concerns. For emotional needs, resident assistants, assistant hall directors, and hall directors are available within the dorms, as are friends and neighbors.
“There’s a lot of people to support students if the Health Center isn’t open or after 4:30 p.m.,” Pybus said. “Because I think it can be inconvenient for students if they’re in class all day.”
To allow for broader student access to mental health counseling, last winter the Health Center established triage blocks of time similar to the drop-in hours of professors. Three hours are allotted every day for students to walk in and talk with a counselor for 20 minutes.
During the consultation, students can discern whether the Health Center is able to meet their needs or if a referral would be better. For some students, 20 minutes is all they need to address the issue.
Opening up the schedule for drop-in hours has allowed the Health Center to reach more students.
Though freshman Charisma Lauritzen hasn’t had trouble with scheduling, she dislikes the sterile environment.
“They could be a little more psychologically and emotionally inviting in terms of atmosphere,” Lauritzen said.
Yet, Thompson finds the counseling center very accommodating.
“It was especially helpful my freshman year because I had a hard time getting used to college. The therapists really helped,” Thompson said. “I’m getting a lot healthier this year. And a lot of it is thanks to the Health Center.”
Myers sees the need to continue expansion down the road.
“We do have hopes in the future to add staff,” Myers said. “They’re kind of long-range plans. They haven’t been approved, but they’re in the conversation. The enrollment has grown and the demand is there.”
What Students Need to Know: · Location: Orrico Hall, Upper Level · Phone Number: 503-943-7134 · Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. · Counseling Walk-In Hours: Monday-Friday, 10:00-11:00 a.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m.
*All other appointments must be scheduled in advance.
Services Offered: · Health care · Mental health counseling · Learning assistance · Accommodations for disabilities · Spiritual health · Assault or harassment support · Substance abuse prevention
Alternative Options: · Neighborhood walk-in clinics: Legacy Emanuel Urgent Care: 2801 N. Gantenbein 503-413-2200
Pacific Medical Group: 6445 N Greeley Ave. 503-285-6607 · Crisis hotlines, numbers listed at up.edu/healthcenter · 911 or Public Safety
