2008 Woodie Awards
New health center would be worth every penny
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Opinion
Many students are unaware of just how hard it is to come by good, inexpensive health care. As such, PSU's health services (by way of both the Student Health Center and University Counseling Services) are a real blessing to those in need.
According to Rita Girth, director of Student Health Services, the number of visits to the health center increases by about 10 percent every year. The health center alone averages 78 patients a day. With only five exam rooms, patient traffic can come to a standstill, and those who are sick and in discomfort are left to wait.
With that kind of influx, which does not include the number of clients University Counseling Services handles on a regular basis, we feel it only right that student fees be increased so that all students, especially those who are without insurance, may continue to be seen in a setting that's conducive to quality care.
We support the university's plan to build a new health center, which will house not only the school's behavioral health care unit but also the university's medical care center. Often times, both of these sides of patient care must work together to ensure the well being of all student clients. Housing both departments in the same building will not only allow the free flow of information between care providers, it will offer the space necessary to handle the ever-increasing number of student patients require care during their time at PSU. It will also ensure more
confidentiality in patients' records.
If a student is mentally or physically unhealthy, there can be no real success, no progress toward completion of his education, no steps made toward his career.
Most students know of at least one fellow student whose college career was thwarted because of health problems. With the rising cost of health care, we are only too glad to have university programs that meet so many students' needs.
What must be done in the name of student health should be done, and we hope our peers will be willing to contribute a relatively small amount ($12 per person or less, depending on private donations) through student fees so that others can care for the most important asset they have: their health.
According to Rita Girth, director of Student Health Services, the number of visits to the health center increases by about 10 percent every year. The health center alone averages 78 patients a day. With only five exam rooms, patient traffic can come to a standstill, and those who are sick and in discomfort are left to wait.
With that kind of influx, which does not include the number of clients University Counseling Services handles on a regular basis, we feel it only right that student fees be increased so that all students, especially those who are without insurance, may continue to be seen in a setting that's conducive to quality care.
We support the university's plan to build a new health center, which will house not only the school's behavioral health care unit but also the university's medical care center. Often times, both of these sides of patient care must work together to ensure the well being of all student clients. Housing both departments in the same building will not only allow the free flow of information between care providers, it will offer the space necessary to handle the ever-increasing number of student patients require care during their time at PSU. It will also ensure more
confidentiality in patients' records.
If a student is mentally or physically unhealthy, there can be no real success, no progress toward completion of his education, no steps made toward his career.
Most students know of at least one fellow student whose college career was thwarted because of health problems. With the rising cost of health care, we are only too glad to have university programs that meet so many students' needs.
What must be done in the name of student health should be done, and we hope our peers will be willing to contribute a relatively small amount ($12 per person or less, depending on private donations) through student fees so that others can care for the most important asset they have: their health.
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