Health and Wellness Center easing into new location

By Natalie Larson

With the cost of books, tuition, housing and other school bills, an injury or illness can be an unappreciated surprise to students.

The new Student Health and Wellness Center, soon to be located near the Stadium, could help alleviate this pressure for many.

Dr. James Davis, director for Student Health Services, said they anticipate the new facility will open before October 1.

Davis said they’re expecting a lot of walk-in traffic in the new building and are making special accommodations to meet students’ needs in a timely manner.

“We don’t expect people to sit in a waiting room and read 30-year-old magazines,” Davis said.

The building was previously the Western Surgery Center. Past Utah State University President, George Emert, wanted it to be owned by the university, so students voted on a fee increase to buy and remodel the building.

The fees paid for about 60 percent of the building. Athletics paid the rest for the weights area, Davis said.

Student Health Services and the Student Wellness Center will move together to the building. It is about four times the size of the current.

The current Student Health Services office has two shared doctors’ offices. The new building will have five.

This increase in size will not mean an increase in price for students. The same policies will apply. The $24.50 in fees students pay each semester will still cover doctors’ expenses, with additional charges only to cover materials used at cost recovery.

Insurance is not required to visit the center. A semester lay-off is allowed where students can come in even if they’re not currently enrolled.

“Basically, we don’t turn anyone away,” Davis said. “We want people to be safe and taken care of, even if it’s not a service we routinely provide.”

Davis said roles for the two services will also change. Prevention and rehabilitation will be new for them.

Stephanie Grunig, the receptionist at the Wellness Center agreed. She said they center would be focusing more on rape prevention and other classes for students, as well as substance abuse.

In addition to its existing services – which include first aid care, pharmacy, laboratory, minor surgeries and consultation – the new facility will allow them to offer more prevention and rehabilitation abilities like X-rays and physical therapy.

The pharmacy, like the current one, will provide many prescriptions at greatly reduced prices by buying through the state. The pharmacist, Reed Neilson said birth control pills that cost $30 elsewhere cost $10 at the Center.

“And if it’s cheaper somewhere else, I send them there,” Neilson said.

The new building will house a Women’s Center for annual exams, premarital exams and consultations. They also have plans for a spouse and children expansion.

Davis said, in the current Student Health Services office “we don’t even have a place to lay someone down who’s feeling faint.”

The new office won’t have any over-night services, but will be more capable to handle student needs.

Another aspect of the new Center is the athletic rehabilitation available to all athletes, including intramurals. With the expansion, Davis said they will be able to hire someone very capable and keep them busy.

“This will give students access to the latest techniques,” he said.

The physical therapy area will have a whirlpool, strengthening amachine and a range of motion machines.

The move allows better parking for students. The facility has its own lot with “prime student parking spaces,” Davis said.

One of the largest benefits with the move is increased privacy. The rooms are sound proof, allowing for confidential conversations, he said.

“There is just no privacy at the Student Health Center,” Davis said.

The new center will continue in the old tradition of providing honest service, reasonable for students.