Caring for students at an affordable cost
Some students struggle to take care of their medical needs without finding themselves in a pile of debt. For USU students, The Student Health and Wellness Center, located north of the Athletics Academics Complex, is an affordable and often free resource.
The SHWC provides several services and is run like a doctor’s office. Care is provided at lower costs than a normal doctor’s office due to the utilization of student fees at the beginning of each semester.
Though located in one building, the SHWC is split into two entities: health and wellness. The Health Center provides primary medical care, and The Wellness Center offers health education.
“A lot of female students go there for their OB/GYN stuff, and there are a lot of resources for anxiety and depression,” said Jordan Eck, a senior majoring in history and physical education and a former employee of the SHWC. “You can get a physical or just a regular check up. You can go there for physical therapy, you can get an x-ray.”
Eck said he thinks it’s smart to use the SHWC because part of each student’s fees go toward supporting it.
Students don’t need insurance to receive help from the SHWC, and most of the services are free with the exception of physical therapy and X-rays.
“The physical therapy center is a great asset,” Eck said. “They have a student aide program based on your income, so it’s pretty affordable. You’re going to come back from an injury faster if you use it, no question.”
Wes Constandse, a senior majoring in secondary education and social studies, said he’s had positive experiences at the SHWC.
“I got all the things I needed,” Constandse said. “I got an x-ray for an ankle sprain.”
Constandse said he had to do physical therapy for a month and a half and paid $50.
According to Dr. James W. Davis, head physician at the SHWC, approximately 15,000 students go to the SHWC during the school year. Throughout the course of the spring semester, 246 students went in for a mental health visit, 98 for a nutrition visit, 2,383 for a primary care visit and 3,790 female students for a women’s health visit.
“The staff was friendly,” said Alex Torrey, a sophomore majoring in <
span data-scayt_word="FCHD" data-scaytid="23">FCHD. “They’re a little old, like retirement age, but that made me feel comfortable because it means they’re experienced.”
Torrey said the fact that there are some student interns makes it a more easy going environment.
“They were very professional and nice,” Torrey said. “I like the fact that you can go there for basically anything. It’s a great place for students to get healthy.”
According to Davis, the success of the SHWC and atmosphere Torrey described can be attributed to one thing.
“We specialize in students,” Davis said. “Other physicians specialize in orthopedics or obstetrics, but we specialize in students. For many of the students that come here, it’s their first time going to a doctor’s visit without their mom or their dad, and we understand that.”
Inside the SHWC is a large waiting room, a pharmaceutical counter, a lab for processing urine and blood samples, a surgical room, multiple examination rooms and a small infirmary. Students can receive mental health evaluations and treatment, have their blood drawn, have small lumps removed, get stitches, get allergy injections and immunizations or get an x-ray. Davis said they have even treated a patient with chemotherapy in the infirmary.
The SHWC is also focused on educating students. A student can talk to a registered dietician, a Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information, or SAAVI, representative, or attend classes on alcohol abuse.
“I don’t think students should complain about services provided for free or reduced costs,” Constandse said.
Laboratory hours at the SHWC are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hours for x-rays, physical therapy and the pharmacy vary and can be found on USU’s website.
Services not offered at the SHWC include emergency care, motor vehicle accident care and care for workman’s compensation injuries.
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