Health services prepares for move
To accommodate the growing number of students at Utah State University, Student Health Services will be moving from the first floor of the Taggart Student Center to the Western Medical Surgery Center.
“I think it’s great. It’s wonderful,” said Assistant Vice President for Student Life Gary Chambers. “We’ve far outgrown the services in this facility. [The current office] is very crowded. There isn’t any room for students to lie down if they need to. We’re moving specifically to see more student-expanded services.”
Employees of the facility agree.
“It’s overcrowded,” said Administrative Nurse Judy Baldwin, who works in the Student Health Services. “There will be room for more confidentiality, efficiency and productivity in the other building. We’ll also have room for our specialty clinics.”
At one point, an orthopedist held a specialty clinic in the current location but was forced into the hallway because of lack of room, Baldwin said.
Chambers said the new location will allow room for X-rays, nutritional information and education, physical therapy components and an extended gynecological clinic.
Chambers said USU hopes to eventually expand Student Health Services beyond students to their spouses and dependents.
One misconception students have, Chambers said, is they must have student health insurance to see a doctor at Student Health Services.
The basic ailments students go to Student Health Services for are all covered by a health fee students pay as part of their student fees, he said.
“My own son didn’t realize this,” Chambers said. “He was complaining of a sore throat, achy body and said he wasn’t feeling well. I told him to go down [to Student Health Services] and get himself checked out. ‘But dad,’ he told me, ‘I don’t have student health insurance.’ I told him he didn’t need health insurance, it was covered in his fees.”
Chambers said he feels if more students knew about this option, they would take advantage of it.
By moving into the Western Medical Surgery Center, Chambers said, Student Health Services will be better-equipped to accommodate these students.
“The only disadvantage to moving is the location,” Baldwin said. “We have felt that the TSC is the perfect location for students. However, there is better parking over [by the Stadium, which is near the future location], and by remodeling we will be able to meet [Americans with Disabilities Act] requirements to make it more handicap and wheelchair accessible.”
Student Health Services stands to gain an additional 6,000 square feet of space for bigger and better health facilities at the new location, Chambers said.
Demolition on the medical center should be completed by next week, and Student Health Services plans to move into the new facility in time for Fall Semester.
The Student Wellness Center will be moving with Student Health Services.
The Admissions and High School/College Relations offices plan to take Student Health Services’ current location, which is nearer the Financial Aid offices, for more convenience.
The Disability Resource Center will then move to the High School/College Relations offices.