University health services partners with Erlanger

UTC health services will soon have a new look, new services and a new home when its partnering with Erlanger Hospital is complete, Dr. Chris Smith, an interim director of the UTC student health center, said."[The partnering came when] the student health center and the department of athletics decided to work together to find a way in which healthcare needs of both groups could be met," Smith said.

Dawn Blackwell, the project coordinator employed by Erlanger, said a request for proposal was sent to several hospitals to request that faculty, staff and student healthcare be provided, and from the hospitals that responded to the proposal, Erlanger was chosen. A contract was signed for Erlanger to be the health care provider for the campus.

Health services will now be called university health services, and will be located in the UT Family Practice Center at Erlanger on the corner of Central Ave. and Third Street, Blackwell said.

Nikki Hunter, a freshman from Nashville, said she was not happy with health services when she got sick last week with a sore throat.

"I called and they said they were full. I was sent across town," Hunter said. "They do need a new one to replace the old building. They were going to send me to Erlanger anyway. "

Blackwell said the largest benefit of this partnership would be the access to resources.

The physicians and staff at Erlanger will identify a student's particular need and put the student with a specialist physician, Blackwell said. Most students who need doctors and are unfamiliar with the area don't know who to call, and the university health services at Erlanger will address this need among others.

"Students don't have time to shop around for a doctor," Blackwell said.

Smith said: "When university health services relocates we will have access to expanded diagnostic capabilities-on site X-Ray, ultrasound, lab procedures area as well as access to the Family Practice Physician Faculty. Any student who presents to the ER can say they are UTC students and the staff will notify UT Family Practice that the student needs evaluation and treatment. Additionally, at some point in the future, there will be extended hours for weeknights and possibly weekends for non-emergent care."

Erin Graham, a freshman from Memphis, said she used health services once for a shot.

"From what I see, they can improve the building," Graham said. "I don't see why we should combine the services though when the hospital is right across the street."

The old health services building will be razed in January, and the remainder of the building will be renovated for nursing, Smith said.

The total cost for the renovation on the Metro building for the nursing department is estimated at $2.35 million.

Blackwell said there should not be a change in tuition with this new service.

Students will be asked to present their insurance information at their time of their first appointment, and after then university health services will know if the student will need to present a co-pay.

According to a university health services flier, "no student, faculty, or staff member will be turned away based on ability to pay."

Ramsey Jiorin, a freshmen from Hixson, Tenn., said he does not think these services are as important for students who live off campus.

"They have their own, normal doctor." Jiorin said.

Blackwell said she recognizes there have already been changes to the health program in the past year, but said she feels this is a positive change.

"This is a great partnership, it makes sense, it is a natural fit. It makes it a streamlined process to get services needed that can be stressful these days," Blackwell said.

"The new services will mean that students will continue to get the excellent care that we have provided in the past," Smith said: "But now the student will have access to more extensive care in one place with enhanced diagnostic capabilities. This will be provided by nurse practitioners and physicians who have expertise in this age group. We also hope that by partnering with UT College of Medicine we can expand our research in the area of college health. We will be able to look at issues that impact college aged individuals and add to the body of research which is currently out there."

Will Mack, a freshman from South Pittsburgh, Pa., said "I've never visited health services, but this sounds like a good idea; though to get to the building may be more inconvenient than a building on campus."

Students can find more information at www.utc.edu/universityhealthservices.