As several students suffer from various illnesses around campus, the Student Health Center is doing everything in its power to serve them.
Due to the increase of university enrollment to record numbers, there are more students to treat than ever and diseases are spreading more easily.
Dr. Sandra Bentley, director of pharmacy and clinical assistant professor, said a large number of students are taking advantage of the Student Health Center.
“We are currently seeing the maximum number of patients this clinic can handle,” Bentley said. “We are simply out of space.”
The health center has experienced an increase in the number of students treated compared to that of last fall, though there has been no increase in staff numbers, according to Director of University Health Services Dr. Travis W. Yates.
An estimated 90 percent of Student Health Center patients are prescribed medications for their ailments. The pharmacy manages and dispenses medications daily based on demand, which continues to rise along with service due to student enrollment.
Students have begun to feel the impact of the excessive demand for health center services.
“I had to make an appointment, which I’ve never had to do before,” said junior exercise science major Lauren Malone.
The health center is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It experiences high numbers of patients throughout the day, with noon to 4 p.m. being the busiest hours of the day.
Though walk-ins are welcome, some students have had to make appointments for the following day to be seen by a doctor.
On average, the health center sees 150-175 patients a day, with approximately 1600 visits in the past two weeks. Students seem to be experiencing a variety of different illnesses, and each is evaluated and treated accordingly; however, Yates said there have been high numbers with upper respiratory infection symptoms, as well as sore throat, cough, congestion, fever, etc. These can all be treated with medications that may include cough suppressants, decongestants, antihistamines and antibiotics.
Though health center resources are available to all students, there are always ways to avoid a visit.
“Wash your hands frequently, or use alcohol based hand sanitizers, cover your cough or sneeze and avoid others who are known to be ill,” Yates said.
