Feeling sick?
Beginning this semester, VCU students need to make an appointment before heading to University Student Health Services.
Now, when a student calls ahead of time and explains their individual situation, a nurse triage system goes into effect, allowing workers to determine the needs of the student. If the situation is not a true emergency, students will need to make an appointment to be seen by a health care worker.
The only time a student will be seen as a walk-in at the clinic is in the case of a true emergency.
The good news is that if a student does need an appointment, the new system will offer same-day openings that can work around a class schedule.
Tisha Smith, a receptionist at the Monroe Park Campus University Health Services office, explained that physicians working that day leave time out during their shift for to fit students’ needs.
“The doctors and nurses that are on-call here have a slot of time every hour that they are not allowed to schedule for emergencies and same-day appointments,” Smith said.
She said that the time slots are usually 15 minutes since that is the estimated time for an average appointment.
Cindy Holmes, assistant director of clinical operations at University Student Health Services, says this new system will streamline the doctor’s visit process for students.
“It will be beneficial for both staff and students,” she said. “It will be more efficient for the clinic and students won’t have to wait as long.”
Cutting down on wait times is not the only benefit that will come from this new policy.
Lindsey Eades, assistant director of administration for University Health Services, says that the system follows an open-access system that many other universities and family practices utilize.
The open-access system allows students who need to be seen immediately to get the medical attention that they need the same day that they seek it, while other students that have a minor illness or injury, or simply need their annual check-up can be seen after those who have greater needs.
“This is how it is in the real world, because most doctor’s offices you go to, you have to make an appointment,” she said.
Students are urged to arrive on time to their appointments because those who are late by more than ten minutes will lose their appointment slot.
To make an appointment, students on the Monroe Park campus should call 828-8828 and those on the MCV campus should call 828-9220. If at all possible, it is best to call 24 hours in advance of when you need to be seen.
For medical attention after-hours, students can still call the University Student Health Services office and listen to a pre-recorded message to receive the pager number of the University Student Health Services practitioner on call.
The healthcare worker will immediately return the call and determine the urgency of the student’s medical need.