Wrangling decent health care from the Student Health Center is almost a rite of passage for AU students. Whether it's not being able to get an appointment despite having collapsed in class, or being told that you have mono but not what to do to get better, dealing with the Health Center is certainly a lesson in being an advocate for your own health care. Some students, fed up with the Health Center's limited hours and often sub-par care, have begun seeking medical care off campus.
The Health Center is open only Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Such a schedule just doesn't work in a university setting. Not only does it not fit with many students' class and work schedules, some medical needs particularly important to college students (like needing emergency contraception) rarely occur neatly during traditional business hours.
What's worse than the Center's limited hours is its officials' apparent insistence that everything's ideal. Edythe Cook, Health Center patient services coordinator, said, "I understand the need to juggle classes and work. However, your health is your No. 1 priority."
Even if students are responsible enough to work in regularly scheduled health care around work and class, no one can schedule the next time they get sick. No one says, "Gee, I think I'll get bronchitis next Wednesday. That should work well."
Having evening hours even one or two nights a week would help students a great deal. Other university services have changed to accomodate students: TDR opens later on weekends and the library recently expanded Thursday evening hours.
Problems with the Health Center will begin affecting more than just the university community. As students begin going to the emergency room or Planned Parenthood for services that should be taken care of at the Health Center, they take away valuable resources from others in the city who really need them.
If Health Center officials continue to disregard students' complaints, they might as well tell students to go elsewhere for quality health care. At least that way we could save some time.
