Mary McDaniel

The Student Health Center is currently closed to students desiring a routine appointment in order to prevent students and staff who are not ill from contracting sickness while in the waiting room.

“This is just one of the measures that we have planned for if our resources are overwhelmed,” said Mary McDaniel, assistant director of Health Services. “Taking care of sick students is the priority over some of the routine things.”

This is only the second time that health services has limited its services during McDaniel’s 17 years at the health center – the other time was two years ago.

McDaniel said that action to postpone routine appointments was taken after a trend was seen among students who visited the health center.

“We were noticing that people would be in here (for a routine appointment) and they’d be sitting in the waiting room and then two or three days later they’d be back and be sick,” McDaniel said.

Instead, students can call if they have concerns in scheduling appointments or if they need a prescription.

“As long as they get what they need, everyone has been very understanding and are actually appreciative that they’re not sitting in the waiting room getting sick,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel said that this hasn’t prevented students from receiving necessary assistance.

“I can’t think of anyone yet that’s needed something routine that we haven’t been able to manage,” McDaniel said. “We’re doing our best to make sure that everyone is getting what they need.”

Freshman Heather McCoy said that postponing routine appointments is a step in the right direction, but will not solve the problem.

“If you have people who are sick together in a group they are going to spread it,” McCoy said. “But then again, if you live in the dormitories and you’re grouped together all the time anyway, it’s already spreading.”

Not only will the sick be segregated in terms of appointments, but by focusing on sick students, McCoy feels that they will get much needed attention.

“I think they need to get people who are sick appointments,” she said. “I know people who are sick now and can’t get an appointment for two weeks so I think it will help that they’re postponing routine appointments.”

Christopher Sweet, sophomore English major, said that unfortunately, this may deter students who may be cautious to make an appointment and who are in doubt that they are seriously ill.

“Sometimes you may think you have something minor that you would just need a routine appointment for, but it could turn out to be something more serious,” Sweet said.

Health Services hopes to open the clinic to the full spectrum of patients within the next month.

Sarah Shaw/The Bulletin

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