Walk-ins welcomed
On-campus student health center introduces new fee to upgrade services
Liberty University’s Student Health Center announced the institution of a new student health fee starting this semester to upgrade equipment and renovate its on-campus space located in Green Hall.
WELLNESS — The Health Center is conveniently located in Green Hall for Liberty students. Photo credit: Christianne Gormley
According to Executive Director of the Student Health Center and Wellness Initiatives Dr. Keith Anderson, the new health fee is part of a broader trend among universities in the U.S. to enhance the effectiveness and services of their on-campus health facilities.
The fee has been added as a separate payment that all residential students are subject to.
“This is the first year that student health fees have been itemized as a separate cost for students,” Anderson wrote in an e-mail.
“The services provided, their actual costs, and the fees collected from students will be monitored to ensure benefit to the students and cost effectiveness.”
The amount of the fee, Anderson said, is not yet set and is something Liberty will look closely at in the coming year.
Specific benefits that can be expected from the new fee includes not only cosmetic upgrades such as new paint, pictures and furniture, but also additional patient care and a new radiology system that can be used for taking X-rays and sending digital images to a patient’s physician or a separate consultant as needed, according to Anderson.
Additionally, the fee will pay for a new service available for all residential students.
The role of the “nurse navigator” will be instituted into Liberty’s Student Health Center where students will have the opportunity to be assisted in coordinating wellness or follow-up consultations.
Feedback from students has consisted of a number of questions and comments.
According to Anderson, most were concerned with how the fee will affect existing services at the clinic, the new services that will be covered by the fee, and with whether or not the current providers at the clinic will stay the same.
“I do have a couple more questions about the fee, but I’m excited to see the changes the health center makes,” Liberty senior Matina Sandara said.
“I know as a commuter student, having something to help with appointment-making for not just on campus sounds like something that would specifically benefit off-campus students.”
Other students such as Junior Corbin Jackson said they are more concerned with the amount of the fee over the type of services that cost will provide.
“I think these fees are a good idea and that the upgrades will help a lot of people, but I also see how some students might be upset about them because it does sound like these fees could be expensive and draining for college kids,” Jackson said.
Overall, Anderson said he is optimistic in the new fee’s ability to enhance the quality of student healthcare and upgrade equipment so students will not have to travel far or take a visit to the E.R. to get taken care of.
“The new equipment, more patient care areas and nurse navigation services will immediately benefit the health center,” Anderson wrote in an e-mail.
“This, combined with continued relationships with proven providers, we think is a win-win situation for everyone.”
Ali is a news reporter.