Student Health Wants to Hear Student Concerns
 

To the Editor: 

Malaria, influenza, STDs, allergies, etc, etc, etc. At Student Health we take care of all types of problems. We provide care for people across a broad section of the U.S. and the world. Under these circumstances the staff of Student Health comes to work every day to provide services to students in need. It is a hectic, challenging job, sometimes very stressful and most days very rewarding.
In the two and a half years that Student Health has been in its present form, we have made it a part of our mission to listen to students and to be open to new ideas. As a result of our patient surveys we have approached the College for a bigger space closer to campus. After our first pre-accreditation visit, we changed our system to provide better follow-up for specialist referrals. We are currently working to increase medical provider time in order to allow for more available appointments. 
Because Student Health has always been open and willing to listen to concerns of students we were dismayed when posters went up in Mudd Library asking students for feedback on our sexual health services. Until that time we had received only two complaints from students on sexual health issues in two and a half years of service. Even though ALL of our literature invites student to provide comments and feedback, very few had actually come forward to discuss their concerns. Obviously, there were problems that we were unaware of and those students did not feel comfortable approaching our staff. 
When Lori Morgan-Flood and I met with the students who initiated the Mudd posters, we did not know what to expect. We received copies of student comments as well as verbal feedback from the students involved. It was an open and frank discussion. We listened to everything that was said, the good and the not so good. When examined closely most of the concerns dealt not with medical competence but “how” medical providers approach patients. At that point we knew that we had a significant problem surrounding the sexual health of our students and needed to work immediately on solutions. With this initial group we came up with a plan and some ideas to make improvements. 

Although the original students have not had time to continue to meet, Health Services has moved ahead to implement the changes that were discussed that night. We met with our staff of providers, nurses and secretaries to further discuss the issues and come up with solutions. We developed a job description for a sexual health liaison position –– students who have been trained to accompany patients during pelvic exams. 
We are in the process of developing new ways to obtain sexual histories that are more comfortable and less intrusive to students. We will be sending a letter BEFORE pelvic exams to explain what to expect during an exam and why exams are done the way they are. We have hired a peer health educator to act as a liaison on sexual health issues. Emily Alexander, who has extensive real work experience in dealing with sexual health, is providing feedback and input on the direction we should be taking. We are taking action and will continue to work on this issue until it is resolved.
I would like to reiterate we cannot act on problems until we know they exist. Students need to work on feeling comfortable talking to those people closest to the problem, people who can make a difference. If students come to us with a concern they will be listened to. 
Also, in order to provide the type of service that students want and need, student involvement is crucial. This involvement needs to come from individuals as well as student groups that have an interest in sexual health issues. SIC, LGBTU, WRC, SAST and the HIV educators all are in positions to provide responsible feedback and we would welcome them doing so.

As we continue to move forward, I look forward to your constructive feedback and working together to implement positive change at your Student Health Service.

–Laura Hieronymus
Health Service Director 

 

 

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