SLU Health Options
With winter approaching, more students are falling ill and requiring medical attention. The increase in sickness is stretching on-campus resources thin. However, most students do not know how to navigate the St. Lawrence County Health System.
Erin Casey, Physician Assistant & Clinical Director of Health Services at St. Lawrence University, recommended that students begin by seeking out on-campus care at the Health Center. “I would certainly say call here. And if we’re not available, leave a message,” Casey said. In cases where students cannot be treated at the Health Center, the nurses can refer individuals to the appropriate physician through St. Lawrence Health or help them to schedule a virtual appointment through Rochester Regional Health, she explained.
Jane Kring, professor in the Biology Department and a Pre-Health Program and Health Careers Committee Co-Chair at St. Lawrence University, believes that there are enough medical outlets for students on campus. “I know that occasionally there might be times when a student can’t get an appointment but the Urgent Care Center and the Emergency Department are available for emergent care,” Kring said. “I think in that situation they have to decide how emergent their needs are, and if they can wait to be seen later, or if it is worth the cost in time and money to visit the Urgent Care or Emergency Room,” Kring argued.
Kring also pointed out that for extremely emergent situations, “Safety and Security can help students along with SLU EMS. Both of those organizations do an excellent job.” However, “if you have a chronic condition it is important to establish care with an internal medicine or family physician so that you can receive appropriate long term care,” Kring said. Regardless of the situation, students have options for healthcare treatment.
Student Ashley Wieland ‘27 argues that on-campus medical care is often not sufficient. “I went there to get treated with a sickness I was struggling with, and they were unable to give me a diagnosis or any type of treatment” last Tuesday, she said. Although she was unable to get a helpful answer from the Health Center, her “insurance doesn’t cover urgent care, which is why I didn’t go there,” Wieland explained.
“I’d say if you know your insurance is going to cover the costs of getting medications or bloodwork, or whatever you need to have done at the urgent care, then I would recommend going there,” Wieland said. Otherwise, she recommended that students contact a healthcare provider from home if they cannot be seen on-campus. “I just think it’s hard in such a rural area,” she said.