Frustrated with the limitations of the Guilford Student Health Center, senior and English major Meredith Luby has stepped up to advocate for the hire of a full-time physician’s assistant. Her campaign is born from irritation with the center’s limited hours and the difficult process of seeking reimbursement from insurance companies.
At present, two full-time registered nurses and a part-time physician’s assistant (PA) operate the Student Health Center. The part-time PA is the only staff member who can write prescriptions, but is only available at the Student Health Center for nine hours a week.
“If you get sick on Friday and you go to the health center the following Tuesday,” said Luby. “You would have to go off campus, which is a pain when you’re feeling sick.”
Luby has discussed her grievances in detail with Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Aaron Fetrow.
Fetrow estimates that hiring someone to work 40 hours-a-week would cost about $83,000 in all, including benefits.
“What I’d hate to do in the midst of a recession, or whatever you want to call this mess we’re in, is to dig up $83,000 and then not use the person full-time,” said Fetrow.
Scheduling issues arose recently with Guilford’s former provider of PA services, so the college contracted with Friendly Urgent Care, just around the block from campus. Fetrow hopes that the hiring of part-time physician’s assistants through the clinic will now be more convenient because of their close location.
The administration has plans in the works to increase the number of hours that a PA is available at the Health Center from nine to 15 this next spring semester.
“I think the smartest thing would be to see how this spring semester goes with 15 hours,” Fetrow said.
“Maybe that is more financially sound and makes more sense for the college.”
Fetrow further stated that he was open to the idea of further increasing the hours in the future should the additional six prove insufficient.
After several discussions with Fetrow and the Student Health Center staff, Luby then sought support from students through Community Senate.
“I think that a lot of students weren’t aware of this situation, so I presented it at Community Senate, because it’s a forum for students to be heard and to spread awareness,” said Luby.
In her proposal to senate, Luby explained the Student Health Center’s shortcomings and how the hiring of a full-time PA would alleviate those problems.
The proposal was heard and endorsed by Community Senate.
Members of senate voiced approval for Luby’s approach to the situation.
“This is a really good model for how we want Community Senate to function,” said Senate Vice President Patchouli Oerther. “This is the kind of thing we want to happen.”
In fact, among senate officials, Luby’s method has jokingly come to be referred to as the “Luby Model,” in hopes that others wil follow Luby’s lead and use senate in a similar fashion.
“What is really unique about this situation is that Meredith came to senate members and sat down and talked with us,” said Senate Outreach Co-chair Zak Wear. “We were able to work with her one-on-one and explain the steps she should take with the administration.”
Both Meredith Luby and Registered Nurse Helen Rice, director of student health, who staffs the center, hope that options relating to sexual health will become more accessible for students looking to maintain a safe and informed sexual lifestyle.
“Maybe it’s easier for some students to know that they can go to the Health Center and talk to someone more privately, or to talk to a physician rather than another student,” said Luby.