<p>The specifics of a college' health care facilities were not something we (as parents) really looked at. Gosh, we have great insurance, etc. etc etc.</p>
<p>Now we are kicking ourselves.</p>
<p>DS is really sick with acute sinusitis. College Heath Center prescribed antibiotics and codeine. Meds aren't workingt, son is miserable, and gosh health center hours are M-F 9-5. </p>
<p>When we were in college, we had infirmaries that took us in and took care of us. There is nothing like a few days of TLC away from a dorm....</p>
<p>I am really hurting. DS isn't sick enough to be hospitalized, but is too sick to be in a dorm. His school has no in between.</p>
<p>A year ago I would have scoffed at parents who focused in on an issue like this, but now I would really hesitate to send my kid to a college that didn't offer 24/7 health care, including just a bed away from it all.</p>
<p>if the student has great ins- he shouldn't be limited to the schools health care facilities
if teh antibiotics have had a chance to work and aren't then perhaps a broader spectrum antibiotic is needed, whether he is seeing a family dr or the health clinic, he may have had same course of treatment
I know what a pain sinus problems can be- my husband had them for years until we realized they were connected to cluster headaches, and the triggers for those.
I agree they aren't bad enough to need inpatient care, but they sure are miserable for a few days.</p>
<p>Don't know your school but I did look at these, visited them and live right next door to the hospital/clinic!!! hehehe MIT has a great on campus facility and also tremendous access to community hospitals. I hope your son gets better and that he appreciates the fact that you can make the trip.</p>
<p>Well, we do seem to be comparing younger DS's medical options to older DS and the difference is mind boggling! (perhaps Ivy versus not!) The later (Ivy) has amazing campus options. Insurance isn't the issue (we have primo!); the issue is ease of access.</p>
<p>Over and out so I can zip back to #2 DS's city!</p>
<p>In both our college searches, I dont think I came across any college which has what used to be called "infirmaries",which is the type of middle care facility I think the OP is looking for.
Do they still exist?Or did they ever?Seems to be more of a summer camp type setup.
Couple of years ago,my friends S broke his leg during an intramural BB game on a large midwestern state U campus. He was taken by ambulance to the local hospital,had surgery (signed for it himself,over 18,no parents present).Spent some days in the hospital.Was released back to his domicile (dorm).School arranged golf cart transport to classes,Dining Hall plan arranged meal delivery if wanted.Other than that,he was on his own.Only choice if he didnt want to return to the dorm would have been to go home (800 miles away).He decided to stay and muddled his way through with the help of friends (rides to docs and therapy).</p>
<p>I too think the infirmary is becoming a thing of the past...</p>
<p>They seem to only occur in schools without a medical school...and also have their pros and cons...</p>
<p>My sister attended Millersville University (Pa State School) for a few years and she was very lucky she was near home and close to the family practice we had gone to since we were young. Many times the infirmary had too many patients for the nurses to take care of (especially during cold and flu season) in addition to the nurses not being able to correctly diagnose illnesses (they were essentially like the high school nurse). </p>
<p>Another problem with infirmaries is the lack of pharmaceuticals, many sick students are required to go to the local pharmacy (a mile or so down the road) to get basic prescriptions. </p>
<p>One last problem I've seen with infirmaries is the lack of womens health facilities. College-aged females should be getting regular pap-smears (regardless of sexual activity) and at many schools with infirmaries, they are forced to find a local gynecologist. I believe many more females would be more comfortable going to a student health service on campus than having to rely on a friend to take them for a potentially embarassing check-up. Thank God my sister lived near home! When she was having gyno problems my mom set her up with her gynocologist and has had regular pap-smears since she was 18. The thank God part is that she received an abnormal pap last month and ended up needing surgery a few weeks back (everything came back clear btw)...With a less vocal student, such as my best friend (also attended Millersville) whom has never had a pap-smear (at 24 none-the-less!), the problem would have gone un-noticed.</p>
<p>Now, not to say infirmaries are horrible...they do typically give 24-hour care and the likes (unlike student health services).</p>
<p>There was an article in the Wall Street Journal, I think, last year that talked about colleges and universities closing infirmaries. This is apparently a major trend. One of the concerns is for liability. It is probably best to inquire in more detail of each school one is considering. The campus tour and website may talk about how great the health service is, but the college should be able to answer honestly about hours of service, whether students can stay overnight, availability of women's health services, etc.</p>
<p>1) Most docs at colleges are extremely conservative in what and when they presribe, since many American docs, over-prescribe antibiotics since birth of child. Thus, there is a backlash in the public health communith to over-medicating.</p>
<p>2) Wife has acute sinusitis on occasion as well. Standard drug regimen (read: generic, low cost) does not work. However, once the internist upgraded to a new, expensive drug, problem solved within hours. </p>
<p>Thus, my first rec would be to try to "upgrade" the meds.</p>
<p>Fully-staffed 24/7 health care centers certainly exist at colleges today, including beds for overnighting in cases like the orig. poster's son.</p>
<p>One reason that schools cut back the hours of their health care centers involves the high number of alcohol poisonings at night and on weekends. When the situation is out of control, the professional medical staff becomes unwilling/unable to pay for liability insurance or risk the lawsuits associated with an alcohol poisoning death.</p>
<p>Is there an urgent care or even an ER close to the hospital that is covered by your insurance? Acutally this situation is similar to one we have right now but we are just an hour away. </p>
<p>I agree/guess the antibiotic is probably something that your child is resistant to and an "upgrade" is what is needed. Son has had several bouts with sinusitis and I had to lobby several times for the pediatrician to upgrade the meds. </p>
<p>Son has had a "cold" for 3 weeks, the last visit to the health center he was prescribed psuedofed and told he has fluid in the ear causing the dizzyness. I have been agonizing for days and can relate to your situation. Son is getting 3 choices in just a few hrs. 1-go to urgent care covered by ins 2)let me come up and bring stuff, 3) let dad drop off stuff tomorrow. I am guessing he will go w/#3 and I will be on the phone begging for an RX.</p>
<p>Of course other options - if the school health center/clinic is not open - local walk in's - ER of local hospital - urgent care facilities..............</p>
<p>Many schools no longer have that 24 infirmary type of thing - mostly a cost cut in the budgets of many - tho some schools still do.</p>
<p>ID - the schools usually have to provide the liability insurance for the practioners they hire - tho every medical person needs to carry their own as well - or should.</p>
<p>As far as the alcohol poisoinint treatment in a school health center/infirmery - most schools would NOT have the equipment necessary to safely provide the proper care for students in this situation and would/should be treated at an ER where ALL the needed resources are readily available.</p>
<p>Many schools are setting their health centers up as clinics instead of the ''old infirmery'' - with regular set hours - just as md offices/clinics would be where the student lives. The cost of having MD's/RN's available 24/7 is enormous - so another reason for the cost containment efforts. If the student was at home - they would be ''going out'' to a doc/clinic/er - whatever - and would then have to ''go'' to the pharmacy to fill scripts.</p>
<p>Many schools only have the first line of defense drugs available - the big gun antibiotics are very costly - and I am sure schools are not willing to cover those drugs - tho will provide a cript to be filled at a local pharmacy.</p>
<p>Where my kiddo goes - we have to weight the cost of student health care resources to what is not covered and what is covered - and decide where to get script - if under $20 charge - get it at student health - if cost will be over $20 - go to pharmacy so covered under insurance plan. Some of those 2nd - 3rd - 4th generation drugs can cost upwards and over $100 - so we figure out costwise the best way to manage in an individual basis.</p>
<p>AS far as nurses not being able to diagnosis - uummm there are many times that tests are NOT available at a student health center that may be needed - so it is inpossible to diagnosos every ailment sometimes.</p>
<p>Not all student health facilities are equal - many have limitations and are not prepared to provide specialized treatments - but they should be able to make referrals for needed care locally - depending on the size of the school as well - many do not provide the specialized services - such as women's services - but should have information available for the student to receive those needed services close by.</p>
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ID - the schools usually have to provide the liability insurance for the practioners they hire - tho every medical person needs to carry their own as well - or should.
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</p>
<p>Here is the news article announcing the closure on nights and weekends of one LAC's health center:</p>
<p>"In a move that looms as a potential harbinger of the changes in alcohol policy and culture that can be expected in the coming months, an all-campus e-mail released last night by Dean Roseman alerted students that they will no longer be able to gain unrestricted 24-hour access to the campus Health Center, a change effective at the outset of the 2004-05 academic year. Rosemans e-mail stressed that the change in policy was not initiated by the College, but rather by the medical body responsible for providing primary after-hours care at the Health Center, Williamstown Medical Associates (WMA). </p>
<p>"Ruth Harrison, director of health services, called WMAs decision a product of the litigious society we live in, a sentiment echoed in Rosemans e-mail: WMA has informed the College that they are unwilling to continue to provide coverage overnight due to liability issues. </p>
<p>Its not just about money, its about your medical license, [Roseman] said. The physicians are placing their medical licenses at risk, and I dont think theres any amount of money we could use to buy Williamstown Medical an umbrella insurance policy.</p>
<p>ID - just as i said - liability/costs of - not necessarily just becuz of the alcohol reasons - tho I am sure could be a partial factor - There are many layers of medical liability for schools/personnel - and the costs to cover all of those areas is becoming increasingly out ot the bounds of the schools - so this is not an unusual move.</p>
<p>*** nurses not being able to correctly diagnose illnesses
(they were essentially like the high school nurse). *** </p>
<p>Not quite true in a college atmosphere - where they do work under an MD's liscense - unless the nurse has an advanced degree - RNP et.... - they are somewhat limited in what they can/cannot do - and depending on the resources available on the particular campus. Health care on college campuses also depends on if the clinic/infirmery is able to do insurance billing - most don't - and things that are not covered under the clinic's protocols are either billed to the student account - paid on receipt of services - or scripted out to other resources - pharmacy - lab work - x-rays - many prescriptions if not able to utilize the clinic's supplies - which are fairly limited.</p>
<p>Clinic's usually have ''standing orders'' that the nurse is allowed to utilize - beyond that - if it requires an MD sig - has to be ordered by MD or RNP.</p>
<p>Any kiddo going off to school - It would behoove any parent to be well aware of ALL medical choices/facilities available to the student - and what your insurance will cover and where.</p>
<p>A great resource we found - was the local phone book - grab one while you are there visiting - or call the local phone company and order one - a fantastic resource for parents whose kiddos are far from home.</p>
<p>Lizbeth, I'm sorry to hear about your son. I dont blame you a bit for hopping on a plane and heading out to be with him. This is an issue I am considering for my daughter (I started a thread on health plans in the cafe), as it is clear that she may need more than the health center at her school will be able/willing to provide from time to time. However, this is an issue that all parents should at least consider - at the very least, have a contact name at the health center you can call for referrals to services in the community. Thanks for bringing this up, I appreciate it. Now, go take care of your boy, and let us know when you return. We will be thinking of you both.</p>
<p>The other thing we did ....just in case...was check with our private insurance provider to see where and who would cover our kiddo in the event of medical needs. We live in a neighboring state to the college. There are participating physicians in the area of DS's school. Another thing that was more important to us was prescription coverage. Again...we checked. All of our prescriptions get filled for DS at a national chain so that he can go to the one near where he lives and get refills. The college health service at his school is excellent, but it's for acute issues only. He went there last year when he was having some issues that turned out to be allergies...but they were wonderful and gave him something to relieve his symptoms. His health service requires an extensive health history annually including all medications a student is taking. They keep this in their data base for referral if a student comes to them.</p>