Student Health faces flu, crowds

Many students griped about long wait times and the level of service. With January and February commonly known as cold and flu season, sick students are looking for a quick fix. And while some say they are satisfied with their experiences at Student Health Services, others complain about long waits and poor treatment. "I've avoided [coming here] like the plague," said one College sophomore who requested that her name not be used, stressing the long waiting time. "I usually just wait it out." Associate Director for Student Health Evelyn Wiener said the months of January and February always flood the halls of Student Health, located in the Penn Tower Hotel. But, she said, "the sooner you call, the sooner you can get an appointment." Yet some students said they did call ahead and that appointments were not available for several days. "At times I found it difficult to make an appointment -- I've had to wait two weeks," College junior Jumin Kim said. And Engineering freshman Alice Wu said she waited 45 minutes to receive a pair of crutches for her sprained ankle. But recent Student Health records showed that doctors were able to see all students who walked in without appointments without much waiting time. Last semester, 80 percent of students were seen within 15 minutes of their appointment time, according to Student Health records. About a third of walk-in patients -- those without appointments -- had to wait between 30 minutes and an hour before seeing a doctor. And yesterday, about 60 people walked into Student Health without appointments and all 60 saw either a doctor or a nurse, though it was not clear how long they waited. Other students said they have come to grips with the idea that they must wait in order to receive medical attention. "Everyone told me I'd have to wait a long time, so I expected it," said College freshman Jenny Wang, who waited 40 minutes to see a doctor. "I woke up early and came in the morning to avoid the wait." One College junior, though, said she doesn't think anything can be done about long waits at Student Health. "I feel it's normal.? There are people ahead of you who need to be treated first," she said. And other students said they have had positive experiences at the center. "So far, with my experiences here, it's been good," said College freshman Meredith Wepner, who complained of flu-like symptoms. Wepner received almost immediate assistance during her first visit to Student Health. At her second, she waited 20 minutes for a nurse. Wiener, the Student Health official, said the office usually has openings in the mornings -- but not as much during lunch hours -- and that getting an appointment should ensure a shorter wait. Once at Student Health, Wiener encouraged students to form personal connections with their doctor, stressing that this will allow students to make a quick call and get advice from a specific physician. But because of the doctors' busy schedules, it is often hard to see the same doctor on more than one occasion, some students said. College junior Roxanne Miller said she wanted to see a specific doctor yesterday but was unable to schedule an appointment with the physician until next week. "[But] they said they could get me in [tomorrow] with another doctor," she added.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.