Owens to offer health service

8/8/2007

Owens Community College students for the first time will have access to health services on campus at a joint health center with the University of Toledo.

The Health Services and Well ness Center, in the final stages of construction at the Student Health and Activities Center on Owens Perrysburg Township campus, will have physicians with UT s department of family medicine providing care.

The about 1,000-square-foot facility inside the SHAC will have two examination rooms, a nursing station, reception area, physicians office, and laboratory.

It s the first time at Owens students will have this ability, said Paul Unger, executive vice president and provost of the college.

While four-year schools with residence halls and students living on campus provide that type of service on-site, it is not as common for commuter schools like Owens, he said. The center should be available for students in September.

Owens is working with its insurance company to allow faculty and staff to also receive care at the health center, Mr. Unger said.

To pay for that care, Owens and UT have worked to allow students access to health insurance plans.

Students will work directly with the provider, AIG, for coverage, Mr. Unger said, adding that with an AIG policy, students would be covered at other health-care facilities that accept that insurance.

Students can choose a plan that covers them for a semester or a year, and can add dependents to their policies.

The type of plans and prices were not disclosed yesterday because Owens is finalizing the details with AIG, Mr. Unger said.

It is not a requirement for students to have the health insurance for care at the new health center, and they can pay directly for the services, said Norine Wasielewski, UT s senior director of health and wellness. She will oversee the health center.

Owens previously operated with a type of school nurse program in which a paramedic nurse was in a room in College Hall, rather than a formalized program, Mr. Unger said.

At the new Health Services and Wellness Center, medical staff will be on campus for examinations and consultations three days a week Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

It initially will be staffed by two physicians. The staff and hours could expand based on the need to keep the campus community healthy, Ms. Wasielewski said.