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Vol. 38, No. 18 |
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1-31-2007 Univeristy Health Connection more than just urgent careFaculty and staff who develop flu symptoms or an achy back during the work day needn’t wait to visit their doctor. A little-known clinic on campus welcomes employees enrolled in the OSU health plans on a walk-in or appointment basis. University Health Connection provides solutions for sick or healthy people in a caring environment. The staff refer to patients by their first name with a smile and Stephanie Schleappi, a licensed massage therapist, is happy to relax tense neck and shoulder muscles free of charge for those waiting to see a doctor in the 100 Parks Hall waiting room. While the amenities — an on-site pharmacy, a lab and an exam room specifically designed for women — may be typical for a health care clinic, what separates UHC from other facilities is that it serves one employee population enrolled in one insurance plan. This allows UHC staff to provide both urgent and primary care consistent with plan benefits and recommend a host of complementary services, such as alternative medicine therapies, nutritional counseling, weight management and tobacco cessation programs, that are covered as well. “We try to use our network to connect with health care resources,” said UHC Medical Director Stephanie Cook. “We don’t replace the primary care physician, but it’s an efficient way to do health care while you’re at work. And you don’t have to go off campus and leave your parking spot.” The main objective, according to Cook, is to get patients to take an active role in their health and practice disease management — a key component of the university’s Your Plan for Health initiative. By teaching employees how to manage or avoid developing a major disease, Ohio State hopes to create a healthier workforce, which will in turn lower its health care costs. For instance, a faculty or staff member can meet for free with a dietitian to assist in weight loss or diabetes management, or speak with a pharmacist about medications. Under Cook’s direction, UHC works closely with the Faculty and Staff Wellness Program in offering flu shots, Personal Health Assessment screenings and Lunch and Learn sessions geared toward alternative therapies, such as reflexology and massage therapy. In fact, alternative treatments of acupuncture and massage therapy were successfully piloted at UHC and are now covered benefits under the OSU health plans. In addition to physicians, the UHC team comprises a pharmacist, a pharmacy resident and pharmacy techs, full- and part-time nurses, a nurse practitioner, a licensed massage therapist, a dietitian and a reflexologist. “We like to call ourselves an interprofessional team,” said Marialice Bennett, UHC’s pharmacy director. “We don’t hand people off from one professional to the next. We work together to make the best overall decision with the patient.” UNIVERSITY HEALTH CONNECTION 100 Parks Hall Urgent care and walk-ins: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Primary care for established patients and by appointment: 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m. on Mondays; 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.
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