Health Services Has Huge Campus Impact

By: Brittany Lyon
Posted In: Campus News

NEWPORT-Health Services has contributed to the health care of Salve Regina students since the establishment of the university, yet few know of the many significant

programs and events that Health Services provides.

A Salve Regina University graduate herself, Mary Connell, director of Health

Services, has worked for the university for 25 years. In her time here, services such as the flu shot clinics, blood drives, and the Eating Disorder Team have been created, as well as the recent “Wash Your Hands” campaign, which brought about the Purell dispensers in Miley Cafeteria.

For the past 15 years, students have been able to get flu shots at Health Services. Doctors recommend an annual flu shot that should be given through February.

Over the years Connell has seen numerous students fighting the flu through

finals week, and hopes the shot will prevent students from contracting the virus

during that time of high stress. For students, the injection is $20, and

this year over 100 students showed up to receive the vaccine.

In an effort to serve the community, Health Services holds a blood drive four

times a year. With the support of the students, the blood drives have been

extremely successful, with an average of 50 to 60 students at each drive.

Connell said that having an eating disorder “affects too many (people), especially when (they’re) away from home.”

Last year, the Eating Disorder Team was established to educate students on proper nutrition. The group meets with a nutritionist to discuss healthier options for the cafeteria as well as ways to educate students about healthy eating habits. The team’s main focus is promoting a healthy body image. One of the ways they advertise their message is through presentations in Bazarsky. The Eating Disorder Team plans on creating a section targeted specifically to the male body image, since it is not only women who are self-conscious.

Connell’s most recent development is the “Wash Your Hands Campaign.” She explained that washing hands for 15 seconds with soap and warm water can kill 80 percent of germs. While the practice may seem like common sense, many neglect this important habit. Connell said that by simply washing your hands after sneezing or coughing and before and after eating, a person can significantly reduce his or her chances of becoming ill. Posters of the campaign will appear across campus in the coming months.

As part of the campaign, Purell stations have been placed around campus. Several first appeared in the gym as a trial to see if students would use them, and now there is one in Miley Cafeteria in the hope that students will use it as they enter and exit the cafeteria. So far the stations have been very successful.

In the future, Connell hopes the stations will be located in places like Sky Ranch Grille, the campus bookstore, and classrooms.

From a recent student survey taken by Katie Beers, a Salve senior and Student Government Association senator, the student body resulted as uninformed and unaware of all that Health Services offers.

“It’s amazing what people don’t know,” Beers said, who is also the SGA committee chair of Student Health Awareness.

According to Beers, many students are do not know of the care that Health Services provides. Beers believes students should be aware that Health Services offers free sexually transmitted disease testing, free nicotine patches and gum, as well as services through Newport Hospital. Student health insurance through the university Health Services is also effective at Newport Hospital. In addition, Wellington Pharmacy will deliver prescriptions for students to pick up on campus.

Many events happen on campus without student knowlege or utilization. Beers wants new ways of advertising Health Service events such as the flu clinics and Super Lung Man. Recently, “Super Lung Man” visited campus as part of the Great American Smoke Out, an event in which students could partcipate by breathing into a tube that would tell them

their lung age.

Beers said the issue of being uninformed can be solved through posters, newsletters,

and online articles. Beers also said that through better communication between Health Services and students, successful events and utilization of what Health Services offers can be achieved.

In the future Beers hopes to make small changes that will have a huge impact on

student health care.

“It’s the little things that break the infection,” Beers said. By adding more Purell Stations, tissues in classrooms, and actively supporting the “Wash Your Hands” campaign, Beers hopes to help cut down

student and faculty absences due to illness.

Health Services is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment

only. If a student does have an emergency, they will be helped accordingly and in cooperation with Newport Hospital. To contact Health Services, call extension 2904 (or 341-2904) to make an appointment.

Health Services is located on the Garden Level of Miley Hall.