Penn State students and staff have seen a significant amount of construction in the Ritenour Building in the last few months. We think it is important to inform everyone of the new and exciting renovations underway at University Health Services. Many of these changes have been made possible by one of the most generous senior class gifts on record at Penn State, which will fund a new urgent care facility in the east wing of Ritenour Building. Modern examination rooms, new lighting and improved systems for patient flow will be some of the changes apparent to students and staff using University Health Services.

The first floor of Ritenour Building will be a comprehensive ambulatory care center with separate general medicine, women's health and urgent care departments. When students come into the health service, they will be evaluated and referred to the department that best meets their clinical needs. Women students can continue to schedule appointments directly with Women's Health, and any student can make an appointment in the general medicine department.

Students are encouraged to identify their own health care provider and schedule appointments with that provider every time they come in for health service. Scheduling an appointment in advance helps to assure a short wait and the most efficient use of students' and health care providers' time.

We hope that the first floor clinical services renovation project will be completed by January 1994. While we have done some work on improving other areas of the building, more projects are planned. An important upcoming project will involve improving the signs outside and throughout the building. With all the changes underway, it will be important that our signs make it easy for students and staff to find their way.

As with every construction project, we have our share of disruption, noise and dust. While the renovation team is trying to minimize this disruption, we ask that you bear with us. When construction is complete, we will have a facility we can be proud of.