The July 3 editorial, "Recent death should prompt UHS scrutiny," merits some scrutiny of its own. While the death of any young adult certainly is a tragedy, I would like to correct the judgment passed concerning the quality of care at University Health Services.
Meningococcal meningitis is a rare, deadly disease. According to medical texts, "few infections can cause the civil, medical, and social stress that occurs when serious meningococcal disease enters a community. The rapid onset of disease, the fulminant course of some of the infected, and the mortality and morbidity clearly are reasonable causes for the profound dread of this infection." According to James Turner, chairman of the American College Health Association, "symptoms easily disguise themselves in its onset, particularly when a patient first goes to a doctor." Indeed, only 2,600 Americans contract meningitis annually, 300 of those cases becoming fatal.
During my 25 years at Penn State, I've been impressed with the commitment of the Health Services staff toward ensuring exceptional patient care. They chose to become nationally accredited, a strenuous process involving compliance with nationally set standards in ambulatory health care. It was noted that at University Health Services "medical care is high quality and comprehensive."
The editorial had some unsubstantiated claims. That it is "almost impossible for students to get a routine appointment less than a few weeks in advance" is false. Routine appointments are available within two to four days of calling UHS. Appointments for acute medical problems are scheduled within 24 hours. Furthermore, our students have an option that is virtually unheard of at most primary care clinics anywhere. They can choose to walk into the Urgent Care Department and be seen with an average wait time of 47 minutes.
Though the editorial questioned the quality of some staff, I believe that the medical profession has become more efficient and patient-centered by utilization of specially trained professionals such as nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants as complements to the role of the traditional physician. In addition, all of our physicians are board certified in a primary care specialty.
University Health Services is one of only 136 college health services in the nation accredited as of February 2001. The Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) accredited 109 such health services, including UHS. In Pennsylvania five college health services are accredited, four by AAAHC, Carnegie Mellon, Haverford College, Penn State, Slippery Rock University.
University Health Services has an extensive quality improvement program. This ensures that the quality of patient care and educational services are constantly monitored, with problems that impact on patient care identified and resolved. Its Risk Management Program enhances the safety of the health service environment through an on-going process designed to detect, evaluate, and, to the greatest degree possible, reduce risk by eliminating problems that might result in harm.
Ritenour Building is one of the landmark buildings on campus. While we have made remarkable changes of late through renovation and reassignment of space, the building is very crowded. There is a great need for more and better designed space to serve students more efficiently and improve working conditions for staff. This facility has been on our priority list for renovation and expansion for several years. There is space reserved in the Campus Master Plan for an expanded Health Services building in the same location. We expect to have it on the updated five year Capital Budget Plan next year.
I encourage those with concerns about University Health Services to ask questions, express concerns and offer suggestions. The staff is dedicated to ensuring the physical and mental well being of Penn State students. But they need your input and advocacy if services and facilities are to meet the needs of an ever-growing student population. The Director of UHS, Doctor Margaret Spear, and I welcome the opportunity to meet with concerned students. We invite scrutiny and dialogue; it helps our efforts to continuously improve.
