Graphic by Kelsey Richmond

Free massages, refreshments and door prizes lured healthy students and community members to the Southern Oregon University Student Health and Wellness Center Thursday afternoon. The open house to showcased their remodel and services.

All attendees were invited to take a tour with a staff member and learn what is included with tuition for students taking six or more credits. Attendees could also see the history of the center from its origin in 1960 as an in-house treatment facility to its transition to outpatient services in 1981.

That basic system remained until 2007 when a restructure of the building and operations was made.

“We opened fall term with a new service system of care,” said Diane Portratz, director of the student health and wellness center. “The focus is on how the student is handled.”

One of the major physical changes to the building layout was converting the infirmary to smaller “pods” where care providers can treat and diagnose without patients moving two or three times during a visit.

“The streamlined service really increased our efficiencies and effectiveness,” said Portratz. “We’ve really reduced wait times.”

Mental health counseling, previously only available at the ACCESS center across campus, is also provided.

“It’s becoming a trend in universities where mental health and physical health are combined,” said Health Educator Jamie Patterson.

Besides providing typical doctor’s office functions like annual exams, sports physicals and birth control refills, the SHWC also works to educate on issues that affect students. Events like the SOU community health fair, World Aids Day and National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week help to inform students.

Members of the REACT peer education team were also on hand to explain their role in the SHWC. Gina Patterson, a freshman theatre major said that most often they are asked about sex issues and alcohol.

“A lot of people don’t realize how dangerous it is,” she said.

Peer counseling provides another outlet for those who may be uncomfortable talking with a doctor, teacher or parent.

“It’s important for students to educate other students because they take it to heart more,” Patterson said.

Justiss Kallos, a junior bio-chemistry and psychology major waited in the long line to the masseuse, and averages three to four visits a year to the SHWC.

“If I get sick or a severe case of poison oak,” she said.

Using the center as her chief care provider, she says the staff is nice and prescriptions are cheap.

“I’m really interested in medicine,” Kallos said. “I really appreciate that even if I have questions they’ll go look things up.”

While the majority of services provided at the center are included with the student health insurance fee, some do require an out-of-pocket expense that can be billed to student accounts.

Victor Chang, mental health services coordinator, explained that examples include prescriptions, mental health evaluations and counseling.

“Anything we consider a specialized service, above and beyond, there’s an extra fee for that,” he said.

Making appointments is encouraged although walk-in patients are also accepted, but may have to wait longer. Medical Director Laura Robin explained that just taking time out for the open house was difficult.

“It was hard to close the clinic for two hours because we’re so busy,” she said. To schedule an appointment stop by the SHWC or call 552-6136