SHS May Cut Hours in Effort to Improve Care

Staff Writer

Student Health Service officials are considering eliminating after-hours services as a way to boost the quality of their care -- but some students are concerned that the change will compromise medical care for students.

SHS Director Bob Wirag recently received a recommendation to cut the center's hours of operation from an internal committee of SHS employees and student representatives. The resources used to fund those hours would be shifted to other areas where money is needed, such as staffing during the day.

Wirag said that a final decision has not yet been made, but that cutting after-hours services is a wise decision. "It should have been done a long time ago," he said.

SHS is now open 24 hours a day year round, except for University holidays. The recommendation that was submitted to Wirag states that these hours need to be modified to 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekend for the school year.

Proposed changes to the summer schedule would make those hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on the weekend.

Now that Wirag has the recommendation from the committee, he said he will consider all options, including leaving the service hours the way they are.

If he decides that cutting hours is the best option, he will then send his recommendation to Sue Kitchen, vice chancellor for student affairs, who can either accept or decline his proposal.

Wirag stressed the importance of students' needs and said he is still exploring all potential solutions. "The conclusion at this point is there's work to be done, and there will be no change in hours of operation until all avenues have been explored."

Wirag indicated that no change in the hours of operation would take effect until the summer months at the earliest.

Bruce Vukoson, the chairman for the in-house committee that reviewed these changes and the director of the after-hours program, said one reason for considering the change is the lack of patients who come in at night. "There is an average of two patients per night Monday though Friday during the 11 (p.m.) to 7 (a.m.) time, even less for Saturday and Sunday," Vukoson said. "The vast majority of these patients are not urgent."

SHS officials said they considered increasing student fees to fund after-hours services but eventually decided not to request additional money. "I'm not convinced it's necessary," Wirag said. "I'm well-aware of the prices and fees that it costs to come to this University."

Wirag said SHS is supported entirely by student fees. Each student pays a health fee of $136 per semester, and that pool of money covers 60 to 65 percent of SHS's budget. Other funding comes from fees that are charged when patients have an X-ray, lab exam or other tests performed.

Vukoson said another factor in considering whether to recommend reducing operating hours was an after-hours worker shortage. "We are already bare-boned staffed," Vukoson said. "Even though they are very good, being that short-staffed raises liability issues."

When informed about the possible change in hours, many students expressed concern over what they would do if faced with a medical emergency during these hours.

"I think it's a bad idea," said Betsy Fisher, a freshman from New Bern. "What would I do if I got hurt in the middle of the night? Where would I go?"

But Wirag said a partnership was being developed between SHS and UNC Hospitals' emergency room to handle medical situations that require immediate attention while SHS is closed.

He said a common misconception among students is that they cannot go to the emergency room to receive medical attention. Although the cost of an emergency room visit is more than a normal SHS after-hours visit, the emergency room will be open to students who require urgent care if SHS reduces its hours.

Some students feel they should have a say as to what, if any, changes are made to SHS. "What exact reforms are necessary, I'm not in a position to say, but student interests should be preeminent as it is our fees that largely fund (SHS)," said Michael Woods, a sophomore from Chicago.

Woods became involved in the issue when he still held the position of student body secretary, which he left to run for student body president. Discussions about cutting hours were still being held when he was in office. "However the administration wishes to proceed, I hope that they do so with the greatest degree of transparency and allow students the voice they deserve in this situation," he said.

The idea of changing SHS's hours has prompted some officials in student government to take to the streets for student opinion. "We went door to door in (student government) Cabinet and asked about this issue specifically," said Student Body President Brad Matthews. "I have the intention to set up forums to get input from students and parents. I think it's important to get some feedback."

Although Matthews was on the committee that made the recommendation to Wirag, he said he still is concerned about students having a say in the matter and would only support cutting hours from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. "I would never advocate cutting student services ... but the numbers just don't justify it," he said.

After receiving the recommendation, Wirag said he received student input from the Student Health Advisory Board, which consists of undergraduate and graduate students. The undergraduate students, who were hand-picked by Matthews, talked to other students and staff before making a decision.

And Vukoson said that in the end, it was important to keep the best interests of the students in mind. "We don't want to abandon the students."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.