Staying Healthy On campus Students at HCC visit the Health Center photos & story
Susi Acosta
That small house is a health center? This is one of the most frequent questions Rhonda Durant, manager of Student Health Services, hears along with her five other staff members. Walking back to the dorms after class, a person might walk past the health center not realizing it ever existed on campus. The health center has been available at Hutchinson Community College for 30 years. “I found out about the health center through my track coach, Becker, because it was required for me to get a physical,” Gretchen Kallenbach, Wichita, said. The clinic offers quality heath care to HCC students along with the community of Reno County. Physical exams, treatment of common illnesses, suturing of minor lacerations, suture removal, and dressing changes are all available along with treating minor depression and anxiety. Appointments for pregnancy prevention and STD counseling are also offered at the center. “I visited the health center because I wasn’t feeling very good,” Alex Conine, Dighton, said. HCC students are not charged a visit fee unless lab or x-rays are needed. Children of Reno County must pay an annual fee of $20 per child or $40/ family per year. The clinic does not require insurance or proof of income. If unable to pay the annual fee, the patient can
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discuss it with a staff member. Because it is a small facility with a limited lab, the health center always has a medical director available by phone, and the clinic has no doctor on site like a larger clinic. They do not have the equipment or medication to treat a serious emergency. “The health center is a lot smaller, it just has the necessary things needed, the rooms are tiny with not much in them. But the clinic is walking distance, and that’s
always good,” Carl Linnen, Buford, S.C., said. The health center has two nurses on site. One nurse is responsible for checking people in and out and a Nurse Practitioner, Rhonda Durant. Most of the time Durant examines the patients but there are two other nurse practitioners if needed. “My experience was pretty good, the staff members were friendly and informative. If I have to go again I would,” Kallenbach, said.
Rhonda Durant, manager of Student Health Services, checks Carl Linnen,Buford,S.C.,heartbeat. Linnen needed a physical for track before he could start practice.
Next time when a person looks at the health center he or she will know that it’s just not an ordinary house. When a friend gets sick recommend them to visit the health center where quality health care will be offered.
Dragon’s Tale
2/23/12 1:30 PM