Students who are sick and tired of wasting away in the Health Services waiting room may now find remedy in a phone call.

Syracuse University Health Services has doubled its amount of appointment times by ending its walk-in services and establishing appointment-only care. But while some students believe the change gives them more efficient medical attention, others question its need.

‘I went just last week, and they told me I had to make an appointment,’ said Alex Martinez, a junior political science major. ‘But it’s just not necessary, it’s not like it’s packed all the time.’

Each day, about one hundred to 150 students visit the health center, and many more students call for immunizations, shots and information. The staff of the health center employs about 12 nurses and physicians, said James Jacobs, director of Health Services. The change will help to organize all of their requests.

‘It takes us from a semi-organized chaos to a structured chaos,’ Jacobs said.

Because each student must make an appointment at a specific time, the new system accommodates students’ needs and schedules much more easily, said Kathleen Van Vechten, director of nursing. In the past, students might walk inside and could sit for long periods of time, waiting to be seen.

‘It’ll save a trip down there,’ Van Vechten said. ‘You can call and get an appointment and have it be on our schedule.’

Some students agree that the appointment system makes a visit to the health center much easier because they can plan the visit into their day.

‘If I walked in and had to wait, I might miss my classes,’ said Erin Delohery, a freshman architecture major. ‘But if I know I was feeling sick the night before, then I know I could just call and make an appointment for the morning.’

Although students can no longer walk in to the health center at random and be seen, they can make same-day appointments, as time permits, Van Vechten said.

‘But it’s too much effort,’ said Truc Ho, a sophomore political science major. ‘I’m lazy.’

The hassle of waiting, however, had deterred other students from even making a visit.

‘I haven’t gone down there because I didn’t want to wait for hours,’ said Michelle Craren, a sophomore history of architecture major.

Health Services did not need to hire any additional staff for the change, Van Vechten said. Three staff members, who formerly could not see scheduled students because they waited only for walk-in students, are now available by appointment as well.

Making appointments also prepares students for seeking medical care outside of college, Van Vechten said.

‘It’s part of growing up,’ said Chris Jacobsen, a sophomore selected studies major. ‘You have to make appointments and keep appointments, it’s just another part of life you have to get used to.’

SU’s Health Services, which consists of one-third women’s health care and two-thirds general medical health care, has changed its methods of service throughout the years, Jacobs said.

Many years ago, students could not make appointments for general medical care but could only walk in and be seen when someone became available, Jacobs said.

‘You might get lucky and someone could see you in five minutes, or you could be unlucky and wait for a couple hours,’ Jacobs said. ‘But now, you could walk in and get an appointment, maybe in five minutes.’

But the health center will not turn away those students who suddenly need to see a health care assistant with an urgent problem, said Matthew Kiechle, health education and wellness coordinator.

Students should try, however, to make the habit of calling ahead, Kiechle said.

‘They should literally program our number into their phone, and have it on hand,’ Kiechle said.

Published on March 4, 2004 at 12:00 pm