Helping alleviate health care problems

By: Andrea Emery
News Editor

This article, the last in a series of three, aims to open a dialogue between the students, faculty and administration of Monmouth College and the people at Community Medical Center (CMC). The first installment, published on Friday, Oct. 6, brought to the forefront the concerns of two Monmouth College students who had visited CMC at some point in their college careers. The second installment, published on Friday, Nov. 3, looked at some of the difficulties the people at CMC face in dealing with Monmouth College students, and some of the reasons why students may experience some problems. This installment, the final one, aims to look at some of the ways in which the Monmouth College community, along with the staff at CMC, can make the experience better for all involved.

There are many challenges faced by a small hospital and clinic in a small college town, not the least of which is getting the college students to utilize the services of the clinic.

According to Eric Cunningham, vice president of marketing and fund development at Community Medical Center (CMC), one of the main difficulties faced by CMC is getting students to realize the clinic even exists. Cunningham pointed to an example of a Monmouth College junior who recently visited the clinic. In speaking with the student’s parents, the girl’s mother said she did not even know CMC existed, but was thankful it did.

“There are communication gaps” between the school and the clinic, Cunningham said, but there is nothing which cannot be resolved.

One way in which CMC and Monmouth College have tried to increase their connections is through the creation of the on-campus clinic, located in the Huff Athletic Center and operational from 1-3:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. This on-campus clinic opened approximately three years ago, giving Monmouth College a site to host CMC to provide basic health services.

Other options have been discussed, according to Cunningham and Brett Stahl, projects manager, and some are already in place. At the beginning of each school year, all incoming students are given fliers informing them of the times the on-campus clinic operates, as well as giving some information on the clinic and hospital in town.

Stahl and Cunningham also pointed to providing the resident assistant staff with fliers and information in case residents become sick, and also posting information on the college message boards. Cunningham also added that sponsoring a football game or campus program has also been looked at as a publicity option, creating more opportunities for students to see CMC’s name and remember its presence when they become ill.

It is not just getting students to use CMC that causes problems, however. Once students get there, they are not always prepared for a visit, something which can be easily remedied, according to Ronda Willhardt, director of CMC clinics.

First, students, especially those who use the insurance service provided by the college, should be prepared to pay for their visit. The average clinic visit costs $73, and students are given a “discount by 20 percent, decreasing the average cost to $58.40,” a brochure given to all Monmouth College students states. As a result of changes in insurance companies by the college this year, students are expected to pay full-price for their clinic visit, and will be reimbursed by the insurance company at a later date, once all paperwork has been processed. Bringing enough money, then, is one way to help alleviate any stress during a visit, Willhardt said.

Another problem faced by not only students, but anyone covered by an insurance company, is the constant changes in insurance policies.

One way in which students can make their clinic visits better is to know as much about their insurance coverage as possible, Cunningham said. “Rules are getting stricter by insurance companies,” Willhardt stated, so regulations as to whether a person can visit a certain facility are changing all the time. Students should call their insurance companies and find out if they will be covered for a visit to CMC before visiting in order to avoid any potential price shock when the bill comes, Willhardt added.

Students should also come prepared to sign a lot of forms, as Willhardt said “the number of forms you have to sign is not something we set, it’s the government.” Signing all forms will allow CMC, legally, to treat a student as they see fit, and they cannot offer treatment before this is done.

The best way to avoid any undue stress during a visit to CMC visit, Cunningham stated, is by “being prepared for a medical visit.” Willhardt agreed, advising students to be prepared by “bringing your card and bringing your co-pay.”

While not all these problems will be solved right away, student preparation is a large portion of what can make an experience at CMC clinics more pleasant.