UH Hilo Student Medical Services helps students make informed decisions about their health
Staff is better able to handle flu season and other health needs in the expanded facility that now has a confidential waiting area, nursing triage stations, a pharmacy, treatment areas, a designated lab area, work stations and a private office for the provider.
Along with the rest of the country, Hawai‘i is dealing with a worse-than-usual flu season and concerns about a measles outbreak in several states (not Hawai‘i). Helping students at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo make informed decisions about protection and care, UH Hilo Student Medical Services offers a flu prevention and treatment program, and information about the MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) and other immunizations.
Overall, the flu shot is generally 50-60 percent effective on any given year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. But this year, the CDC reports, the vaccination is only 23 percent effective.
- See Medical News Today, Jan. 16, 2015: CDC: this season’s flu vaccine only 23% effective.
Even with the lessened efficacy, the CDC—and the staff at the UH Hilo Student Medical Services—recommends getting the flu shot.
“Currently we have free influenza immunizations at the clinic courtesy of the Department of Health,” says Heather Hirata, assistant director of UH Hilo Student Medical Services. “In addition to flu shots, we have the rapid influenza test that can determine if a student who is experiencing symptoms has the flu. Once that has been determined then we can better serve the student by prescribing medications to help comfort and relieve some of their symptoms.”
Hirata also stresses, “Basic hand hygiene goes a long way to reducing the spread of influenza.”
Every year, Student Medical Services partners with the UH Hilo College of Pharmacy and the School of Nursing to administer the free influenza vaccines on the Campus Center Plaza.
“This raises awareness of the importance of annual flu immunization, increases the number of our community members that are immunized, and is an applied learning experience for those in the health sciences,” says Hirata, noting that administering flu shots provides UH Hilo nursing students essential career preparation.
Expansion of services
Student Medical Services expanded its facilities over the last year, which allows for better care for students. The facility now has a confidential waiting area, nursing triage stations, a pharmacy, treatment areas, a designated lab area, work stations and a private office for the provider. This space allows more room for storage of records and supplies, additional working space, and a private exit.
“The most significant improvement would be in the area of privacy and confidentiality,” says Hirata. “The expansion has allowed the Student Medical Services to provide the students with a confidential experience when they access services,” she continues, also stating how the additional space allows a “streamlined environment” for students as well as the staff working there.
Services offered include first-aid treatment for injury or illness, TB tests, several immunizations, and family planning and reproductive health services. The shot clinic and pharmacy are held on Wednesdays and Fridays, the Medical clinic is held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and the family planning clinic is available Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“Student Medical Services has been running primarily out of (Campus Center) Room 212 for many years,” Hirata explains. “With the new Student Services Building and the generosity of the allocation committee, we were able to expand our facility with two rooms, 211 and 213, in Campus Center, located directly next to the clinic.”
Pharmaceutical services
Student Medical Services’ partnership with UH Hilo’s Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy has proved beneficial.
“Because not all students have health insurance or insurance that is accepted here in Hawai‘i, our partnership with (the pharmacy college) has allowed some of these students needing pharmaceuticals to pick up their prescriptions for little to no cost,” Hirata says. “Students who do not have the resources such as transportation or funds to pay for much-needed medications have an option.”
The UH Hilo Pharmacy was created to address these barriers in the college setting. The convenience of students being able to access care and pick up prescribed medications at the same location increases compliance. Student Medical Services strives to serve as a method of advancing the health of the students, thereby enhancing the learning environment at UH Hilo, explains Hirata.
As a UH Hilo alumna and a current student earning a doctor of nursing practice (DNP), Hirata has a passion for serving UH Hilo students and the surrounding community. Many of her immediate goals have been accomplished by the expanded clinic space and creation of the in-clinic pharmacy.
“The inter-professional collaboration that has been created at the medical clinic with different disciplines working side by side to deliver quality care in a learning environment has been extraordinary,” says Hirata, noting that the collaboration of nurse practitioners, pharmacists, pharmacy students, DNP students and bachelor of nursing students working together is “a unique experience that UH Hilo can offer.”
In addition, she adds, “Collaboration with counseling and preventative health education round out both the student in need of services and the students in the health services fields. Many years of work went into creating this reality for the UH students.”
Future goals
There also are hopes that one day Student Medical Services can expand even more to better serve the UH Hilo community.
“The long-term goal would be to have a free standing clinic on campus with easy access and independent facilities,” says Hirata. “We look forward to increasing our technology with electronic medical records, strengthening our collaborative relationships and continuing to deliver quality care and educational experiences.”
Learn more about the services provided at UH Hilo Student Medical Services.
About the author of this story: Kara Nelson is a senior at UH Hilo double majoring in English and Communication. She is an intern in the Office of the Chancellor and a writer for UH Hilo Stories.
