Concern for proximity of Healthcare at/near university

[Anonymous]

Due to covid, I have became more aware the need of health care options for college students. My older one is at a top university but the health center was overwhelmed by covid case during the surge to a point that students with normal symptoms of other health needs couldn’t even get an appointment. My younger one is now considering a school in a rural area. I’d love to hear your children’ s experience with their schools’ health care.

[Anonymous]

This is a valid concern. A hs friend who went to school in rural areas had horror stories of simple things like appendicitis being misdiagnosed and going untreated until their roomate came and checked them out AMA to drive them an hour and a half away to the good hospital.

If the health center is overrun consider having your child establish care with a primary care practice in the town.

[Anonymous]

maybe look at a few schools in suburban areas

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a valid concern. A hs friend who went to school in rural areas had horror stories of simple things like appendicitis being misdiagnosed and going untreated until their roomate came and checked them out AMA to drive them an hour and a half away to the good hospital.

If the health center is overrun consider having your child establish care with a primary care practice in the town.

Wow, that is a good point!

[Anonymous]

My daughter is at a very small school that claims to have a health center but it's really just an office that basically hands out tylenol or refers them to the Minute Clinic at CVS or to the nearby public hospital. I will freely admit that I totally missed this in our college search and never once considered asking about it. And although my kid could not be happier at the school she attends, she would agree with me that's a giant PITA. Her school does not have public transportation access so the hassle of getting into town to do something like refill prescriptions feels like such ridiculous thing when she knows that on most college campuses this would be available on campus.

[Anonymous]

well my DD is at UVA and has been to the ER three times in the past month (Pneumonia and concussion). I'm pretty thankful they have a very strong health system within walking distance.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that plenty of hospitals and cities were overrun with covid cases so being near a top hospital was no guarantee that you would have adequate care for covid, much less something else, if you were a young person with no serious pre-existing conditions.

[Anonymous]

I attended undergrad with a very famous, university affiliated hospital system. Students were sent to what equates to “county general.”

Hopefully things have changed- but even attending a top university with a fantastic med school attached doesn’t mean students are seen there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attended undergrad with a very famous, university affiliated hospital system. Students were sent to what equates to “county general.”

Hopefully things have changed- but even attending a top university with a fantastic med school attached doesn’t mean students are seen there.

No way! I am so surprised. This makes me rethink if health care availability should be part of the choice.