Expanded St. Clair College health services

by Taylor Desjardins

St. Clair College students and staff have been granted more access to health services this year.

According to the St. Clair College website, a partnership has been formed with Windsor Family Health Team. This means more access to health services at each Windsor campus.

“Previously, we had one full time nurse at the main campus and one at the Chatham Campus. Our main campus nurse spent half a day each week at the St. Clair College Centre for the Arts,” said Rebecca Demchuk, manager of Occupational Health and Safety. “In addition to that, we had a nurse practitioner one day a week at our main campus and half a day a week in Chatham.”

Demchuk said now students can access these health services more because someone is on staff ready to take patients more often with fewer time restrictions.

“With the partnership, we now have a part time nurse at St. Clair Center of the Arts and a full time NP who will split her time between the campuses. This brings an NP to SCCCA one day each week,” said Demchuk.

“Therefore, the health centre at SCCCA will be staffed Tuesday through Thursday going forward. In addition to these services, we also brought on a part time social worker. The social worker will be at the SCCCA campus every Tuesday at this time.”

Demchuk also said the Windsor Family Health Team approached the St. Clair College health services for a joint submission to submit to the Ministry of Health for funding.

“They approved the partnership on a one year pilot term,” she said. “We have to show that the need exists for them to fund beyond the year.”
Services such as blood work will only be available to students at the South Campus but should be ready at the downtown campuses around November.

“Initially, there will be some disparitics. However, within a two month time frame, the services will be consistent,” she said.

Michael Metcalfe from the Community Justice Services at St. Clair College said he would use the health services available at the college, if it was necessary, but he feels more comfortable with his family doctor. He also said the expanded services will really help students and can see a lot of people using them.

“I know a lot of people are under stress from their school work, especially the first years like me, and aren’t used to the course and all the work that comes with it,” he said.

Demchuk said a certain number of students and staff needs to use these services for the partnership to continue for years to come.

“Targets were set to increase services by 20 per cent. We hope to reach that goal by getting the message out to all the students,” she said.

For additional information on the expanded health services, visit http://www.stclaircollege.ca/studentservices/health/expandedservices.html.