By Ame Phitwong
The university and Health Center adopted the Care Line service two weeks ago to provide ongoing medical assistance to students after hours.
"We're very excited," Tim Crump, a nurse practitioner at the Health Center said. "It will help bridge the gap in our services."
The purpose of the Care Line is to help students determine if their medical state is dire enough to go the emergency room. The student can call the Health Center telephone number after the Health Center has closed and listen for the 800 number to access a Care Line triage nurse. The triage nurse has access to information about the University Health Center and local health care resources, in addition to medical triage protocols.
Once connected, the student can talk with the nurse and describe his or her symptoms. From what the student says, the nurse will then inform the student if his or her condition is serious enough to be checked out at the emergency room. If a student's symptoms are mild, the nurse will encourage that the student wait and go to the Health Center.
"Sometimes you don't want to go to the emergency room and want an opinion first," senior Shelby Chapman said. "A lot of people will ask their friends first, but it's better to ask a professional," she said.
Dr. Paul Myers, director of the Health Center, said the Health Center identified the need for weekend and evening triage services. He said the service has the potential to save students a lot of unnecessary expenditures and it can provide self-care recommendations.
"It's not an advice line," Crump said. "Making the decision about going to the ER is challenging. There can be a long wait and it's expensive."
Senior Brooke Biggi thinks the Care Line is a good idea because it will cut back on health care costs. However, she still thinks it's good to get checked out at the emergency room.
"There's a lot you can't see," she said. "Even if you do call and they tell you not to go, I'd still monitor my symptoms closely and might go anyway." She believes it is better to be safe than sorry.
Since the Care Line was established, there have been about two or three calls referred. Based on data from other institutions in Oregon, about three calls are expected per week Myers said. Care Line is a national service that charges the university an annual fee for its assistance.
UP is also charged a small fee per phone call that is directed. Myers said the University has budgeted to handle the expected number of calls.
"If students use the service appropriately, it should remain free of charge for them," Myers said. But, he said that if the service is misused by students by asking questions that could have waited until business hours, the University may have to develop a system for charging students in the future.
Regardless of the costs, Crump explained that the school and the Health Center made the decision that Care Line is a good resource.
"One of the big messages is that it's not an alternative to care," Crump said. "It's for decision making and deciding how urgent something needs to be seen."
According to Myers, the University of Oregon uses the Care Line service. On one occasion, a student with meningitis called Care Line. The student sought immediate medical attention, which probably saved the student's life, according to the school. Myers said that the student had been thinking about waiting until the student health service opened which would have had grave consequences for the student.
