Wade brings changes to Health Center

Students who visit Southern University’s health center will no longer have to worry about unbearable waiting periods, inadequate office hours and problematic health procedures according to the new clinic administrator, Shirley F. Wade.
“Some things changed immediately when I came,” said Wade.
In just a week on campus, Wade, who also serves as a nurse practitioner at the health-center, has already enforced several changes to ensure that the health center is a better functioning facility where the health needs of students are met.
Wade extended the hours of operation at the health center so that students can now have a nurse consultation as early as 7:30 a.m. and as late as 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
More daily appointment times are also available to students. Wade encourages students to call the health center prior to their visit to set an appointment, which will help eliminate long waiting periods. Wade said the center is designed to function in a similar manner as a typical doctor’s office as opposed to an emergency room.
“This is a doctor’s office with scheduled appointments. Call first. I see students who have an appointment within fifteen minutes,” said Wade.
Gone are the days where students went to the center for assistance during business hours only to see the staff behind locked doors congregating in the front room, watching television during their lunch breaks.
“We will not close for lunch hours. Now, someone is always here to see students,” said Wade.
This is the kind of service that Earnell Eackels, a freshman secondary education student from Baton Rouge expects from the health center.
“During lunch hours, instead of going on breaks, at least be able to take walk-ins when students need to be seen,” said Eackels.
It is important to Wade that students receive assistance when they go to the health center especially after an alleged incident last semester in which a student went to the health center bleeding after a prior surgery, and ended up later driving himself to the emergency room for care.
“I will be aware of what happens at the health-center and will use my common sense and vast array of knowledge to handle student health emergencies,” said Wade when questioned about the incident.
Wade added that she would make sure students get to a place where they can receive care if the center is unable to meet their needs.
“The staff has been instructed that any issue out of the norm is to be handled by myself,” said Wade. “(The problem was) they had no clear definition of jobs back then. Now we have restructured our staff so that they will better utilize their skills to meet student needs.”
Alisha Burrell, a junior elementary education student from Plano, Texas, was satisfied with the service she received from the health-center.
“I never had a negative experience. Whenever I make an appointment, I see the doctor (at that time),” Burrell said.
To further address the health needs of students, Wade plans to devote Wednesdays to women’s wellness. Male students can still receive assistance on Wednesdays; but female students will have easier access to receive exams and information necessary for their well-being.
Wade also plans to infiltrate the campus with “Healthy People 2010,” a government initiative that seeks to address and improve several leading health issues in the U.S., including sexual behavior, mental health and obesity by 2010.
“We need to look at local organizations to get input from them. We want to work with other departments (on campus) to address leading health issues,” said Wade. “We are here to promote health and wellness. I am not the kind of administrator to stay locked in my office. I am right here with the staff. I am intimately involved.”