Student Health Services would first like to apologize for any frustration or difficulties this student may have had.
Healthcare is ever evolving, and Student Health Services works continuously to ensure we have the resources needed to provide excellent customer service to our patients. For patients that no longer have refills on a prescription, the pharmacy must contact the prescriber to request refills. Response times are fastest when that provider is at Student Health, but for outside providers, the response in obtaining the required prescription takes 48-72 hours on average. Students can have their outside prescriptions for long-term medications transferred to our pharmacy so that refills will be completed more easily. Go to this link and the instructions are midway down the page https://healthypack.dasa.ncsu.edu/care-provided/pharmacy/. If there is a delay, the pharmacy staff will reach out to the student via telephone or secure message to inform them that their prescription is delayed. We make every effort to ensure our patients are in the know. Recently the pharmacy implemented an additional notification to students who are picking up their last refill on an oral contraceptive prescription by placing a sticker on the prescription label that lets the student know they will need to make an appointment with Women’s Health for a well woman visit or contact their provider if they are not at Student Health. This allows the student ample time to make arrangements to see their provider so that there is no interruption in therapy.
Student Health fully believes in keeping our students well so that they can excel in their academic studies. A key factor for this is prevention. The pharmacy gives out male and female condoms to our students at no cost. We believe that women should have the ability to protect themselves and this was the reason behind the decision to provide the female condom, FC2. FC2 is the only contraceptive method available that also protects against sexually transmitted diseases. Because it is regulated differently than male condoms, and because Student Health wants to ensure that our female patients would have easy access to FC2, we implemented a program so that our pharmacists, after consulting with the student, can immediately fill the request.
At Student Health we are faced with a unique population where many of our patients are seen by an outside practice before starting as a student at NC State. We want to continue care in as seamless a manner as possible. However, if the student is a new patient to us, this requires that we see the patient, get a medical history and perform an exam and then have a medically directed conversation before prescribing medication. Oral contraceptives (OCPs) are medications that require prescriptions. They have risks and benefits, and with the wide variety of OCPs now available, we can tailor the formulation to the patient, but this takes dialogue to be able to make an informed decision. Our staff makes every effort to schedule appointments in a timely manner and one that will work with students’ schedules. Patients with acute medical issues are given precedence, as is the practice in all healthcare facilities. We serve a large community, so students with non-acute matters may not be given an immediate appointment, but we make every effort to schedule the appointment as quickly as possible.
Student Health welcomes feedback from our patients, as this helps us to improve and implement changes that will make our organization better. Having a voice and being able to speak out on matters where you are knowledgeable helps to spread awareness and foster change.
Julie Casani, M.D. M.P.H., Director and Medical Director, Student Health
