The Student Health Center is going digital.
The University’s medical clinic has purchased a Medicat College Health Information System, a system that brings many of the center’s services online, according to Health Center Associate Director Julie Hupperich.
“We’ll begin launching some of the different parts of the system throughout the spring, and it should be completely implemented by the summer [of 2011],” Hupperich said.
While students previously had to call or visit in person during the center’s open hours to schedule appointments, the Medicat system will allow students to schedule appointments online, Hupperich said.
Students will also be able to get text message reminders about their appointments, print their parking passes at home and talk with  doctors through a secure online portal on the new system’s website, in addition to other new features.
The Health Center purchased the system about two weeks ago in order to maintain accreditation and continue to provide a high level of care, according to Hupperich.
“It’s specifically built for college health centers, and it can be tailored to your specific health center,” Hupperich said.
Health management systems like Medicat are becoming a standard for college health centers she said.
Madison Dean, marketing sophomore, said the Health Center has problems the new system may address.
“Getting a doctor in there is really hard, and they’re not too nice,” Dean said.
The service and delays can cause some students to go elsewhere for their health coverage, Dean said.
“A lot of my friends won’t go there,” she said.
Dean also said the problems at the Health Center could be caused by overcrowding, a problem that could be fixed with the new service.
“We’re really excited about it because it’s going to improve the quality of care, it will improve the access to information we have, and it will be helpful to students,” Hupperich said.
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Contact Frederick Holl at [email protected]