In July, students will experience a more patient-friendly Student Health Center with the implementation of an electronic clinic management system.
The electronic system, Medicat, features a portal where students can complete medical forms in advance, communicate with clinicians in a secure environment, request prescription refills, review billing statements, view lab results, schedule appointments and receive automatic reminders of previously scheduled appointments.
The system also has a self check-in station for patients.
Medicat will establish clinical care protocols, quality improvement measures and efficient communication between clinicians and students.
Medicat has an electronic health record system, which can alert clinicians to referrals and follow-ups, as well as patient-specific care items. The system maintains student confidentiality and HIPAA compliance.
The Mental Health Service began the implementation process in January. The Office of Health Promotion began its transition in March, and the Medical Office is expected to “go live” in July.
“It’s exciting as staff to see the changes,” said Julie Hupperich, associate director of the Student Health Center.
Hupperich said the cost of the complete Medicat system is under $100,000. She said the Student Health Center administration has been evaluating the system for years and has reserved funds for the purchase and related fees. The system will not require additional funding from students.
Hupperich said the previous system was outdated and had many limitations for students and staff. The previous system was based on the University mainframe and built for the facility by Information Technology Services. The system included paper charts and forms throughout the building.
“The system will transform the way we provide care to our campus community and increase accessibility for students,” Hupperich said.
Kinesiology sophomore Christa Mahlobo said she likes the changes.
“Most of the things students do are online, so being able to set up appointments online will make everything much simpler,” she said.
 
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Contact Kaitlin Torke at [email protected]