News Summary
Augusta University’s Student Health Services has introduced an online appointment scheduling platform to improve healthcare access for students. This system enables students to book appointments for mental and physical health services, reducing wait times and enhancing overall user experience. The platform is available 24/7, allowing for convenient scheduling around busy academic schedules. Additionally, the university provides after-hours telehealth services and mental health resources to ensure that students receive timely assistance when needed.
Augusta, Georgia – Augusta University’s Student Health Services has launched a new online appointment scheduling platform, providing students with improved access to both preventive and acute health care services. This initiative is designed to enhance the availability of mental and physical health care for students and streamline the appointment-making process.
The online system allows students to book a range of services at their convenience, including preventive care options such as pap exams, physical exams, and travel consultations. Additionally, students can seek acute care for various symptoms including urinary, respiratory, and gastrointestinal issues. The platform is expected to significantly reduce the wait times for calls, thereby improving the overall student experience.
Shelli Larkin, the director of Student Health Services, underscored the importance of this advancement, stating that it aligns the university’s services with contemporary industry standards. The platform offers 24/7 access, allowing students the flexibility to schedule appointments between classes or during after-hours, which can help accommodate their busy schedules.
The online hub includes several features designed to improve user experience, such as tabs for making appointments, uploading documents, immunization records, forms, secure messaging, insurance information, educational resources, visit summaries, lab results, financial statements, and personal profiles.
Student assistant Iris Kaputa noted that the new platform could help alleviate some of the anxiety that often accompanies making health care appointments. Many students may feel intimidated by the prospect of reaching out for health services, and this online system aims to encourage them to take that important first step.
In addition to the online scheduling system, Augusta University’s Student Health Services offers after-hours telehealth services through HealthiestYou (Teladoc) at no consultation fee for students enrolled in Augusta University Student Health Insurance. This feature further enhances the accessibility of health care for students, making it easier for them to receive timely assistance when needed.
The university is also providing after-hours mental health resources through Uwill, ensuring that currently enrolled students have access to essential mental health support without any charges.
Augusta University is currently receiving substantial investments in its facilities and research initiatives. Recently, the state allocated $99.8 million towards a new translational research facility, which is part of a larger budget signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp. This facility, projected to cost $146.2 million, will modernize laboratory spaces and is expected to attract top-tier researchers to the university.
Augusta University aims to attain R1 research university status and is already ranked high in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding among U.S. institutions, reflecting its commitment to advancing scholarly research.
Additionally, the university is involved in various community health initiatives, such as the Healthy Grandparents Program, which supports grandparents raising their grandchildren in homes where parents are absent. This program provides health fairs and screenings to assist those families in need.
Furthering its commitment to addressing public health issues, Augusta University’s Institute of Public and Preventive Health released a report that reveals Georgia’s low rates of adult health insurance coverage, while children’s health insurance rates are comparable to national averages. The report highlights alarming statistics regarding the state’s high rates of HIV infections, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis, and it identifies ongoing health care access gaps amidst overall high vaccination rates.
Moreover, Augusta University’s Dental College hosted its annual “Give Kids a Smile Day” to promote children’s oral health. The university also organized the third annual Horizon Trucker’s clinic, providing health examinations for bus drivers, allowing students to gain practical experience while serving a vulnerable segment of the working population. Additionally, the community has launched literacy improvement initiatives under the “Get Augusta Reading” program, further reflecting the university’s commitment to public health and community welfare.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Mandatory Evacuations Ordered as Fires Rage Near Greenville and Pickens Counties
Downtown Aiken Blossoms with New Restaurants Amid Closures
Heritage Landscaping Expands with New Locations in South Carolina
Monkeys on the Loose: South Carolina Residents Urged to Stay Safe
Additional Resources
- Augusta Chronicle: $99.8 Million Research Building
- WRDW: Healthy Grandparents Program
- WRDW: Gaps in Georgia Health Care
- Centene Foundation: Medical College of Georgia Partnership
- AP News: Wellstar Takeover of Augusta University Hospitals
- Wikipedia: Augusta University
- Google Search: Augusta University
- Google Scholar: Augusta University healthcare
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Augusta University
- Google News: Augusta University
