If you're a student, and you're at Wheaton College, Student Health Services (SHS) is likely the place you'll go to if you need medical attention, big or small. It's a modest undertaking, so for what SHS offers, it's not bad.
STAFF
The only non-medical staff you are likely to interact with on a regular basis is Heidi, the office and medical records assistant. Despite how incredibly busy she is, she has always been a total sweetheart. Honestly, if everyone at SHS embodied the genuinely friendly yet ever professional demeanor of Heidi, students may actually look forward to going to SHS.
The nurses...well...they try. When I was a student at Wheaton, the stereotype of SHS nurses was that they had no idea what they were talking about. I would agree. It was totally worth my $20 to schedule an appointment with a doctor. The travel nurse is very experienced, though, and I had a good experience working with her prior to my trip to Honduras.
The only doctor I encountered at SHS was Lidia Nelkovski, who is absolutely fantastic. Dr. Nelkovski made the effort to listen to everything I was saying, taking note of my medical issues, and discovered the "cure" to my ailing very quickly. Being both efficient and accommodating in time for the patient is an art, and Dr. Nelkovski has perfected it.
WAIT TIMES
I always waited at least 10 minutes to see someone, though I don't think it was ever beyond 30 minutes.
FACILITIES
Not too shabby, but not the state-of-the art either. But what are you expecting?
PHARMACY
None. There are a number of them nearby, though.
OVERALL
Apart from the clueless (if not sometimes crabby) nurses, SHS does its best to meet the needs of the students. Seeing a doctor will probably be worth it for you, if you think you have a serious condition.
Flu shots are offered during flu season. SHS also helps with the blood drive.
SHS does not accept insurance, so after your medical fees are charged to your student bill, you will have to file your own claim to your insurance company -- a bit of an annoying downside.
Because there is no pharmacy on campus -- and because the services provided at SHS are not comprehensive -- SHS does offer a free shuttle to nearby, off-campus, health-related centers. I utilized this a number of times, which was really nice, given that I did not have a car. You have to schedule the shuttle in advance.
Ultimately, being right on campus, SHS is a convenient place to go for students. However, it never quite felt like a good substitute for a traditional primary care facility. read more