The Herald Online

Issue date: 1/14/10 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Abdullah Raslan An ASU student gets blood drawn during a visit to the Student Health Center, located at 333B Stadium Blvd. Services offered by the Student Health Center are often free or fairly inexpensive.

Walking to class in the cold and rain can have adverse health effects on ASU students, so the Student Health Center provides a variety of flu and cold services for limited cost.

"We have the flu test if they possess flu-like symptoms," said Renata Vaughn, Assistant Director of the Student Health Center.

In addition, "We have 2.00 flu packs which include a thermometer, cough drops, and other supplies," such as sterile wipes, acetaminophen and a sports drink. While this pack can't cure illness, it can "help with some of the symptoms until they [the patients] are able to make it to the store."

Before classes started, the Student Health Center was already working.

"Even last week we still had patients come in. It hasn't picked up totally to how it usually is but it doesn't take very long," Vaughn said.

But even with early patients, the flu itself seems to be absent.

"Believe it or not, we haven't had another case of the flu here recently," said Vaughn, claiming that the trend is national.

She said she doesn't "know if we're going have another outbreak in a few weeks or if we are good for now."

Ashley Lambe, junior psychology major from Harrison, received her flu shot from the Student Health Center.

"I went in to get a flu shot during the walk-in hours. I told her that I needed a flu shot and she made me fill out some basic paperwork and 15 minutes later she gave me the shot and then I got to leave," she said. "We weren't there very long at all."

Lambe did not get the flu or any other illness that semester.

Along with her flu shot, Lambe uses other methods to stay healthy.

"I wash my hands and use hand sanitizer, and I try not to touch my face. I think it helps," she said. "I avoid contact with sick people. I go to class, but I keep clean."

"I think it's helpful that we have a center on campus, that way students who don't have cars can still get help," Lambe said.

She explained that sometimes there can be a wait for service, "but you get that in any health clinic."

The Student Health Center offers services other than flu and cold treatment. They can check cholesterol, conduct pregnancy exams, test for strep throat, perform Pap smears and other tests.

While the center is generally free or cheap, "If they have to have any lab work there is a cost for getting the results," Vaughn said. This is because of the cost of materials and sending off the results to be analyzed.

The Student Health Center can also write prescriptions, and "Generally we try to write a script that is affordable," Vaughn said. "We don't accept any insurance, which is usually a good thing as the patient has to pay a co-pay."

All medical visits are confidential, and a sick visit is free, so students that feel ill should immediately get checked to avoid spreading the illness.

The Student Health Center is located at 333B. Stadium Blvd.

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