The Sam Houston State University Student Health Center (SHC) provides routine medical and health education services for currently enrolled SHSU students. The Health Center offers students an array of services including diagnoses and treatment of routine illness and minor injury, referral services, nursing care, allergy injections, TB testing, immunizations, women’s health services, physical exams for school, work and sports, wound care/dressing changes, minor suturing and suture removal, in-house pharmacy, laboratory testing, anonymous HIV testing, sexually transmitted infection screenings, asthma management, and health/wellness education.
The Health Center offers currently enrolled students the opportunity to seek minor medical services at prices they can afford. There is no charge for an office visit, however, there are nominal charges for procedures, laboratory tests and prescriptions.
The Health Center is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Accreditation means that the SHC meets or exceeds rigorous nationally recognized standards of care. This provides students extra assurance that the department is maintaining high standards and ensuring quality care.
“Our department fulfills an important role on campus by addressing students’ medical needs as well as encouraging them to make healthy lifestyle decisions. Consequently, it is important that we do everything that we can to maintain a high level of performance and improve it where we can,” stated Keith Lott, director of the SHC.
The clinical staff consists of a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, medical technologist, registered nurse and three licensed vocational nurses.
“The Student Health Center is a beautiful facility that houses a friendly, non-judgmental staff,” commented a student. The department staff strives to incorporate students’ needs, quality care, and professionalism so that each student has a positive experience and develops an ongoing, trusting relationship with the nurses and medical practitioners. Frieda Turner, a nurse at the SHC, said, “I believe that we are here to be a mentor and friend as well as a medical professional.”
The Health Center is located at the corner of Avenue J and Bearkat Blvd. The department’s hours of operation are Monday – Thursday from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters. During the summer and semester breaks, the SHC is open Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Only business services are available from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Students may make appointments either by telephone or in person by calling (936) 294-1805. More information regarding the department’s services and programs can be found on the SHC website, http://www.shsu.edu/healthcenter.