Telehealth at The Wellness Center: Expanding Healthcare Access
Telehealth is the practice of providing healthcare services via technological or digital platforms. BSU’s Wellness Center first started using telehealth in 2020 during COVID-19. The implementation of telehealth in the few years since has greatly improved students’ access to mental and physical healthcare. Dr. Chris Frazer, Executive Director of The Wellness Center, (he/him) has discussed exactly how telehealth has impacted The Wellness Center for the better.
“There is a real convenience factor to being able to do a telehealth session. If a student is sick and doesn’t want to expose someone else to illness, they can still see their practitioner. That is really beneficial to us. This has been something of value for our commuter students.”
Dr. Frazer stresses the importance of the convenience that telehealth provides. “Whether it is a nurse or mental health clinician working on telehealth, it has allowed us to actually get students in a lot faster, so if you were to call us today and say you were feeling sick, but we were all booked, you could still talk to us about what is going on and what you are feeling. Telehealth is sped up access to healthcare, by being able to do a telephone call or video call for the students.” Telehealth gives students easier access to The Wellness Center’s resources, when they otherwise might not have had the opportunity. This is especially true for providing extra convenience for commuter students.
The Wellness Center provides health services from board certified NPs and RNs. It is an invaluable resource for students to utilize throughout the school year to take care of their emotional and physical wellbeing. Telehealth has added convenience and accessibility to The Wellness Center’s healthcare, which allows every student to receive the care that they need. The Wellness Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
