Some Lehigh students say limited operating hours and difficulties scheduling appointments have made accessing health care at Lehigh challenging. The university has approved hiring an additional full-time physician to expand the center’s clinical services.
The Health and Wellness Center currently employs three full-time care providers, including a clinical director and two registered nurse practitioners. Two registered nurses and two medical assistants also support the center. The additional position is intended to strengthen the center’s capacity to serve students.
“As part of our continued efforts to strengthen clinical services, we did receive approval to recruit for an additional permanent full-time physician position within the Health and Wellness Center,” said David Krauss, officer manager of the center.
Students can schedule appointments through the Lehigh Student Health Portal or by calling the center. The center operates Monday through Thursday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. According to Krauss, the center’s hours align with those of other offices within the Division of Student Affairs.
Norah Caplan, ‘30, said these hours can make accessing care difficult. Caplan requires physical therapy appointments off-campus and has experienced difficulties scheduling appointments with the center.
Caplan said she’s repeatedly been asked to call back at a later time when attempting to schedule an appointment. She also described the difficulty of balancing medical appointments with her academic schedule.
During orientation, Caplan learned that the university offers transportation assistance for students attending off-campus medical appointments. She said the resource was mentioned during a required orientation meeting, but wasn’t explained in detail.
Lehigh partners with Lyft to provide students with transportation to off-campus medical appointments. The partnership covers up to $20 in round-trip transportation. Students can request access codes for the funding through the center or receive them during an in-person appointment.
“It would have been like $40 a week,” Caplan said, referring to the transportation expenses she would have incurred.
Iman Sajjad, ‘27 and a peer health advisor, said she generally had positive experiences with the center.
“I honestly don’t have too many negative experiences with the (center),” Sajjad said. “I think they do a great job of giving us free resources and making things easier for us on campus.”
She said she understands the center’s limited operating hours because employees have personal commitments outside their work schedules.
When the center is closed, students are encouraged to seek care through outside medical providers or call 911, depending on the severity of their situation.
The center also works with medical providers in the Lehigh Valley and receives supplemental physician coverage from three physicians affiliated with the Jefferson Lehigh Valley Health Network.
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