Health conversations must continue on campus
Letter to the Editor
In response to an anonymous letter to the editor entitled "Get with it, Health Services" (Feb. 28) addressing a lost lab sample, I'd like to say a sincere "thank you" to the writer. This person has given me the opportunity to respond to an unfortunate incident and to invite students to be more involved with their health care and issues of wellness on campus.
I regret that your blood sample was misplaced by the South Bend Medical Foundation (SBMF), an independent satellite provider of laboratory services at University Health Center. This is truly a RARE occurrence.
The laboratory technician and registered nurse on duty recognized and understood your concern and anxiety while waiting for the results to return. When the results had not arrived in 24 hours, the SBMF laboratory technician at the Health Center took it upon herself to call the Medical Foundation's main processing lab on your behalf. It was at this time that SBMF realized they had not begun to process your sample and could not track it. They assured her they would immediately begin the search. At 4:45 p.m. that afternoon, Health Services was notified that your lab sample was not located. You were immediately notified that if you came to the Health Center the lab technician would immediately draw another sample before the weekend. The results would be available on Monday. You refused due to the inconvenient time and decided to wait until Monday for the repeat test. There were no additional charges. While this is a very disconcerting event in your life, the professional nurse and laboratory technician did everything possible to support you and to address the problem.
You asked the question, "Am I just overreacting?" No one would ever judge your feelings or reactions in this disturbing and anxiety producing situation. However, one should acknowledge that life isn't always perfect, and one will be involved in situations or circumstances out of one's control. How one addresses and handles those times will either cause an inappropriate response with further frustration and inner turmoil or allow for the opportunity to reflection — "There must be a lesson in here someplace!"
I invite all students on campus to become involved in health care and wellness issues. Open communication allows for active dialogue that furthers education and constructive changes. Our student advisory board is in the process of broadening its scope of responsibilities and activities. Their goal is to engage more students in participating in health care issues on campus by unifying and directly linking health and wellness issues addressed by University Health Services with student concerns. As "anonymous" has suggested, "let your problems be known" so that appropriate attention and response can be provided.
Ann E. Thompson
Director, University Health Services
March 2, 2000
All Viewpoint Stories for Friday, March 3, 2000
