The Davison Health Center is now implementing a new $10 fee for any student who fails to give 24 hours cancellation notice for a scheduled appointment.
The execution of this policy stemmed from the amount of no-show appointments that have been steadily increasing for the past five years. So do no-shows really cause that much of a problem? The Health Center claims they do.
According to Health Services Director Joyce Walter, it was predominantly healthy students who scheduled routine check-ups as well as those who needed follow-up appointments, who often forgot to call and cancel. These types of appointments tend to be the longest, at typically 40 minutes to an hour, and about 20 to 25 per week are dropped, Walter said. During this wasted time, approximately 60 sick students could be seen every week. Upperclassmen who have attempted to be seen when ill identify with the hold-ups in Davison.
“I feel like I’m outraged and like that’s so wrong, but cancelled myself like 3 times last year so I see where they’re coming from,” said Zach Levine ’10.
Many argued that the “24 hours prior” portion of the policy was far too difficult to adhere to.
“24 hours is not really reasonable,” said Fielder Jewett ’11.
Walter thinks that the timeframe is negotiable.
“Just give us some time to fill that spot,” she said.
Walter said that an on-call messaging system for canceling after-hours makes calling with due notice more manageable. Even cancellation calls the night before would be a significant improvement over years past, she says.
Various members of the student body found the fee amount both unreasonable and unnecessary, arguing that the skyrocketing price of tuition and fees should be enough to cover health costs.
“They’re taking too much of our money,” said Yushi Ohmori ’11 “It’s not just the health center. It’s P-Safe with all these $150 fines.”
The Health Center said that the opinions of the Wes masses were considered in this decision, citing their consultation with both the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) and the Peer Health Advocates. Davison consulted numerous other sources as well, Walter said, including a 15,000 person National ListServ before arriving at $10 fee, which when compared nationally proved to be substandard.
“I’m always looking for ways to reduce pricing,” added Walter, who lowered the price of the Gardisil HPV shot by $25 by seeking a new vendor.
“When things do have to increase, I’m not happy about it,” he said.
Medical Director P. Davis Smith worries of the socioeconomic impact of the fee, wondering if the fee would prove to be an unequal burden. Both he and Walter agreed that the measures students must take to avoid the fine are not too stringent.
Davison’s health professionals hope the new policy will force the student body to learn both responsibility for themselves and to take their peers into consideration.
“I need to find a way to encourage people to do what’s only right,” Walter said.
Scott Carlton ’11 empathizes with Davison personnel.
“The staff shouldn’t have to wait around and change their schedule for someone who’s not going to show up,” he said.
Ultimately, the policy is still flexible.
“We’re not doing it casually,” Smith said. “It’s a considered decision and we’re open to feedback.”
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