Texas State opens new Student Health Center

Date released: 07/02/04

SAN MARCOS -- Texas State University-San Marcos has opened the doors of its new Student Health Center.

The state-of-the-art facility, located at the corner of Tomas Rivera Drive and Sessom Drive, opened July 1. The new center allows for expanded services and diagnostic capabilities.

With 25,500 square feet, the building is more than double the size of the previous facility. The Student Health Center offers general medical care for Texas State students and also has laboratory, x-ray and pharmacy services on-site. Last year, the center had more than 47,000 patient visits.

Professional staff will be added to expand services in the Women's Clinic and pharmacy. Nutrition consultation services will be added to assist those with medical problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity. Social work services will also be available to help those with financial, emotional and other needs.

New technology has been introduced to improve the delivery of services throughout the new health center. Patients may now check in for appointments at the computerized self check-in kiosks in the lobby. Medical records that would have taken hundreds of square feet to store are now kept in two vertical electronic filing systems that take up less than 90 square feet. The automated filing systems allow for faster access to medical records.

The Texas State Student Health Center is one of the few student health centers in the country to offer digital radiography. X-rays will no longer be taken on film and processed using wet chemicals. Instead, x-rays are converted to digital images that can be accessed on-site and at remote locations.

On-line appointments to see medical providers will be implemented in the coming months. Patients will be able to make appointments at their convenience at any time of the day or night. An on-line prescription refill service will be launched in the next few months as well.

The new Student Health Center was designed to accommodate the growing student enrollment at Texas State. It is anticipated that 250-300 patients a day will be served at the facility during the fall and spring semesters.

The building was designed by Garza Bomberger and Associates of San Antonio and constructed by SpawGlass Contractors of Austin. The total project cost was $5.4 million.