Health Center Q&A

Why is Colby reducing the Garrison Foster Health Center’s hours of operation?
The College is eliminating its overnight infirmary service to more efficiently focus the College’s student health care staff and resources on the periods of highest student demand. Approximately 45 students visit the health center each weekday for a variety of health, wellness, and preventive care needs. The after hours infirmary, which provides no primary care, sees an average of one student daily between 9 pm and 7 am. Colby’s priority is to provide the highest quality of health care to our students, and the overwhelming majority of Colby students use health and wellness care services available during the day.

What if a student needs medical care when the health center is closed?
On-call service will be in effect during hours that the center is closed while the College is in session. As is currently the case, one of Colby’s three staff medical professionals will always be on-call when school in session, and if urgent medical care is required, Colby Security will arrange for an ambulance to transport the student to the emergency department at Maine General Hospital, approximately one mile from campus.

How will after hours emergencies be handled?
There will be no change in the way after hours medical emergencies are handled. As is currently the practice at Colby, students with a medical emergency will call Colby Security (x5911 or 859-5911) or go directly to the emergency department at Maine General Hospital, approximately one mile from campus.

When will the changes take effect?
The changes will go into effect at the start of the 2009-2010 academic year.

What hours will the health center operate and with what level of staffing?
The health center will be open 10 to 14 hours per day on weekdays and eight hours per day on weekends. The exact hours of operation will be determined in the coming months, and the guiding principle will be to focus on the periods of greatest student demand.

Will the health center provide the same services it currently provides?
Yes. Students will continue to receive the same health and wellness care delivered by the medical professionals who currently staff the Garrison Foster Health Center. There will be no reduction in the services available or in the hours for student appointments with health care providers at the health center.

How many employees are being let go?
Seven part-time and/or temporary employees will be let go at the end of this academic year.

What support is Colby providing to the employees affected by these operational changes?
Eligible employees will be provided severance payments.

How will Colby treat students who are too sick to remain in a dorm but not sick enough to go home and who, in the past, would have stayed in the health center?
A few dorm rooms on campus will be set aside to serve as locations where students can recuperate from short-term illnesses or injuries. As has always been the case, seriously ill or injured students will re-ceive care at the hospital or may return home for a period of time.