The Health Center's portable alcosensor measures a patient's blood alcohol level, which is important to know to determine the level of care required by a person who has consumed too much alcohol. With the alcosensor, Health Center staff are now able to obtain objective data to correlate with a patient's physical presentation. If, for example, a person presents slurred speech and a staggering gait but has a low blood alcohol level, the nurse practitioner would investigate to find out if the student may have suffered a head injury or have a problem with diabetes or be mixing other drugs with the alcohol. This, of course, would influence the evaluation and care of the patient.

If a student were admitted to the Health Center with a high blood alcohol level that correlated to his/her stuporous condition and the repeat alcosensor administered ten minutes later was reading a higher blood alcohol level, the nurse would be able to determine that the student could be developing a more serious problem with alcohol poisoning. Therefore, more aggressive treatment would be indicated.

It is important to know that blood alcohol readings are confidential (like all other tests done at the Health Center). They are only used to help guide more appropriate and better health care. This information is not sent to the dean's office, to the Waterville police, or to parents. It is obtained only for medical reasons. Anyone with any questions about the alcosensor and its use should contact the Health Center.

Alden Kent, P.A.-C., L.C.S.W.

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