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Seton Hall’s Health Services recently made changes to the Student Health Portal on PirateNet so that students can easily schedule appointments.
Diane Lynch, assistant director of Health Services, said students can now schedule an appointment online rather than being limited to making an appointment by phone during the Health Center’s office hours. However, she adds that appointments for vaccines other than the flu shot will still need to be made over the phone.
These changes to the Student Health Portal not only give students 24-hour access to their medical records and messages from Health Services, Lynch said, but it also grants Health Services staff better access to students.
“I think the ability for students to schedule many appointments online will help us to utilize our staff more efficiently,” Lynch said. “With less call volume, the front desk will be better able to assist students present in the office. It should decrease the amount of wait time to talk to our staff, whether (students) are calling the office, or approaching the front desk.”
In addition to the ability to make online appointments, Health Services has also altered its appointment check-in process.
Health Services allows students to complete an individual self check-in as part of its transition to electronic records. Students can use any of the laptops available in the office to complete this process once they arrive for their appointment.
Lynch says that a “big advantage” of the electronic system is that it offers students the opportunity to complete a brief annual screening in which Health Services provides information on how to stay healthy.
Based on student satisfaction surveys for the fall, “96 percent of students felt check-in was conve
nient and simple,” Lynch said.
Despite this, some SHU students prefer health care alternatives other than Seton Hall Health Services.
Ryan Jones, junior communication major, said that he would rather see a doctor of his choice because of the confidence he has in the doctors he is used to seeing.
Taylor Key, sophomore public relations major, said she prefers seeing her own doctor because she feels more comfortable being treated by someone she knows.
However, other students like freshman Heather Harris, public relations and journalism major, find health services to be a helpful resource.
“I’ve been to health services twice, once for a physical and another time for a leg injury,” Harris said. “Both times I was seen by a doctor really quickly, and was prepped by a PA student. I enjoyed my experiences and would definitely go again.”
Julie Trien can be reached at julie.trien@student.shu.edu.
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