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EDITORIAL: Health Center audit inessential
Union's time is too valuable
Editorial | 10/7/08
Posted online at 5:42 AM EST on 10/7/08
The Student Union's Student Health Advisory Committee has been looking to administer some basic changes in the University's Health Center. Now, inspired by the upcoming renewal opportunity for Brandeis' contract with Beth Israel Hospital, the Union is calling for a large-scale review of the Center. Although students have been complaining about the complex, there isn't enough justification to invest Union time in a review.
For one thing, the last time we saw a progress report from Health Advisory Committee coordinator Jessica Blumberg '09 was March 16. Blumberg announced a forum to "discuss how to better the Health Center," then noted that she "flyered, mailbox stuffed, etc." The only other word from this committee since then is when then-Senator-at-Large Andrew Brooks '09 noted March 26 that he attended Blumberg's forum.
Blumberg wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that her findings are based on her hour-long forum and the results of an unsuccessful initiative two semesters ago to give outpatient surveys to students treated by the Health Center. The Union's drive is well-intentioned but not supported enough to justify a complete overhaul of the system.
Many of the problems Blumberg's research uncovered, listed in another e-mail, can't be fixed without more doctors or an expanded health center - "difficulty in obtaining a timely appointment with a doctor"; "lackluster customer service"; and "lack of privacy" being just a few. Blumberg's other grievances are mostly to do with the quality of care - things like misdiagnoses, lost prescriptions and poor elucidation of money and health issues.
Also, these are all problems people can expect to find at any doctor's office, within reason, and most of them are relatively minor. Our health center is inconvenient and frustrating, sure, but not cataclysmic. A review won't solve these problems, nor will it tell us anything we don't already know. The need for more doctors and a bigger building goes without saying.
It's worth noting also that our hours are better than most small schools in our area. We have 15 weekday hours on Lesley University and five on Wellesley College, and our weekend hours are some of the best in our area.
As is, Blumberg has no reform ideas that aren't to do with upsizing. She wants to "[address] all of the issues that have come up in whatever way is most appropriate and feasible."
Given all this, it doesn't make sense for the Union to invest time in a review. Their advocacy is impressive, but their time could be better spent.
For one thing, the last time we saw a progress report from Health Advisory Committee coordinator Jessica Blumberg '09 was March 16. Blumberg announced a forum to "discuss how to better the Health Center," then noted that she "flyered, mailbox stuffed, etc." The only other word from this committee since then is when then-Senator-at-Large Andrew Brooks '09 noted March 26 that he attended Blumberg's forum.
Blumberg wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that her findings are based on her hour-long forum and the results of an unsuccessful initiative two semesters ago to give outpatient surveys to students treated by the Health Center. The Union's drive is well-intentioned but not supported enough to justify a complete overhaul of the system.
Many of the problems Blumberg's research uncovered, listed in another e-mail, can't be fixed without more doctors or an expanded health center - "difficulty in obtaining a timely appointment with a doctor"; "lackluster customer service"; and "lack of privacy" being just a few. Blumberg's other grievances are mostly to do with the quality of care - things like misdiagnoses, lost prescriptions and poor elucidation of money and health issues.
Also, these are all problems people can expect to find at any doctor's office, within reason, and most of them are relatively minor. Our health center is inconvenient and frustrating, sure, but not cataclysmic. A review won't solve these problems, nor will it tell us anything we don't already know. The need for more doctors and a bigger building goes without saying.
It's worth noting also that our hours are better than most small schools in our area. We have 15 weekday hours on Lesley University and five on Wellesley College, and our weekend hours are some of the best in our area.
As is, Blumberg has no reform ideas that aren't to do with upsizing. She wants to "[address] all of the issues that have come up in whatever way is most appropriate and feasible."
Given all this, it doesn't make sense for the Union to invest time in a review. Their advocacy is impressive, but their time could be better spent.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
'10 Student
posted 10/07/08 @ 10:42 AM EST
I disagree with this editorial for a few reasons.
One, to say that "the Brandeis Health Center is already better than other schools" is a bad reason to not try to improve it more. (Continued…)
student
posted 10/07/08 @ 10:43 AM EST
I think the purpose of an audit is more about proving to the administration that there are actual problems with the health center than actually uncovering new problems, because I think most students already know what those problem sare. (Continued…)
disappointed
posted 10/07/08 @ 12:59 PM EST
I find it very disheartening that the Justice chooses to chastise the Union for trying to push for reform in an area that affects every student's life and that is known to be one of the large concerns that students express on almost a daily basis. (Continued…)
Smarter than The Justice
posted 10/07/08 @ 2:05 PM EST
I always love reading the Justice editorial when the Board decides it wants to play Student Government. Its nice, it reminds me that their could always be less qualified people running the Union. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 10/07/08 @ 5:31 PM EST
I'm not sure why the Justice is so out of touch with the student body on this issue, but I can safely say that there are plenty of students who are unhappy with our current health center. (Continued…)
Philip
posted 10/07/08 @ 8:10 PM EST
According to The Justice, it is acceptable for the health center to have service that leads to "difficulty in obtaining a timely appointment with a doctor", poor "customer service", and "lack of privacy. (Continued…)
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