Health Services available for students and faculty

Sue Danielson oversees the one-person department that most students know about and utilize every chance they get. That department is Health Services, located in Murphy in room 383. Though the location of Health Services has changed in the past few years, the quality care and vast number of services that the department offers to students and faculty hasn’t changed. The Lumen sat down with Danielson to discuss what Health Services has to offer and what students should look for in the coming months. 

When asked of her responsibilities in her role, Danielson responded, “What don’t I do?” Health Services provides care for minor injuries, colds, flus, COVID and almost anything else. Danielson also offers testing for UTIs, Mono, Strep, Hemoglobin, and TB. Health Services continues to have vaccines for COVID, tetanus, and Hep B. Danielson can also make a referral to St. Clare’s, Planned Parenthood, and any hospital in the area if she cannot provide help for a patient. Danielson says of her department, “it’s like a triage-stop here first. Start here to see if over-the-counter medications can settle things first.”  

With flu season coming quickly, Danielson advises students and faculty to keep up with CDC guidelines and recommendations as flu, colds and COVID can all have the same symptoms. She also mentioned that you can get free testing kits from the state health department online and that students should look into that, especially if they want to stay safe.  

When asked about costs for students, Danielson mentioned that “the only thing I charge for are TB tests and flu shots. Students only pay $9 for flu shots because the Student Government Association pays the first $10. Or, if you’re in Student Support Services (SSS/TRIO), it’s free.” She also encourages students and faculty to get the flu shot. “Students always say, ‘I don’t like getting poked’ and ‘I never get sick,’ so they don’t get their flu shots. I’ve heard all the excuses. You live with 600 other people and their germs.  Just get the shot. A lot of students who come in for it are forced to [do so] by their moms.”  

Danielson admits that she feels bad charging students for health, but she can’t help it. “There is no health fee at Viterbo, so I only charge for things that dip into my budget.” She then went into talks about the future of COVID vaccines on campus. “COVID vaccines will most likely remain free until 2023, and then pharmacists will be able to give them and charge insurance. I’ll no longer be offering them. I feel we are finally moving from the pandemic to the endemic phase where we want to be. I’m hoping there is going to be a COVID shot every year. Hopefully, we can combine it with flu shots so we don’t need to get so many shots.” 

The biggest thing Danielson would like the Viterbo Community to know is that Health Services exists. “We advertise it and talk at orientation, but people are just not aware,” she says. Danielson also emphasizes the importance of reading through VU Today, which, according to her, “is where all notices come out and we post clinics there. I try to make students aware. I’m a one-person office. If I’m sick, I don’t have coverage.” There have been talks of moving the department into the nursing building so that MSN students can help out in those instances, but nothing has been established. 

Students can schedule appointments through Starfish or by calling Health Services.