Колледж Госен расширил сеть медицинских услуг для студентов

Goshen College expands healthcare options for students GOSHEN, Ind. (WSBT) — Goshen College is expanding the healthcare options available to students. The college says changes in insurance coverage, cost and transportation have created barriers for some students trying to get care. Now, it is adding new local partnerships and virtual options to make those services easier to access. The college says its student population comes from a variety of backgrounds, and that means students do not all have the same access to healthcare. Some may be navigating insurance on their own for the first time, while others may not have coverage at all. Goshen College Director of Health and Wellness Patty Hartshorn said, "We want to make sure that no matter what choice the student makes, that we can provide equitable care. And the best way that we can do that is partnership with our community resources." Goshen College has formal partnerships with Maple City Healthcare Center and the Center for Healing and Hope. These partnerships will allow students to seek medical or even mental health care more easily, even right from their dorm room. The transportation or insurance barriers are the main reason why Goshen College is expanding the network of providers for its students. The Center for Healing and Hope offers care to uninsured and vulnerable patients, with students paying just $20 for a doctor's visit with their college ID. Maple City Healthcare Center also offers a sliding scale based on income and can help students navigate insurance options. Students can also use their college ID for free rides on the local trolley to the medical partners. There are also new virtual options. Students can use IU Health Virtual Care for medical needs, and UWILL for virtual counseling, giving them more flexibility in when they receive care. Goshen College Dean of Students Gilberto Perez Jr. said, "We believe that identity is very important for our students and we want them to have services that help them connect with who they are, the questions they're asking, the language they speak, some of their cultural norms." The college says giving students more choices can also make it easier to actually seek help when they need it, and that can ultimately affect what happens inside the classroom. "Well, if students don't have access to the services that they need, it could potentially impact their ability to function well in a classroom setting with other friends, with individuals. So, we think it's really important that we are able to help students get access to that service," said Perez. Goshen College says the goal is to give students more ways to take care of their physical and mental health while taking one more source of stress off their plate.