OU to officially unveil successor to Hudson Health Center

Campus Care staff, the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM) and the Ohio University Division of Student Affairs will hold tours of the renovated health-care facility today (Jan. 26) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

"Today, with a facility better suited to health-care delivery, students can expect an even greater transformation of services," Jack Brose, D.O., executive dean for health affairs at Ohio University and dean of the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, said in a news release. "I am optimistic that students will see shorter wait times and more types of health-care services in the future. In addition, care is now being provided by the most dedicated and talented physicians we could find, a number of who are OU-HCOM graduates."

The renovation work, which was completed over the course of a year, has changed the spaces on the first and second floors of 2 Health Center Drive to improve patient safety and to deliver medical and health-care services more efficiently, Brose said in the release. Major components of the renovation so far include:

• Additional examination rooms — 22 patient rooms compared to 10 prior to the renovation.

• Private check-in and registration desks to ensure student confidentiality

• Additional waiting areas that allow possibly contagious patients to be separated from other patients

• Nurses stations that allow easy access to and observation of patients being monitored in new observation areas for monitoring patients during and after treatments

• New handicap ramp and electric door access at front entrance

• A new greeter station to assist students in finding the services they need and directing them to the correct check-in or registration stations

In August 2010, OU-HCOM assumed responsibility of student health services from the Division of Student Affairs, according to the release. The medical school then contracted with University Medical Associates, Inc., (UMA), the not-for-profit health care organization and faculty practice plan of OU-HCOM's clinical faculty members, to provide students with health-care services through a new unit called Campus Care.

Since then, according to the news release, UMA's Campus Care has reshaped the student health-care experience to better meet students' needs including expanded hours, increased variety of health and medical services, and implementing new technologies such as an online patient portal for scheduling and secure access to medical records, according to the release.

"I am excited about the completion of the first phase of the renovation because it will place students who visit Campus Care in a first class environment," Kent Smith, Jr., Ph.D., OU vice-president for student affairs, said in the release. "With Campus Care and these renovations, students will have an entirely different health-care experience from the moment they walk through the door."

Other changes included expanded women's health care and allergy testing, providing shots and immunizations to five days a week, osteopathic manipulative therapy, confidential and free HIV testing, and an expanded pharmacy with retail services, according to the release.

Also in attendance at today's event will be the new medical director of Campus Care, John Kemerer, D.O. Board-certified in family medicine and osteopathic manipulative treatment. Kemerer has practiced medicine for more than 21 years, according to the release, and recently was commissioned a major in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Department.

"Having been involved with teaching medical students, physician assistant students and medical residents, I look forward to caring for Ohio University students and assisting them in improving their minds and health," Kemerer said in the release. "I hope Campus Care becomes their medical home and family practice while they are on campus."

Renovations to the building housing Campus Care have been completed by the university's facilities department. Campus Care will close at 4:30 p.m. on the day of the Open House.