By Alayna Simons
Editor-in-chief
The on-campus clinic has undergone changes over this past summer and is currently unable to offer in-person visits.
This past summer, four employees from the clinic resigned and have taken positions elsewhere, leaving the clinic to be run by one receptionist.
According to the director of financial services, Chuck Seaman, they are actively searching for someone to fill the physician’s assistant position.
“Trying to fill the position has been highly competitive due to the shortage of healthcare workers in the Nashville area,” said director of human resources, Steve Sexton.
At the start of the year, a part-time PA filled in with inconsistent hours, but recently stepped away from the position to pursue his own practice.
“It’s important for students to know we want them taken care of,” said dean of student development Jessica Dykes. “We love our students and hope they know that we are looking for coverage.”
The current receptionist, Tina Fish, is available for students to take calls and answer emails to provide any help that they’re able to provide at the moment.
Through the drastic change from this summer, feedback has mostly come from parents of students concerned about easy access to healthcare.
Moving into flu and cold season, Dean Dykes encourages students, more specifically international students who have difficulty accessing healthcare, to take advantage of the 24/7 telehealth app Timely Care.
Timely Care is able to connect students with a doctor within six minutes and refer out to an urgent clinic as needed, said Dean Dykes. She would also invite students to use other resources such as reaching out to RA’s and others in leadership to stay in communication about their health and needs.
“It’s my hope that students aren’t avoiding talking to timely care if they feel ill,” said Dean Dykes, “Because we don’t have a clinic, it’s my hope that students would utilize the resources we are providing.”
The job description for the physician’s assistant position has been posted to the Trevecca website. Scroll down to the bottom of the Trevecca website and click on jobs to find “Physician Assistant, Student Health Clinic.”
