KSU’s on-campus Health Clinic will add the specialties of otolaryngology (more commonly known as an Ear-Nose-Throat or ENT), allergy and endocrinology to its repertoire of services beginning Fall 2012.
KSU’s Student Health Services currently provides services for primary care, sexually transmitted diseases, women’s health, adult and travel immunizations, lab testing, psychiatry and social services.
Director of Student Health Services Kathleen Gunchick said she was excited about adding two new doctors to complement existing services. “An allergist, who also specializes in ear, nose and throat medicine, will provide allergy shots as well as treat sinus problems, deviated septums, chronic ear infections and more.
“We see a lot of those problems, especially toward the fall and winter months,” Gunchick said. The
Health Clinic could previously treat simple problems such as strep throat,” she said, “but if the problem was more complicated students would be referred to another doctor.
The other new doctor will be an endocrinologist who can treat students with diabetes or thyroid problems, the two most frequent endocrinological problems presenting at the clinic, according to Gunchick.
“At least a couple of times a week, we have students who either have diabetes or thyroid problems,” Guncshick said. “We have a lot of students who have low thyroid problems for example,”.
Gunchick said that students are often unaware that they have a medical problem and find out only after they have routine blood work.
“That is what’s been causing their fatigue, feeling sluggish, so without the blood tests they were not even aware of it,” Gunchick said. “That is a problem in the general population and definitely within the student body.”
The cost of the new services, like existing KSU Health Clinic services, will be paid for by the health fee. Students will not be charged unless blood work is needed.
Students can start signing up to be contacted when appointment times become available with the new doctors by either calling the Health Clinic at 770-423-6644 ext. 2 or by stopping by House 52 and leaving a name and phone number.
