A nurse practitioner will not be available for students on Bluffton University’s campus for the 2019-20 academic year. According to president Jane Wood, the service agreement with Blanchard Valley Health Systems to provide a nurse practitioner for 19 hours a week was not renewed.
Bluffton University President Jane Wood, Witmarsum file photo
“The process to review this service started last academic year by the previous vice president and dean of students as part of an overall university review of contracted services,” Wood said. “This year, Interim Vice President of Student Life Phill Talavinia will evaluate the student health care options including how local and comparable universities provide health care services for students.”
Talavinia said several aspects that were taken into consideration when deciding not to renew the contract with Blanchard Valley Health Systems were the feedback received from students regarding the hours the nurse practitioner was available and the cost of the service. Because the nurse practitioner was mainly available in the afternoons, students would have to wait until 1 p.m. until they were able to get care.
“Students also shared they were going to the Bluffton Hospital to receive medical treatment because the nurse practitioner was not on campus, or they would be referred to the Bluffton Hospital for medical tests and treatments that the nurse practitioner was not able to provide,” Talavinia said. “Usage rates of students seeing the nurse practitioner were also not high.”
Overall, the pros did not outweigh the cons, he said, and a decision was made to not renew the contract.
“It was determined that the investment to maintain the campus nurse was not meeting the medical needs of students, and in some instances, referrals to the Bluffton Hospital resulted in significant costs for students and their families’ health insurance,” Talavinia said.
Instead, administrators have opted to encourage students to utilize local medical services. According to Talavinia, this will benefit students because the facilities will bill individually to a student, or the student’s family’s medical insurance.
Talavinia said he encourages students to understand their medical insurance requirements so they know which local provider gives them the best cost option. Students without medical insurance should contact Amber Smith in the Student Life Office for information regarding how to obtain health insurance.
“We are fortunate to have a variety of medical service providers within walking distance to campus with more open hours,” Talavinia said. “These facilities provide full access to the services that will better benefit our students. With more medical choices available to students and their families, students are now able to identify facilities recognized by insurance plans which may reduce medical costs for students and families.”
He gave urgent care or primary care compared to emergency room expenses as an example.
Mercy Health and Bluffton Hospital are two of the facilities Talavinia recommended students to utilize. Information regarding these facilities is listed below. Talavinia said the university is in conversation with other medical practices in Bluffton regarding walk-in care for students, and encouraged students to check the university website for updated information.
Mercy Health — Bluffton Family Medicine
Walk-in primary care; no appointment needed.
204 N Main St.
Bluffton , Ohio 45817
419-996-5002
Bluffton Hospital – Blanchard Valley Health System
24-hour care, including emergency services
139 Garau St.
Bluffton, Ohio 45817
419-358-9010
A list of a variety of medical providers in the Village of Bluffton can be found on the Bluffton Chamber’s website.
