Memorial Health helps students conquer seasonal viruses
Photo courtesy of SCAD
District had the privilege of interviewing Karen L. Reed, the Memorial Health clinic’s nurse practitioner.
Q: Can you tell us a little about the clinic?
A: We see students and faculty, and we see faculty family members, as well. We see ages that range from 17 — sometimes even younger when it’s the summer when there are Rising Star students. We also see people in their 60’s, but mainly we see students. They are our first priority.
We can do a wide range over here. We can do pap smears for the females — any concerns the patient might have, we can treat that. We also prescribe birth control and we give Depo-Provera shots to prevent pregnancy, as well.
We treat the flu, which we are seeing a lot of here lately, and we can also advise against the flu. I think the vaccine this year, the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] said it is not as affective as it has been in years past, but they are still recommending that students do get the flu vaccine to prevent illness and they think it’ll shorten the illness. Also, it prevents more severe symptoms of the illness as well.
They think the worst months are going to be January and February, but you can get the flu up until May and then after that we should see it die out. Typically we start immunizing patients around September/October and, as I said, it can go up until May. If you still need the flu vaccine, come on in.
There is treatment for the flu, but it does not get rid of the flu. It just shortens the duration. We use antivirals like Tamiflu. The CDC is recommending more than just one because people have been so sick this year. It only shortens the duration by a day or two, which doesn’t seem like much but if you have class, they’re saying for you not to go to class if you’re sick.
With the four-absence policy, students are very concerned about missing class. I tell them to email their professor or to show up to class with a mask on; we provide them here. You can say ‘I’ve got the flu. Do you really want me here?’ And they will say you know, ‘Go on home. We don’t want the class infected.’
Q: Are there any over-the-counter medications you would advise someone to take if they notice they’re developing symptoms?
Well, Tamiflu usually helps with body aches and fever. That’s a good one. And back relief helps with a cough. Patients with a sore throat or a cough will take Dayquil, Nyquil. Cough and cold medicine is over-the-counter and that is what we recommend for symptoms.
Q: With Valentine’s Day coming up on February 14, do you test for STDs?
A: Yes we do! We sure do. Whether you have signs or symptoms or not, we check that. Check in with your insurance company — maybe you can get checked once or twice a year. And for ladies who are sexually active, we check gonorrhea and chlamydia once a year. That is the new recommendation. There may not be symptoms at all and that can cause infertility.