Dodd, Ben
HealthWeb, an addition to the Student Health Services Web site is evolving to provide students added convenience, according to Robert Hayford, student health service associate director.
The service allows students to make appointments online and allows the provider to contact the student following an appointment, he said.
Secure messaging is a system by which health care providers at the Student Health Center are able to contact a student who has had an appointment. For example, a student would be likely to be contacted if the provider needs additional information or if lab results are ready, according to Hayford.
“It’s called secure messaging because of confidential medical information in the messages,” he said. “It’s within the HealthWeb system but uses the ncsu.edu [e-mail] system to get [the messages] out.”
A provider may contact a student through this system, but students are unable to do the same with their health care provider, Hayford said.
According to Hayford, changes made to the system may revolve around this securing messaging system, which he said was “in its infancy.”
HealthWeb debuted Sept. 4, and since then, students have used the system frequently, Hayford said.
“We have seen a dramatic increase in the number of appointments made online in the last couple of weeks,” he said. “The number of patients making appointments hasn’t increased, but it’s really too early to gauge that.”
According to Hayford, the main purpose of the system is to be convenient for students.
“Before, what students had to do was call to make an appointment,” he said. “Now students are able to go into HealthWeb and request a time that works for them.”
However, this will not be the only change, according to Hayford.
“Another benefit of HealthWeb is the student being able to get online and update their information,” he said. “That we haven’t started yet, but it will be coming soon.”
Jordan Copeland, a freshman in biomedical engineering, said she thinks being able to make appointments on the health center Web site is a benefit to students.
“A lot of times you don’t want to make a phone call,” she said. “It is easier to get online and make an appointment.
Kala Conrad, a freshman in civil engineering, said she thinks it is a good idea as well.
“I know a lot of people probably wouldn’t even bother calling in,” she said. “If you can do it online it makes it a whole lot easier.”