ANNOUNCEMENTS                         

SWINE (H1N1) FLU ADVISORY

-April 29, 2009-

The Sam Houston State University Student Health Center is monitoring the situation surrounding the incidents of the Swine Flu.  The Health Center obtains periodic updates from the local hospital as well as local, state, and federal health authorities.  At this time, we are not aware of any confirmed cases of the Swine Flu in the Huntsville Area.  However, this situation highlights the importance of good personal hygiene.  The following steps are extremely effective in preventing the spread of communicable diseases such as the flu:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the  tissue in the trash after you use it.
•  Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  Germs spread that way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Students experiencing flu-like symptoms should contact the Student Health Center or other healthcare provider.  Flu symptoms include:

• Fever (usually high)
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Chills
• Extreme fatigue
• Dry cough
• Runny nose may also occur but is more common in children than adults
• Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, may also occur but are more common in children than adults

The Health Center will continue to monitor the situation and work with University administration and health authorities to address any issues that may arise.  Accurate and timely information regarding the Swine Flu can be found on the following sites:

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/swineflu/default.shtm

PHARMACY OPEN

- February 23, 2009 -

The Student Health Center's pharmacy is now open offering convenient access to prescription medications on the SHSU campus.  The pharmacy is open Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  The pharmacy can fill prescriptions written by outside medical providers as well as those written by the Health Center.  The pharmacy offers medications at discounted prices that are often less than insurance deductibles and co-payments.  Please contact the pharmacy at (936) 294-1803 for medication pricing and availability.

LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS A HUGE SUCCESS!                              

- February 18, 2009 -

Life Without Limits was a huge success with over 1,000 attendees between the afternoon and evening programs.  More importantly, it was evident that the lives of many attendees were impacted.  Special thanks to the Dean of Students' Office, the Counseling Center, Student Activities, and One Music Square for their co-sponsorship.  Thanks also to the LSC staff for the operation and set-up of the venues.  Lastly, we greatly appreciate the support of the faculty and staff that brought students over.  It was very encouraging to see faculty escorting their classes to the event.   This was truly a special program.

LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS

- January 7, 2009 -

On Tuesday, February 17th, at 2:30 p.m., in the LSC Theatre, Nick Vujicic will offer an inspirational message of hope to SHSU students.  He challenges others to choose a perspective that allows them to overcome obstacles and make progress toward reaching their full potential.  Nick speaks from his own experiences as a man born without arms or legs. Learn more about Nick and his program.

“In life, one occasionally has the opportunity of crossing paths with an individual with the ability to profoundly impact the lives of others.  I believe that Mr. Vujicic has that ability,” stated Keith Lott, director of the Student Health Center.

Life Without Limits is sponsored by the Counseling Center, Dean of Students' Office, Student Activities, and the Student Health Center.  Please contact Sarah Hanel, Health Programming Coordinator, at (4)4347 for more information.

ANNUAL FLU VACCINE CAMPAIGN COMPLETE

- December 2, 2008 -

The Student Health Center concluded its 2008 Flu Vaccine Campaign at the end of November when the 1,600 th dose was administered.  This year, 906 students and 521 employees took advantage of the free flu vaccine.

FREE FLU VACCINE FOR STUDENTS

- October 20, 2008 -

It is not too late! Free flu vaccines are still available for students at the Student Health Center while supplies last. No appointment is necessary. Students must present their Sam ID card prior to receiving the vaccine. Call 936.294.1805 for more information.

FREE FLU VACCINE FOR STUDENTS

- Sept 25, 2008 -

The SHSU Student Health Center will administer the influenza vaccine at no charge to students on Wednesday, October 8th, and Thursday, October 9th, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the LSC atrium.  Students must present their Sam ID card prior to receiving the vaccine.  Supplies are limited and the vaccine will be administered on a first come-first serve basis.  The vaccine will not be administered to any person 17 years or younger, pregnant, or nursing. 

In order to speed the administration of the vaccine, students are asked to come prepared with sleeves that can be easily adjusted to expose their shoulder.  There will be an area to disrobe with privacy screens, but an easily accessible injection site will make the process faster and more comfortable.

Influenza, also called flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.
“In addition to the flu vaccine, the most essential things students can do to avoid the spread of flu is to consistently wash their hands, avoid rubbing their noses, eyes and mouths, and continue a healthy lifestyle,” said Sarah Hanel, Programming Coordinator for the Student Health Center.
 
"With approaching exams and deadlines, students’ stress levels become escalated," Hanel said. "It is important to effectively cope with stress because high levels can weaken the immune system and increase a person’s susceptibility to illness."
In the United States, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications and roughly 36,000 people die from the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. Each vaccine contains three influenza viruses-one A (H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus, and one B virus. The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists' estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year.

About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body.  Despite commonly believed myths, a person cannot contract the flu from the flu vaccine.

“The Student Health Center’s mission is prevention and education," Hanel said. "Our goal is to minimize the spread of the flu on campus and keep students healthy and in class. The only cost to students wanting the vaccine is their time spent waiting in line."

For more information about the influenza vaccine or the administration process, visit www.shsu.edu/healthcenter or call 936.294.1805.

Health Center Pharmacy Services Temporarily Unavailable

- August 20, 2008 -

The Health Center's pharmacy services are temporarily unavailable due to the resignation of our pharmacist.  We are working to fill the position as soon as possible in order to restore on-campus access to affordable prescription medications.  Meanwhile, McNease Drugs has agreed to match our prices for most prescription medications excluding contraceptives.

McNease Drugs is located at 103 Medical Park Lane behind Huntsville Memorial Hospital.  They can be reached by phone at (936) 293-8333.

Programming Coordinator Brings Holistic Perspective

- August 1, 2008 -

Sarah Hanel began her employment as the Health Center's Programming Coordinator on July 16, 2008. In addition to her Master's degree from TAMU's School of Rural Public Health and experience as a patient educator at Scott & White Clinic, Ms. Hanel brings a holistic perspective to the Student Health Center's programming efforts.

"The challenge for students is to consider that health and wellness is not just about the physical component, it is about our experiences and the daily decisions we make.  My goal is to help students understand that the decisions they make today shape tomorrow", stated Hanel.

Ms. Hanel can be reached at 294-4347 or sbh007@shsu.edu.

Student Health Center Achieves Accreditation

- January 5, 2007 -

The Sam Houston State University Health Center has achieved accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Care (AAAHC) according to Keith Lott, Director of the Health Center. Approximately three years after deciding to pursue accreditation, the Health Center scheduled an on-site survey that was conducted this September. During the survey process, the department's performance in 24 broad categories including Quality of Care, Quality Improvement, and Administration were measured against rigorous and nationally recognized standards. On January 5, 2007, the Health Center was notified that it was awarded the highest degree of accreditation for a three year term.

"This achievement is an important milestone in the growth of our department that has taken place over the past six years. Such an accomplishment is not the result of one person's efforts or simplistic tasks completed over a short period of time. This accomplishment is a result of a sustained group effort effecting significant improvement in our department's operation. The favorable comparison of our departmental operations against the rigorous standards of a nationally recognized entity provides formal confirmation that our department has achieved excellence. Accreditation is a tangible indicator of how far we have come over the past six years," said Lott.

Upon notifying the Health Center of the accreditation decision, Roy Grekin, MD, the Accreditation Association President, commented, "Achieving accreditation demands a high level of dedication and effort. The SHSU Student Health Center is to be commended for this accomplishment."

Sam Houston State University joins the elite company of only four other public universities in Texas that have accredited health centers. Those universities include Texas A&M University, Texas State University, University of Texas, and University of Texas-Pan American . More information regarding accreditation and AAAHC can be found at www.aaahc.org.