ASHLAND, Ore. – La Clinica, a Jackson County-based group providing accessible health services to the community, will be partnering with Southern Oregon University this fall to operate their Student Health and Wellness Center.
SOU’s Student Health and Wellness Center has been on campus for more than 50 years, offering physical, behavioral and reproductive health services to students. However, right now the center is facing an imbalance in operating costs and revenue.
Anna D’Amato, the executive director for the Student Health and Wellness Center, said a partnership with La Clinica might offset some of these expenses.
“It was an idea (that) maybe a community health center might be able to provide the same services for a lesser cost,” D’Amato said. “It’s a great way to keep the services at the same place with the same provider.”
Under the partnership, students will still pay a mandatory health fee as a part of their tuition, with La Clinica billing insurance and keeping any other costs low for students. The partnership will officially begin on Sep. 25 with the start of fall term.
D’Amato is optimistic about the partnership because she said both groups are committed to providing low-cost and accessible services to patients.
“We’re really here for the students,” D’Amato said. “If they’re in the middle of classes, they can just run over here, get their appointment done, see a provider (and) go back to class or to their dorm.”
La Clinica operates 29 community health centers throughout Jackson County, including 19 school-based centers at K-12 schools. This is their first university-based health partnership.
Liv Collom is a reporter/producer at NewsWatch 12. You can reach Liv at [email protected].
