Schiffert Health Center launched a new online appointment request service this summer, allowing students to schedule non-emergency visits from their computer.
Colleen Farmer, quality improvement coordinator at Schiffert, said the Online Student Health option was made to be more convenient for the student population.
"This service will allow students to choose their appointment time in the event Schiffert Health Center is closed," Farmer said. "This service is going to allow the student to have more flexibility and allow our staff to focus more on our patients."
Farmer said personal assistance is still available in the appointment process.
Virginia Tech students eligible for services at Schiffert Health Center can register to use this service at no additional cost.
The new service found on Schiffert's Web site is an online interface for selecting appointment types and times and will complement the current methods for making appointments.
Before making an appointment using the online service, students must register using their Tech PID and password.
Farmer said urgent needs should not be dealt with over the online system.
"Appointments for emergency symptoms should not be made online," Farmer said. "Only eligible students, which are those who have paid their fee, can make appointments online."
Schiffert Health Center developed an Online Student Health Committee to assist in the development of the new online appointment request service feature.
The Online Student Health Committee has been developing this option for Tech students for a year.
Several universities, such as Georgia Tech, have been using this option for several years.
Stamps Health Center, Georgia Tech's student health center on campus, offers same-day or next-day online appointment reservations for the Primary Care Clinic and Allergy Clinic.
Before Schiffert's new online appointment request service feature was implemented this summer, there was an Online Cold Clinic.
"The Online Cold Clinic is an option for students who may need information on determining if they need to see a practitioner or have a cold vs. the flu," Farmer said. "The Online Cold Clinic serves as a resource for students who are seeking information about the transmission of certain diseases."
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