Matthew Gower
Assistant News Editor
TEAM Clinics has arrived in Shawnee and at OBU in order to help make remote doctors’ visits easier for those on campus.
Formed in 2017, TEAM Clinics set out with the goal of making it easier for children, students and coworkers to remotely speak with a doctor when needed.
According to an email sent out to students from Brandon Peterson, vice president of campus life and dean of students, when a student is not feeling well they can visit or email OBU’s new campus nurse Kayla Gibson, RN, in Geiger Center room 206 during her office hours Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
When and if a student needs to visit with a doctor, TEAM Clinics will connect them to licensed healthcare providers for high-quality healthcare that is both quick and efficient.
The service should be covered by most insurance companies, but those without insurance can also sign up.
According to teamclinics.com, they will work with individuals on a case by case basis when it comes to the cost of treatment and remote doctor visits if necessary.
Students may be seen for various issues, such as allergy symptoms, cold, cough or sore throat, prescription refills (which can be sent to local pharmacies for pickup) and many others.
There also are a variety of on campus options offered when a student needs health care such as in-office testing for Flu A and B, Rapid Strep, Respiratory syncytial virus, (RSV), Urine Analysis (UA) and, coming in late September, COVID-19.
Students can also schedule virtual appointments online on the teamclinic.com website if they are unable to visit the nurse’s office.
Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
After registering for an appointment and providing some basic patient details and reason for the visit, the patient can schedule an appointment on the website and select to receive scheduled text reminders before the virtual visit.
Meetings with licensed health-care providers will be conducted through Zoom.
The program has already been implemented in Shawnee Public Schools. Many other districts in Oklahoma have joined the partnership, with most having their own on-site clinics.
According to a testimonial on their website when speaking about the program’s effectiveness, director of academic services at Shawnee Public Schools, Allyson Cleveland said “Bringing TEAM Clinics to Shawnee is one of the best moves our district has made. Having a clinic available at school definitely has decreased absences and promoted healthy well-being in our students. TEAM Clinics provides an invaluable wrap around service to our students and families.”
Other health options offered on campus include the Kemp MFT Clinic which is offering an upcoming free three-week virtual group program called Dealing with Uncertainty and Loss. The purpose of the program is to provide students with support through difficulties resulting from the pandemic.
“With the recent changes in our everyday lives due to COVID, many people are grieving the loss of their normal routines, struggling with adapting their plans, and experiencing an increase in stress and anxiety as a result…Come join your peer to share about the loss and uncertainty we are experiencing surrounding COVID and receive support/resources to help you cope,” OBU Kemp MFT graduate assistant and graduate therapist Jordyn Patterson said.
The group will meet via Zoom 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 23, 30 and Oct. 7. Students interested in the group can email OBU Kemp MFT graduate therapist Michaela Hagler at Michaela.Hagler@okbu.edu to register or ask questions by Sept. 16.
If students are unable to attend the meetings, they can also schedule an appointment by calling the MFT Clinic at 405-585-4530.
Students are also encouraged to continue participating in their daily screenings at various screening stations throughout OBU’s campus and report any symptoms related to COVID through the online form at http://www.okbu.edu/safety-resources.
thebisonnews.com 
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