DePaul students generally believe the university’s partnership with Sage Medical hurts more than it helps. However, after early investigation by several student groups and the Dean of Students Office, it seems the problem isn’t solely Sage. They’ve determined that the problem is miscommunication between Sage, DePaul and students resulting in an overall lack of understanding.
“It’s interesting when you hear students talk about how terrible Sage is because, for students who actually go to Sage, overwhelmingly they are coming out saying that their experience was positive,” said Dillon Goodson, president of the Student Government Association. “I’m not saying there aren’t issues, there definitely are, but its not as overwhelmingly negative as students are saying.”
“I think there is a lot of confusion on the student’s part on when to use Sage,” said Kaitlyn Wilson, the outreach liaison for Residence Hall Council.
Dean of Students Greg McVarish said the biggest problem they face is a lack of knowledge. He explained that brochures on DePaul Student Health Services have been targeted at parents and caregivers, leaving students out of the loop.
Goodson agreed that the information hasn’t been communicated to students, but added that limited services and the lack of follow up as problems too. The plan was designed to cover minor injuries and illnesses that are common among students.
“I don’t want to say [Sage is] ineffective, it’s just not optimum,” Goodson said. “There is definitely a mismatch on what Sage is able to offer based upon the students who attend and who actively participate in DePaul Health Services.”
Two thousand on and off campus students are currently enrolled in DePaul Health Services, which offers services through Sage Medical Group for $60 per quarter.
“Most of the time I’m seeing students for acute care issues like sore throats or upper respiratory infections, asthma,” said Jennifer Warren, a nurse practitioner for Sage Medical. “Most of the conditions that the acute care are covered under the plan.”
But with the recent push for more sexual health services on campus, some say gynecological and comprehensive STI testing should be added. DePaul Health Services covers STI testing only for students who have symptoms.
However, Goodson said that it’s difficult to provide coverage for all things.
“I think it’s a question of, if more things are covered under the plan, there would be an increased cost and that would have to be applied to all the students,” Warren said. “It seems to be working pretty well for most of the students I see.”
Dr. Blair Odland of Sage Medical explained that the services covered by DePaul Health Services at a forum held for students in April.
“The bundle of services that is offered to those students is something that was decided long ago and it hasn’t ever changed,” he said.
DePaul approached Sage Medical Group in the mid 1990s to create a partnership in order to better serve the needs of an increasing on-campus population.
Before that time, DePaul partnered with Lincoln Park Hospital’s Emergency Room to provide medical services for the few residential students.
“From my understanding, they were kind of handed a contract and expected to fulfill those responsibilities and that’s what has become DePaul Health services,” Goodson said.
Campus residents are automatically enrolled in DePaul Health Services, but may opt out if they can provide proof of other insurance. The service is offered to off-campus students at the same cost.
However, The DePaul Health Services plan is not a primary insurance plan. It only covers minor illnesses and injuries.
Students also have the option to enroll in DePaul University Student Health Insurance Plan is offered through Aetna Life Insurance.
There are several health and wellness programs offered by student groups on campus, but McVarish explained that they aren’t effectively connected.
He hopes data from the National College Health Survey, a study conducted by the Dean of Student’s Office last month, will help him advocate for a single position.
He said he hopes the position to be a connection between existing programs and foster a holistic approach to the issue of Sage Medical, DePaul Health Services and students needs.