UI, Moscow Family Medicine Finalize Contract to Provide Student Health Services
Tuesday, June 18 2002
June 18, 2002^MOSCOW – The University of Idaho and Moscow Family Medicine have finalized a contract to provide enhanced health services to UI students beginning June 23.^ “This contract allows us to accomplish what has been our objective from the very beginning – to improve the quality and scope of health services for our students, “said Hal Godwin, UI vice president for student affairs.^ Dr. Wayne Ruby, president of Moscow Family Medicine, agrees.^ “UI Student Health Services, offered jointly with Moscow Family Medicine, will be integrated into the greater local medical community,” Ruby said. “The care students receive will be much more seamless and available anywhere in Moscow. That presents significant opportunities to improve the care students receive.”^ And according to Administrator Peter Berger, students also will benefit from Moscow Family Medicine’s administrative infrastructure.^“Student Health Services providers will be supported with state-of-the-art systems – students will be able to make convenient appointments and follow up with providers of their choice,” he said. “Electronic medical records will support improvements in the quality of care both in the exam room and nationwide. We will be able to communicate much more easily and effectively.”^Jeff Martin, CEO for Gritman Medical Center, also applauded the partnership.^ “Outsourcing those services makes a great deal of sense from a business and logistical perspective, and keeping those services local demonstrates the UI's commitment to this community,” Martin said. “For many years Gritman has enjoyed a great relationship with both the university and Moscow Family Medicine, and although GMC will play only a limited direct roll in the new student health program, providing certified radiology technicians for on-campus radiology, we are proud to support them in improving the student health delivery system on campus.^Moscow Family Medicine submitted a proposal for providing primary care clinic functions at Student Health Services during the Request for Proposal process earlier this year. This process took over four months to complete and involved student leaders, faculty and staff. Psychiatry, nutrition counseling and operation of the pharmacy will remain under the university’s oversight.^ Specifically, the contract calls for a physician, board certified in family practice or internal medicine, to staff the center. ^ In addition, the new partnership with Moscow Family Medicine will feature:^Development of an appointment system that will reduce patient waiting time and still accommodate immediate treatment of urgent care conditions^Providing a broad spectrum of primary care services including women’s health services and mental health as well as expand the current scope of orthopedic injury care currently available ^Expanding in-house laboratory services^Continuing to provide radiology and pharmacy services^Ensuring that a Moscow Family Medicine physician is on call for emergencies whenever the Student Health Center is closed.^Installation of a state-of-the-art, electronic medical records system. This system is fully compliant with new federal laws regarding confidentiality of medical records, and it allows a student to access health education and wellness information, as well as a summary of his or her own medical record anywhere in the world via the Internet.^Moscow Family Medicine accepts health insurance from numerous private insurance programs, and UI students in the comprehensive Student Health Insurance Program or bridge plan will have 100 percent coverage for primary care services – including X-ray and laboratory services – subject to a $10-per-visit co-pay. A $20 per visit co-pay will be charged at Moscow Family Medicine’s QuickCARE urgent care office when Student Health Services is closed. In addition, students’ dependents, regardless of age, also will have access to primary care services at Student Health Services.^CONTACTS: UI Provost Brian Pitcher, (208) 885-6448, bpitcher@uidaho.edu; Hal Godwin, vice president for student affairs, (208) 885-5886, hgodwin@uidaho.edu; or Kathy Barnard, (208) 885-6291, kbarnard@uidaho.edu^-30-krb—6/18/02STU==^
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.