MOUNT VERNON – Faculty, staff and students at Mount Vernon Nazarene University now have on-campus access to medical care thanks to a partnership between the university and Knox County Community Health Center, a local federally qualified health center that is a clinical branch of Knox Public Health.
Lindsey Gilkey, a certified nurse practitioner from the KCC Health Center, provides services to faculty, staff and students (both residential and commuters) Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings at the MVNU Student Health Services building. Both primary care and acute care services are available.
Campus nurse Jo Lee Carrier has seen a growing need from faculty, staff and students to provide more services on site to meet the health-care needs of MNVU’s on-campus community.
“Bringing a certified nurse practitioner to our students, faculty and staff fills a void that’s been missing on our campus for quite some time,” said Carrier. “Providing quality and convenient health care where it’s needed, when it’s needed, creates a stronger, healthier MVNU community.”
The MVNU community, including the immediate family of faculty and staff, can meet with Gilkey for a variety of illnesses or routine health-care needs. In addition to sick care and treatment, other needs like prescription refills and employment physicals are conducted on campus.
The goal of the partnership is to provide as much care to faculty, staff and students as possible without needing to leave campus. Additional benefits include:
• On-site testing with online results;
• Basic mental health care, including treatment for depression and anxiety (counseling can be arranged through the KCC Health Center’s main clinic);
• Women’s health services;
• Treatment for common illnesses and conditions such as sore throat, stomach bug or lab tests.
Removing the barrier of transportation and having a convenient location to squeeze in an appointment between classes helps provide the scheduling accommodations needed by so many on the busy collegiate campus.
“COVID has reminded MVNU of the crucial importance of quality health care on campus. The rich partnership with Knox Public Health throughout the pandemic has already enhanced our ability to serve our students. Bringing essential services to our community is great news for everyone on MVNU’s campus,” said MVNU president Dr. Henry W. Spaulding, II.
Considering the partnerships with the KCC Health Center, all patients are accepted no matter their ability to pay for services. This includes coverage of all private and Medicaid insurance plans, plus a sliding fee scale for self-pay patients and payment plans to cover out-of-pocket expenses.
Appointments are available Tuesdays, from 12:45 to 4:15 p.m.; and Thursdays, from 8 to 11:15 a.m., by calling the nurse’s office at 740-507-0275 or email nurse@mvnu.edu. Walk-ins are welcome during the same hours.
