By Madalyn EaglesWash your hands, cover your nose when you sneeze and cough into your elbow. These phrases become popular as temperatures drop and the feeling that everyone around is getting sick. Tylenol and over-the-counter medicines can do so much, but college students do have resources available if they need a quick care or doctor within walking distance.On the edge of Louisiana Tech’s campus, students and members of the Ruston community have the ability to go to TechCare, an urgent care medical office with the intention of getting patients in and out.
“Although I get you out quickly, I do take the time to educate you on what’s going on, how we can make this better for you,” said Samantha Primm, physician assistant at TechCare.Being an urgent care facility, TechCare can provide many services to their patients. They can evaluate and treat common occurrences such as coughs, sinus congestion, allergies, skin infections, fractures, etc. They also can provide the services of allergy injections, sport physicals and minor wound care while also having lab services of COVID-19, Flu, strep throat, Mono, drug tests and more.It’s hard to be away from home and go to the doctors without parents. The clinic understands that sometimes it might be a student’s first time going to the doctor’s all by themselves.“We do care, so we’re willing to help as much as we can…We’re here to serve and get students well enough to get back to class,” said Primm. “Ultimately, that’s why you’re here, to be a student and learn and graduate.”Maybe graduating may seem easier to some students than going to the doctors without their parents. The workers there know that students might not know what to do or bring the right materials.“We anticipate questions and the lack of knowledge on certain topics,” Primm said.Brooke Adkins, the receptionist, and Primm are there to listen and help students throughout the entire process. To help future patients, all TechCare needs students to bring is their student ID and insurance.“All Tech students have one free visit so they would just need their student IDs,” said Adkins about students who might not have insurance and hesitate coming to TechCare. “We’re here to help walk them through it because it’s part of the care.”
