For most students, coming to the University is their first time away from home, which can mean great things for their personal development.

But what about being away from parents when something goes wrong?

Everyone gets sick sometimes. Without a parent to feed you chicken soup, or take you to the family doctor, what do you do, especially when you have a final in two days?

That’s where McKinley Health Center comes in. McKinley provides general medical care, mental health care, and health education to students who pay the health services fee. In general, McKinley is a one-stop doctor, pharmacy and drug store.

David Lawrance, medical director for McKinley, said the health center provides many services for free.

“Most services are available without additional fee or copay, including professional visits, X-rays, most labs, and many medications,” Lawrance said. “We operate two health resource rooms, one at Oasis in the Illini Union, and a second at McKinley where condoms, cold medications, wound care kits, and several other free items are available.”

Lawrance said that most visits to McKinley require an appointment, but most of the time, if a student calls in the morning, the staff can work them in for later that same day. Appointments can also be made online or through Dial-A-Nurse, a 24-hour help line.

“I’d encourage anyone with after-hours concerns about whether or not to seek evening or night care in the community to contact the dial-a-nurse,” Lawrance said. “They can help with the decision-making and they can provide self-care advice. When self-care will get someone safely through the night, we’ll be there for them in the morning.”

McKinley does not have an emergency care service, but 911 service is available in the area, and Carle Foundation Hospital has emergency room services. Dial-A-Nurse can help determine whether or not emergency care is necessary.

The health center also has a strict confidentiality policy. Lawrance said the staff wants students to feel confident in receiving medical care without having to worry about feeling embarrassed.

“Information that we acquire as part of a health center visit is never shared with a dean, an instructor, a roommate, or a parent without permission, with the exception of minors,” Lawrence said.

“We’re obsessive about this. We want students to feel safe to talk with us about anything that they want to talk to us about. We are discrete.”

For more information:

http://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/

Dial-A-Nurse:

(217) 333-2700 or 3-2700 from a campus phone