By Brad Ramsay
Summer Reporter

The famous cliché "laughter is the best medicine" may be true to some extent, but if one becomes ill on campus, he may want to pay a visit to the Purdue University Student Health Center.

Jim Westman, director of the center, said, "We're here to provide primary health care for students and their spouses."

The center — which employs 12 board certified physicians, five licensed nurse practitioners, several registered nurses and technical staff — is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily during the regular school year.

Westman said a student can make an appointment at any time. Appointments made far in advance are discouraged with the exception of the women's clinic. Most appointments are made within a week of the time a student will see a physician. All students are also able to walk-in, but the center recommends appointments.

If a prescription is needed for an illness it can be filled at the Pharmacy Building, which is adjacent to the health center. The pharmacy participates in most, but not all, major prescription insurance plans.

Westman said the center does not have an emergency room. If students have severe trauma like that obtained during a car accident, they should go to the nearest hospital emergency room. The center works closely with the Purdue ambulance service and health center employees know when it is appropriate to take a student to the health center or to the emergency room.

Besides general medical treatment, the health center has made efforts to provide services and programs that are responsive to the students. The center now has women's, sports medicine, allergy and physical therapy clinics as well as a counseling and psychological services center. These have evolved out of needs that have been voiced by the Purdue population, said Westman.

Another service the center provides is information services and patient information to students so they will have good information based on how to make decisions regarding their health.

Although the health center provides information, the student wellness office, which is a department within the health center, is designed to teach students about nutrition, sexual behavior, alcohol and drug abuse. In general the center teaches students how to lead a healthy lifestyle, said Westman.

"We have tried to develop services that are reactive in health care and proactive in providing information on the part of patients," said Westman.