By Elaine Bonilla/reporter

Every student at TCC has resources such as the free health services clinics offered on every campus.

The clinics provide over-the-counter medications, health counseling, weight monitoring and screenings for vision, blood glucose and blood pressure.

To keep students and staff from getting infected, flu shots are also available for $12.

“Since this is a nurse-directed clinic, there is no physician, which means we can’t write prescriptions,” said Tina Ingram, South health services coordinator. “We treat anyone who walks in our door. We have had faculty, staff, students, visitors and even participants in the College for Kids program.”

Markeya Williams, who works in student activities, said she has taken advantage of health services on a regular basis.

“My daughter was participating in the College for Kids program when she fell and busted her knee,” Williams said. “She went to health services, and they fixed her right up.”

Ingram schedules blood drives, the marrow donor registry, HIV and syphilis testing, health-related education programs and the annual health fair.

Sophomore Erika Sherman, who works in the NE bookstore, first used health services when she had a minor injury.

“My boss told me to go to health services when I accidentally cut myself,” Sherman said. “They were friendly, quick and took good care of me.”

The campus health clinics assess the minor illnesses and injuries and let the patient know the best course of action, including cleaning and dressing minor wounds.

If it’s a bit more extensive, the nurses advise the patient to make a doctor’s appointment.

Sometimes, patients are directed to go to the emergency room.

“We also have an Emergency Response Team that is sent out when the patient can’t come to us,” Ingram said.

The ERT handles cardiac problems, asthma attacks, muscular issues and even fainting.

If the team is called to more than one case at the same time, the on-call person uses triage to assess the situation.

“Triage is when we have more than one emergency, and we have to determine which should be given priority,” Ingram said.

Some campuses even have a room where a student can lie down if they aren’t feeling well.

“When I have extreme migraines, I have go to lay down,” Williams said.

Williams said she uses the clinic so frequently she has a good relationship with the staff on her campus.

“The clinic is here because students want to be at school even if they are feeling a little sick,” Ingram said.

“Students pay to be here, so they may as well take advantage of the resources TCC has to offer.”