Megan's Weblog

Medical Technology

Today I visited the student health center here at NC State. Every time I go I am amazed at how the health center uses technology to create a smooth flowing system. At the health center, you have the option of setting up an appointment online or scheduling an appointment with an employee of the health center. In this case, the internet system negatively impacts students because it bypasses personal contact. However, the benefits of using the internet to schedule an appointment online are that there is an increase in privacy and convenience. I schedule my appointments online because it is easier for me to be able to look at my schedule in my room and decide which time is most convenient for me to go to the health center.

When a student arrives at the health center, they also have to check in through a computer. I recall going to the doctor with my dad and checking in for my appoinments at the main desk, and having to sit in the lobby and fill out paperwork before seeing the doctor. However, the benefits of NC State's technological medical system also include the ability to post the questions on the internet or computer for you to answer before seeing the doctor. In that case, it saves you time because you can go straight to the doctor without having to fill out paperwork. Allthough this method that NC State uses is very effective and allows a large quantity of students to see the doctor on any given day, it drastically decreases the personal intimacy you would recieve from going to a small community doctor. I believe that NC State's system is effective because the health center provides oppurtunities for the entire 31,000 student body to recieve adequate health care. However, if a family doctor were to become as technologically advanced I believe it would not be as successful.

Posted at 08:47PM Dec 02, 2008 by Megan Szakasits in General  |  Comments[0]