Hello,
My name is Margaret Upton and I am the Director
of Health Service at Lewis & Clark.
I am a licensed nurse practitioner with more
than 20 years of experience in college health.
As a student or parent I’m sure you might
be wondering about our services, especially
as related to COVID-19 this fall.
I can assure you that you are in good hands.
For starters, our Health Service is open Monday-Friday,
8am-4pm.
When the office is closed we have a nurse
phone line available for students 24/7.
We see students for acute health problems,
preventative care, and assist the management
of chronic health issues.
Our staff includes: two nurse practitioners,
one internal medicine physician, one RN, a
laboratory technologist, and an administrative
assistant.
All of the staff have had at least ten years
of college health experience.
Let me tell you what we have done and plan
to do related to COVID-19.
This spring we have tested students for COVID-19
antigen (PCR) and antibody (IGG).
Our tests go to the Quest reference lab and
results return in 1-3 days.
As of the end of spring semester, none of
our tests have been positive.
We are on a waiting list to purchase a point
of care test for the fall that could do antigen
testing with results in 15 minutes.
We have also implemented initial telehealth
appointments to minimize the exposure to COVID-19.
This will be helpful to monitor students who
may be in quarantine or isolation in the fall.
Additionally, this fall semester we are planning
to have both well and sick waiting and exam
rooms.
This spring Melissa Osmond, our public health
expert, developed an online tool for surveillance
and monitoring the students in self-isolation
and quarantine.
This also allowed for students to get meals
delivered to their rooms and health supplies.
Our Counseling Service and Office of Health
Promotion and Wellness are also available
to support students.
As you may know, young adults generally are
able to recover from COVID-19 without being
hospitalized, however, if needed we have access
to Oregon Health and Science University which
is less than 5 miles from campus.
It is an excellent teaching hospital and they
are very welcoming to our students and work
well with our staff to provide care.
I hope this information is helpful and I encourage
you to check out the Health Service, Counseling
Service, and Health Promotion and Wellness
websites for more information or feel free
to email health@lclark.edu.
