So far in the 2013-14 school year, official numbers are not out on the use rate of the new Group Health Cooperative facility at Truax, but reports say there is an upward trend in the number of people who are seeking care through the clinic.

“GHC is reporting that the clinic (at Madison College) is busier than it has ever been,” said Scot Vesterdahl, the school’s director of fitness, health and recreation.

The new health clinic opened earlier this year after a trailer on the north side of Truax adjacent to Stoughton Road. There was a 77 percent increase in clinic visits, 1252 in 2012-2013, compared to the previous year’s 707. The new clinic has had increasing numbers, and with student enrollment increasing, Vesterdahl said he will continue to reach out to students to support their health.

Since fall of 2011, more than 800 students have been seen for cold or flu like symptoms, representing more than 30 percent of the total visits. A percentage like that can imply a significant threat to students and faculty members with the spread of infections and disease, he said. Many of these visits could have been prevented with a flu shot. Vesterdahl encourages students to make use of the clinic and be seen when necessary because it is there for people who don’t feel well.

“There is no long wait. (Students) come first, and students’ experiences have been good,” Vesterdahl said. “Even students on their parents’ or spouses’ health care can also be seen with no additional cost or need to consult other healthcare providers. As long as the services they need don’t go beyond the services that are provided.”

Students enrolled in degree credit courses at Truax, Downtown, West, South and Truax automatically have access to the clinic and do not have to pay to be seen. Every student who is taking degree credits at Madison College has fees taken out as part of their tuition, a portion of those fees go to benefiting students with basic health care. This means that students who are not going to the clinic are wasting money.

“If you are not in a degree program you can buy into GHC for a fee of $75,” said Scot Vesterdahl.

The new building provides services to treat anything from a cold to providing antibiotics for infections, and most of their services are provided at no extra charge to the students.

On Sept. 11, Group Health Coopertive (GHC) held an open house for their new health care clinic. The new facility is a large upgrade from the “old trailer.”

“The open house was well attended, and a success,” he said.

A greater number of students attended the open house than expected, partially due to the efforts leading up to the event and partially because people could actually find it, Vesterdahl said.

“Students are becoming more aware of the clinic because they can see the building better, and it’s located right across the street from the new Gateway entrance,” he said.

To promote the new building, the clinic handed out business cards with information about their services and hours of operation. They also had table tents informing students about the new facilities, and flyers to put on the windshields of students’ cars.

Vesterdahl said he plans on collaborating with health care educators, clubs and organizations not only to inform students about their health, but also to keep them up to date on any changes in healthcare. Vesterdahl said he will work to discover what will engage students find out what works for the students to get their attention.