The College of Eastern Utah’s Health and Wellness Clinic is a hidden gem in our community. Located in the SAC building at CEU, there is a misconception that the clinic is only for college students. The clinic is available to anyone in the community and especially those without insurance, the underinsured, and those who have insurance but does not cover things like pap smears and birth control. The clinic is best known for the Title X Federal Funding that allows them to offer Planned Parenthood services on a sliding fee scale. This means that a woman could get a pap smear, breast exam, and healthy lifestyle education starting at $10 depending on her income. The clinic offers all forms of birth control, again on a sliding fee scale, including pills, patches, rings, shots, and IUD’s. Condoms are encouraged and are always free. Sexually transmitted infection testing as well as HIV testing is available. The Health and Wellness Clinic also takes appointments for colds, flu and other minor ailments.
There have been multiple studies that have shown that poverty is directly related to timing of pregnancies. The clinic prides itself in being able to provide birth control to women in order to help them achieve their goals. The clinic does a lot of premarital counseling for young couples getting ready to get married. The clinic will provide exams, if needed, and get them on whatever form of birth control they choose. This is a great service that helps young couples who may not have insurance or the money to pay for these services. One young couple came to the clinic for birth control in their first year of college. They were getting married in a few months and didn’t want children until they finished college. The clinic has been able to help them avoid pregnancy and provide cancer screening and health education all the way up until their first jobs after earning their bachelors degrees.
There was one client that was returning to school after a divorce and had three children. She moved back to the area to be closer to family and get her education to be able to support her family. She developed some health problems that did not allow her to use most birth control methods. The staff at the clinic identified one that would work for her and used a grant program to get it. She now is protected against pregnancy for five years and will be able to focus on rebuilding her life.
The clinic provides services to a lot of young women just starting into their relationships. “I am continually surprised at how smart the young women in this community are. They think of innovative ways to remember to take their birth control and are very savvy on the use of condoms,” the director, Danielle Howa Pendergrass, NP states. “We are even seeing more young men come in for sexually transmitted infection and HIV testing. This gives us an opportune time to talk with them about the responsibilities of birth control and infection prevention.”
The clinic also provides very low cost treatments for the common cold, strep throat, and depression, as well several other minor health conditions. The United Way and the health department, another partner agency, helps to provide the medications to treat these patients who cannot afford their medications.
While the clinic receives funding for exams and birth control, it is up to the clinic to get supplies and medications. United Way has played an instrumental role in providing supplies and equipment so that the clinic is able to offer these services to the community. The clinic could not function without exam lights, blood pressure cuffs, needles and syringes, and exam equipment, just to name a few. The United Way has also provided a great place to network with other community agencies. This allows the clinic to know what resources are available in the community and direct our clients to the proper resources. There is a great working relationship between partner agencies and the United Way. Danielle Howa Pendergrass states, “I feel like we are all one big family, trying to do the best we can for those in our community.” Thanks to United Way, those who would have been left without health care, now have a place to go.
The Health and Wellness Clinic is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed daily from 12-l p.m. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call 613-5629.
CEU’s Health and Wellness Clinic Offers Low Cost Services
