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Carle Health will take over day-to-day operations and clinical management of Illinois Wesleyan University’s student health services. IWU and Carle say it will improve students’ access to healthcare.
IWU, a private university in Bloomington with 1,600 students, said it put out a request for proposals (RFP) in hopes of finding a partner to provide health services “in a more cost-effective manner.” Carle Health, which operates Carle BroMenn hospital just north of IWU, was chosen through that RFP.
Carle will take over management of Arnold Health Services in Magill Hall starting April 1. Services and hours will remain the same during the transition. Students will continue to cover the cost of the health services through their tuition and fees. No invoices or bills will be generated for their visits.
Arnold Health Services averages about 2,100 student-visits per year. It provides basic wellness and preventive care, including women’s health, behavioral health and treatment of respiratory conditions, skin conditions and allergies. Carle says it hopes that preventive care and health education will be enhanced, and referrals to specialists in women’s health, behavioral health and orthopedics will be increased. That means healthcare will improve and fewer students will need emergency treatment, said John Hesse, Carle BroMenn’s vice president of business development.
Carle says it will assess operations as it learns more about IWU student needs.
“We will examine the needs of that population,” said Hesse.
Added Karla Carney-Hall, IWU vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students: “We value this partnership, which we see as a natural fit with a next-door neighbor institution that is trusted in our community. We look forward to partnering with Carle Health so that Arnold Health Services can continue to provide quality healthcare to our students.”
Colleen Kannaday, president of Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, said Carle BroMenn and IWU have had a longstanding partnership, mostly related to the nursing profession.
“We are looking forward to this expansion of our partnership and the opportunity to have a positive impact on the students and the broader university,” Kannaday said. “Our close physical proximity makes this a wonderful next step as we continue to deepen our relationship.”
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