The Division of Student Affairs and University Medical Associates, a physician group made up of College of Osteopathic Medicine faculty members based in Ohio University's Parks Hall, are in the early stages of discussing a collaboration to create a new health care facility. It would serve as a joint student health center and UMA medical center, according to Vice President for Student Affairs Kent Smith and College of Osteopathic Medicine Dean Jack Brose.

The new health center could be a one-stop facility for students and UMA clientele, offering more services and longer hours than Hudson Health Center and Parks Hall do now. The joint effort could take advantage of operational efficiencies and shared efforts to leverage costs.

Having one facility designed specifically for student and community health would free up the two current locations for other uses at a time when demand is high for space on campus.

"Everyone wins if this project goes through because it benefits everyone -- students, community, employees and the university as a whole," Brose said.

The new facility would allow for expansion of services and optimal space configuration. When students need to be referred to specialists, for instance, those physicians could be right on site; currently, students often have to go some distance. There's also the possibility of incorporating lab services, testing and pharmacy facilities.

The idea for the joint medical facility sprang from two places.

Brose said UMA has been looking for an alternative facility for the past two years. Parks Hall was not built as a medical facility, but rather as a residence hall, and a newer facility could be more efficient and allow for expansion.

In addition, the university has known for several years that Hudson Health Center is inadequate for optimal student health care and counseling services. It commissioned Keeling & Associates to complete a comprehensive assessment, the findings from which were presented last summer. Among other things, the Keeling report suggested the university could benefit from a partnership with OU-COM, UMA and other health care agencies. It also stated that building a new student health care facility likely would be more cost effective than renovating.

According to the report, an integrated campus-community approach to health care can advance prevention, improve people's health and create a healthier learning environment for students.

"When the Keeling report suggested the university replace Hudson Health Center, President (Roderick) McDavis realized the UMA-student health services partnership was a natural fit and brought both sides together," Brose said.

UMA always has had a synergy with the university. Parks Hall serves as a training facility for medical students and has been an important part of the medical student-faculty collaboration and student learning experience. UMA also partners with the university to provide disease prevention and health-promotion services. And Parks has long served the medical needs of university faculty and staff and people in the surrounding community.

Several university-owned locations are under consideration for building sites. Pepsi TailGreat Park across from the Convocation Center and university-owned land on West Union Street across from Larry's Dawg House are two possibilities.

Brose said a new facility ideally would be close enough to the center of campus to be within walking distance for students and also easily accessible by community members.

Associate Vice President for Facilities John Kotowski said the 10-year capital planning toolkit developed last year would help inform decisions about how to integrate the facility into the campus and Vision Ohio goals, including how to preserve green space.

"A key value in the planning toolkit is not only preserving green space but increasing it," he said.

Financing the building is probably the biggest challenge facing the project. There is a commitment to construct it without state funding, Brose said. The Keeling report recommends the university develop a sustainable funding model.

The new facility is projected to take one to three years to build. The cost would depend on the type of facility that best meets student and UMA needs.

Brose said UMA would lease space from the university in the facility, thus helping it absorb the cost. A few other suggested revenue-generation strategies include third-party billing of students' insurance companies and implementing a waivable quarterly student health fee that would entitle participating students to expanded health services. Those details, however, are only in the discussion stage.

Smith also stressed the importance of student input. The Student Health and Counseling Services Student Advisory Committee, which has been making recommendations about improvements to student health and counseling services, will reconvene in the coming days to review the concept. A member from the student committee serves on the larger universitywide Student Health and Counseling Services Steering Committee chaired by Charlene Smith, interim executive director of Student Health and Counseling Services. If the Board of Trustees determines that the partnership should be explored further, Smith will set up forums and other channels to gather additional student feedback.

"We will be seeking [the board's] direction because we can't move forward without their approval," Smith said.

At a joint meeting Feb. 7 of the Board of Trustees' Academics and Resources committees, Smith and Brose will make an informational presentation of the concept and Vice President for Finance and Administration Bill Decatur will discuss potential financing options.