"This is first and foremost a health center," said Ryan Lombardi, dean of students. "So, most of the space should be given over to student health. We got rid of a lot of the administrative spaces in this renovation."

There are now three patient encounter rooms and four more examination rooms to reduce patient wait time.

"We have really tried to increase the number of 'touches' that students have at Hudson," Lombardi said. "Soon after students check in we take them to a patient encounter room, sort of a triage room, where they see a nurse who takes their vital signs and assesses them."

Lombardi said the hope with this new system is that students' needs will be promptly and constantly attended to. The increased treatment space also will allow more students to be treated at one time.

"We really want to increase patient satisfaction," Lombardi said. "Students care about having a quality healthcare facility."

To suggest further upgrades and to assess Hudson Health Center's current state, Frederick Kam, medical director of Auburn University Medical Clinic, has been brought in as a consultant.

"Hudson currently functions like an urgent care facility," Kam said. "They are going to incorporate some appointment slots in the morning. That will reflect the real world experience that students have at home."

The addition of appointment slots in the fall will not only reflect that experience students have with their primary care providers at home, but Hudson officials also hope that it will reflect the wait times that patients normally experience at home. Hudson will still accept walk-in appointments.

"We are hoping to make Hudson a hybrid of the urgent care and traditional doctor's office models," Lombardi said.

The repurposing of space and time management at Hudson has been complemented by a face lift of the facilities.

"When students walk in and see peeling paint, it doesn't look pleasing," Kam said. "Now the environment mirrors the quality of care they will receive."

Lombardi agreed, "For a relatively low amount of money, this renovation will create a real change in the user's experience. We are committed to ensuring the best possible student health experience we can provide here at OHIO."