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West Virginia University is helping students traveling abroad with health care before their trips.
The International Travel Clinic is devoted to promoting safe travel internationally.
"Our goal is to encourage students not only to travel but to have a safe and healthy trip," said Jacqueline Mier, a registered nurse at the clinic.
The clinic is a branch of the WVU Student Health Center.
First established as a required yellow fever clinic, it was originally only open one morning per week. The clinic has since expanded and is open Monday through Thursday, seeing patients by appointment.
"I have been working here for 15 years now, it is amazing to see how things have changed," Mier said. "International travel leaving the U.S. has increased 150 percent over the last decade."
The clinic inform patients about health and safety threats specific to where they are traveling. The clinic also issues immunizations that are destination specific to help ensure students’ safety while traveling.
"It is important that the patient schedules his or her appointment in a timely manner so that we can do our best to give them all the care and information they need," Mier said. "Also, it is important that a patient is aware of his or her vaccine history so that they do not receive something that is unnecessary."
Patients receive a packet of information about their destination, during an appointment. This includes a culture gram, with everything from the climate and society to monetary system of a country.
Though the clinic mainly sees students who are studying abroad, it is open to all students and the public and are encouraged to come to the clinic for information and immunizations.
"We strive to keep our vaccine prices low," Mier said.
Like WVU’s Student Health Center, the clinic does not require insurance. If a patient has insurance and would like to use it, they can keep their receipt and submit it to their insurance company to be reimbursed later.
Students coming to the clinic receive a reduced visit fee, which can be billed to their student accounts.
For more information visit www.well.wvu.edu/medical/international_travel. To schedule an appointment call 304-293-1379 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Appointments are available daily between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Tuesdays between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
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