Adding to the list of changes taking place at the university, preliminary talks about renovating the Health Center have begun.

Representatives from the Health Center and the Physical Plant met Thursday to discuss ideas that will improve the campus.

Health Center Director Paul Fisch emphasized the need for more patient privacy and said the staff is already doing what is possible, such as concealing appointment schedules from general view and asking the staff to sign off computers when not using them.

The Health Center staff hope to include measures to improve student privacy, such as getting booths for the front office and pharmacy that would allow patients to speak one-on-one about their reasons for visiting, Fisch said.

“We don’t see us replacing this building for five to 10 years, and we can’t wait that long to make improvements,” he said.

Bryan Sims, Physical Plant associate director, said that, because of asbestos, the second floor of the building would have to be worked on separately from the first floor, as it would mean temporarily closing the building.

Physical Plant Director Jeff Johnson suggested that construction on the second floor should be done in the summer, when relocation would be easier.

An architecture firm would also need to be involved before going forward with construction, although no dates or estimated costs have been set, he said.

Johnson proposed extending the Health Center toward Brazos House so the pharmacy could have a separate section with its own entrance.

“Lots of people don’t know we have a pharmacy on campus,” he said, adding that making it more prominent with its own section and sign would increase student use.

Fisch pointed out the need for more restrooms, as the only public one in the center is located on the first floor, and the building contains only one handicapped restroom.

Johnson mentioned the possibility of clearing out the center’s basement to create more space, which would require off-site storage of the files currently held.

Fisch said the next planning phase would be to meet and discuss the appearance of the renovated Health Center, though no date has been scheduled for this meeting.

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