For ASU students, employees and members of the general public in Downtown Phoenix who need assistance with an existing health problem or want to avoid illness, a nurse practitioner is just around the corner to help. In an ASU first, ASU students and employees can receive healthcare in a health center under the clinical and administrative direction of the College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation.
The 4,000 square-foot ASU Health Center, located on the first floor of the main nursing building at 500 N. 3rd Street, serves the healthcare needs of Downtown Phoenix. Faculty and staff from any of the other ASU campuses can also receive services in the new downtown health center.
Over the years, a number of proposals for alternative methods of providing health services on campus have been studied. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation responsibility for the downtown campus health center is the outcome of a proposal that was initially developed by a Faculty Senate committee with representatives from Psychology, Human Health, Accountancy, Nursing, and Human Resources.
"With the ASU Health Center located in the College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation, healthcare will be available within three to four blocks of any DPC facility," Denise Link, Associate Dean for Clinical Practice & Community Partnerships, said. “Students from any ASU campus, as well as faculty, staff and the public, can now access quality healthcare in a convenient location while living, studying or working on or near the Downtown Phoenix campus."
The health center initially has an interdisciplinary staff for mental and physical healthcare. The service area includes six exam rooms, a special barrier-free procedure room, two mental health consultation rooms, and space for research, clinical trials, ASU student education. Staff at the Health Center has collaborated with university and community partners to provide health screenings, vaccinations and blood drives.
The ASU Health Center is one of five nurse-managed health centers (NMHC) operated by the College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation – the others are in Central Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale. In all five NMHCs, nurse practitioners are the primary care providers.
Denise Link, PhD, WHNP-BC, who opened the ASU Health Center and served in the past as its director, is also a Clinical Associate Professor in the College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation. Dr. Link and her staff have forged contracts to provide healthcare for companies outside of ASU. "Service and participation agreements with other organizations will increase the availability of healthcare to the community and expand the diversity and depth of educational experiences for ASU students from nursing and other academic programs that play a role in the healthcare delivery system."
In addition to nursing, students from a wide variety of disciplines and departments – law, exercise and wellness, business, marketing, health administration and others – are welcome to use any of the NMHC sites to apply classroom theory to real world situations. In this interdisciplinary learning environment, students will acquire skills in their own major and learn with students from other majors, increasing understanding and knowledge about the diverse professionals who must work together and collaborate to make a healthcare practice successful.
For more information about services and learning opportunities at ASU Health Center, call 602-496-0721.
