Students heading off to college take on a lot of new responsibilities, and for many, that includes managing their health care.
But many are not as prepared as they need to be.
Sean Sullivan is a nurse practitioner at the Ann Arbor MinuteClinic, located at the edge of the University of Michigan campus.
During the fall and winter semesters, Sullivan said about 90 percent of their patients are college students.
We asked Sullivan to share the common gaps in knowledge he sees after treating countless college students over the years.
“Number one, it’s probably insurance. I mean, and this can be a confusing thing for anyone,” said Sullivan. “Making sure that they have a copy of their insurance card, whether it be digital or a hard copy of it, and then just also knowing what is their deductible, what is their copay, so that there’s no surprise payments at the end.”
Sullivan said students not knowing their exact allergies and current medications is another major issue.
“It’s also very important to have a list of allergies, whether it be drug or food, as well as medications that they’re taking. And this can become especially important if we’re going to be putting them on any new medications,” explained Sullivan. “So often I hear, ‘Well, I’m allergic to that one antibiotic.’ Well, going to need a little bit more information than that.”
Sullivan said this is a skill your kids can practice long before their college years.
“When they take them to their well visits, let the kids talk,” said Sullivan. “So often I see parents talking for their kids, and I think it’s a bit of a disservice. Let the kid talk. Let them, you know, explain their medical history to us.”
Sullivan also recommended that college students have a plan on how and where they are going to get refills for any medication they take regularly.
“It’s very common that people get here, then they realize they don’t have their medication, they forgot it, or they don’t have a way to refill it.”
Sullivan said many students struggle with their health in their first year of college.
“I always hear, ‘I just moved into school or my dorm, and I am sick all the time. What can I do?’ said Sullivan. “I always tell them, you know, ‘There’s no magical pill that you can take that’s going prevent you from getting sick. I think the magic treatments that you’re looking for is going to be frequent handwashing, using hand sanitizer.’”
Sullivan also counsels students on the importance of getting sufficient sleep.
“Sleep is that time when our immune system really revs up and kind of goes into overdrive. So if you’re not getting enough sleep, you’re really doing your body a disservice,” said Sullivan.
He also recommended sending students with hypoallergenic pillow and mattress protectors and, if possible, a HEPA air purifier.
“The dorms, as well as some of the apartments and housing, it’s just not the best air quality,” said Sullivan. “And I see that once the heating kicks on in the fall, we see a lot of allergy symptoms coming in.”
Sullivan said the illnesses he sees most often in the first month of school are the common cold, allergies, strep throat, mono, early flu cases, and some hand, foot, and mouth disease.
If students do get sick, Sullivan is ready to take care of them.
“It’s a population I enjoy working with just because, you know, they’re out in the world for the first time and you can be very fun and fulfilling,” said Sullivan.