The university healthcare center is ready and waiting
To help students balance their studies and health, the Montpellier University Health Center meets all the needs of students and supports them in their healthcare journey. Meet the CSU team, whose services are more relevant than ever.
Medical and psychological support combined with a warm welcome and attentive listening is what the University Health Center offers students in Montpellier. "We are a medical center for students," explains Olivier Jonquet, director of the CSU." For all students," the doctor, who is concerned about the health of these young people, is keen to point out. Here, it doesn't matter whether you're at university, in vocational training, or at a public or private school. As long as you have a student card, you're welcome. "The CSU is an inter-institutional service. We offer care and health services tailored to the needs of students in Montpellier," adds Stéphanie Gally, the center's administrative manager.
Care is provided by a team of 14 people, "10 UM agents and 4 CHU agents, for a total of 6.8 full-time equivalents,"says Stéphanie Gally. Comprising general practitioners, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and physical therapists, the medical and paramedical team is supported by a valuable medical-administrative support unit that helps young people who are sometimes lost in the administrative maze and assists them in registering for social security or accessing complementary health insurance. This dynamic team responds to significant demand: "2,900 medical consultations and 850 paramedical consultations for the 2019-2020 academic year alone," explains the administrative manager.
Comprehensive medical monitoring
It must be said that the CSU has everything going for it. "Withtheir student card,social securitycard, and health insurance card, patientsdon't have topay anythingthanks to the full third-party payment system," explains Olivier Jonquet. "What's more, theygetan appointment within 48 hours of requesting one." This rapid care is particularly suited to students' often modest budgets.
Whether they need a vaccine, a medical certificate, minor stitches, a prescription, screening, or even yoga or meditation sessions, students can contact the CSU, which welcomes them to its four medical offices, two of which are accessible to people with reduced mobility. "And whennecessary,we refer them to a specialist at the CHU, whoseesthemwithin avery shorttime," adds Olivier Jonquet.
Speed and convenience are important advantages for Dr. Abel Perraudin, who provides general medical and gynecological consultations: "Forty percent of medical consultations are related to gynecology, and more than two-thirds of our patients are female students. When you considerhow long it takes to get an appointment with a gynecologist in the private sector,it's important to know thathere they can see a doctor quickly and at a lower cost, given that the average price of a gynecological consultation elsewhere is €50."He adds: "We can prescribe contraception andeven perform medical abortions."
Psychiatric and psychological support
The University Health Center also provides psychological and psychiatric support, in collaboration with Professor Philippe Courtet and the University Hospital. These services are in high demand during this pandemic, which is having a significant impact on students. "They are sometimes far from home,feeling vulnerable,deprived of their usual part-time jobs. We are seeing real student unease, which is evident in our consultations," says Stéphanie Gally with concern. " The demand for psychological support has doubled,and we now have a 10- to 15-daywait to see a psychologist at the CSU," adds Olivier Jonquet. This is despite the hiring of an additional psychologist.
To meet these growing needs, the CSU wants to further strengthen mental health care by increasing the hours available to clinical psychologists and psychiatrists, as well as the number of stress and anxiety management workshops. "We also want to create aUniversity Psychological SupportOffice(BAPU)," explains Olivier Jonquet. This consultation center will be open to all students who want psychological help and will have a team of psychotherapists—psychiatrists and psychologists—social workers, and an administrative service at their disposal. "There will be no limit on the number of sessions; support will be provided for as long as the student feels the need," reassures Stéphanie Gally.
In the meantime, the doors of the CSU are wide open to them, and students can be sure of receiving prompt and competent care. As an added bonus, they are always greeted with a smile and good humor.
- In practice:The CSU welcomes students by appointment from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Please go to 8 rue de l’école normale (opposite the FDE, in the former premises of the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie) with your student card, health insurance card, and supplementary health insurance card.
Tel: 04 11 28 19 79
Email
5 years serving student health
The University Health Center was established in September 2016, initially supported by the Languedoc-Roussillon University Consortium. Since January1, 2020, the CSU has been administratively attached to the University of Montpellier for the purposes of site policy. Since September 2018, it has been located in dedicated, fully renovated premises at 8 rue de l'école normale in Montpellier.
The CSU complements the services offered to students by the Joint Preventive Medicine and Health Promotion Service (SCMPPS).