CHAPTER II:

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE:

Since schools bring large numbers of students and staff together, prudence
dictates that as in workplace a system must be in place to deal with such issues as first
aid, medical emergencies, and detection of contagious conditions that could spread a
group situation. In the University of Santo Tomas, the UST Health Service was
established to attend to these problems, as well as the needs of the students. The goals
and program elements of school health services vary at the state, community, school
district, and individual school levels. Some of the factors that contribute to these
variations include student needs, community resources for health care, available funding,
local preference, leadership for providers of school health services, and the view of health
services held by school administrators and other key decision makers in school systems.

UST HEALTH SERVICE INFOGRAPHIC

The UST Health Service delivers the Thomasian Health Care System that involves the
efficient and effective delivery of primary, emergency and specialty health care and the
implementation of programs and projects for promotive and preventive medicine to all
the members of the Thomasian Community.
Formerly called the Student Health Service dedicated to take care of the health needs of
the Thomasian students, this campus health facility was later tasked to deliver health care
to the faculty, and support staff as well. It now bears the name UST Health Service.

Mission
To deliver comprehensive health care to the Thomasian Community with a team of
compassionate, competent and committed health professionals and support staff.
Vision
To be the premiere center of university health care.
Services Offered
COMPREHENSIVE THOMASIAN HEALTH CARE DELIVERY
1.

Entry level physical examination for all freshmen and for all participants
of off- campus curricular activities as per order of the Commission on
Higher Education

2.

General consultation and treatment of the students, faculty, support staff

and their dependents

3.

Specialty Care in Surgery, Pulmonology, Ophthalmology, Eye/Nose and

Throat (ENT), Neurology & Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Anesthesia,
Dermatology and Family Medicine

4.

Dental care services

5.

Radiological services

6.

Emergency care

7.

Free starter doses of prescribed medicines

PREVENTIVE HEALTH PROGRAMS

1.

Disease Awareness Campaign

2.

Anti- Smoking

3.

Anti-Drug Abuse:

4.

a. Mandatory Drug Test for Freshmen

5.

b. Random Drug Test for 10% of the Thomasian Community members

6.

Anti-Dengue (aligned with the 4S DOH campaign)

7.

Immunization Program

8.

Food Safety Program (under the Crisis Management Team)

PROMOTIVE HEALTH PROGRAMS

USTeps to Neocentennial Wellness, the physical wellness program of the
University launched in February 2008
Wellness Day Program for academic units and departments (upon request):
1.Wellness Fair
- Body Mass Index Determination Nutrition Counseling Health Risk
Assessment
2. Wellness Mini- Convention
We conduct Wellness Talks on the following Current Health Issues:
- Smoking Drug abuse Alcoholism Sexually Transmitted Infections Dengue
Diet and Exercise
3. Physical Fitness Sessions- in cooperation with IPEA
THE HEALTH SERVICE PROJECTS

FREE Wellness Screening for the Thomasian Community:

1.

Complete Blood Count

2.

Urinalysis

3.

Fasting Blood Sugar

4.

Cholesterol

5.

Osteoporosis

6.

Triglycerides

7.

ECG

Lear (2006) wrote, school-based health centers share the following characteristics:
They are located inside the school building or on the school campus. In most
instances they are sponsored by mainstream health organizations. Licensed health
professionals staff the centers. School based health centers provide comprehensive
services. From diagnosis and treatment of diseases to counseling for students, school
based health centers address a broad spectrum of health problems.
School based health centers build partnerships with parents. Typically, schoolbased health centers require written parental consent prior to accepting students as
patients. School based health centers build partnerships within their schools. Health
centers organize open houses, attend faculty conferences and conduct school wide
immunization campaigns.
Health services and staffing are central to the success of a school based health
center. The initial determination of student problems that have not been addressed by
services in the community lays the groundwork for setting service priorities. Schools,

particularly those in large urban school districts, may have an array of health providers.
These include school nurses, mental health professionals, substance abused counselors,
and health educators.
Schools, particularly those in large urban school districts, may have an array of
health providers. These include school nurses, mental health professionals, substance
abused counselors, and health educators. Since schools bring large numbers of students
and staff together, prudence dictates that as in workplace a system must be in place
to deal with such issues as first aid, medical emergencies, and detection of contagious
conditions that could spread a group situation. From diagnosis and treatment of diseases
to counseling for students, school health centers address a broad spectrum of health
problems.
Cruz, Deala, et al. (2010) wrote, in an institution, one could never tell when health
problems will arise. Always, accidents are never predictable. Thus, having an
establishment within institutions to cover health issues will greatly help in the welfare
of human resources. It is especially important for a university to establish a health
service program for its students for they spend most of their time inside the institution
and are always susceptible to different hazards that circulate around a crowded
environment and accidents, which need immediate actions to be done. In the University
of Santo Tomas, the UST Health Service was established to attend to these problems.
Gibson et. al (2014) wrote students at the SHC school were more likely to report having a
regular healthcare provider, awareness of confidential services, support for health
services in their school, and willingness to utilize those services. Students in the SHC
school reported higher quality of care as measured by: respect for their health concerns,

adequate time with the healthcare provider, understandable provider communications,

and greater provider discussion at their last visit on topics such as sexual activity, birth
control, emotions, future plans, diet, and exercise. Users of the SHC were also more
likely to report higher quality of care, compared with either nonusers or students in the
comparison school. Access to comprehensive health services via a SHC led to improved
access to health care and improved quality of care. Impact was measureable on a
school-wide basis but was greater among SHC users.
Harris, Meares (2006) wrote whether a school-based health center is just starting up or
fine-tuning a long-established program, the core components of a successful program
include a memorandum of understanding between the school district and sponsor of the
school-based health center, alignment of health services with students unmet health
needs, staffing to provide the services, a management and training structure, and a
realistic budget.