Tuesday, December 16, Noon-1pm
Entrance to McKinley Health Center
Members of the GEO Healthcare Working Group just learned on Thursday of McKinley’s plans to cease sonogram service by January 1, 2009.
We were lied to in our Labor Management meetings when HCWG members met with McKinley director Palinkis months ago about Women’s Health at McKinley. We’ve had discussions specifically about the provision of the sonogram service, which we were concerned might disappear. He first claimed that the service was not in danger, and later in admitting that they were considering ceasing it, his argument was that students were not seeking sonograms at the same rate as previously – we later discovered that this was because doctors at McKinley were being directed to refer students to external sonogram services, rather than the service within the Center.
Now is the time to raise our voices! Removing sonograms signifies a lack of concern for women’s health, and is part of a continued erosion of services for UIUC students that are already inadequate. We call upon McKinley administration to revisit its plans for the new year NOW, and in so doing, to hire a sonogram technician and retain its sonogram services for students.
Sonogram is the only reliable form of assessment screening available for ovarian cancer. While not perfect, it is being used for other diagnostics, and is recommended twice a year for women who have a family history of ovarian cancer.
Removing Sonogram service is another example of the University chiseling away preventative health care services available to students. In 2005 we saw the elimination of the prenatal medical program. Coverage for chronic illnesses, including prescriptions, dependent coverage, and catastrophic coverage have all been eroded. We saw it again in the summer of 2007 with the $5 co-pay on all prescriptions, without a maximum cost level. The lack of adequate coverage in these key areas have set graduate students and their families back thousands of dollars per year.
And in January women will take another hit unless we act now!
Demand that the McKinley administration retain health services for women students!
Click Here to Find Out What Else You Can Do!
3 actions you can take in the next couple of days:
1. Please sign the online petition and pass on the word to others: SAVE SONOGRAMS at MCKINLEY!
2. Join the Health Care Working Group in a Tuesday rally at noon outside McKinley and demand the Director retain the sonogram service for women students. If you want to help with the rally and make signs & print petitions for circulation email Lori: lserb(AT)uigeo.org
3. Put your view directly to McKinley by phone: 217-333-2701 or Fax: 217-244-1758 Or via their Web Comment form