Tag: Joseph F. Sullivan Center

Clemson University officials are working to provide information to students, faculty and staff on how to take appropriate preventive measures related to health and wellness. Clemson University is not aware of any 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) diagnosis of any students, faculty or staff; this is a proactive measure to provide information to the campus community.

2019-nCoV is a virus identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China. Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak reportedly had some link to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. However, a growing number of patients reportedly have not had exposure to animal markets, suggesting person-to-person spread is occurring. At this time, it is unclear how easily or sustainably this virus is spreading between people.

Signs and symptoms of this illness include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.

Anyone who has traveled to China in the last 14 days and who feels sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing should seek medical care right away. Before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.

According to the CDC, the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The best way to do this is to:

• Avoid contact with others, especially those who are sick.
• Stay home and do not travel while sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Then discard the tissue in the trash.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

There is much more to learn about the transmission, severity and other features associated with 2019-nCoV and investigations are ongoing. The latest situation summary updates are available on CDC’s web page 2019 Novel Coronavirus, Wuhan, China.

This is a rapidly changing situation. University officials are actively monitoring this world-wide situation and will communicate timely information as needed.

Issued by University Relations

 By Jackie Todd, Office of Media Relations

Clemson University will become tobacco-free on Jan. 1, 2016. The new policy has been approved by the university’s administrative council based on input from a task force comprised of faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students and community representatives.

“We want to improve the health of our student and employee populations by decreasing rates of tobacco use and by reducing unwanted exposure to tobacco smoke for non-tobacco users on university property,” said George W. Clay, executive director of Student Health Services and chair of the Tobacco-Free task force.

All forms of tobacco and smoke-related products will be prohibited under the policy. Along with cigarettes, the ban includes chewing tobacco, smokeless tobacco and electronic cigarettes.

The policy applies to all university faculty, staff, students and visitors and will be in place for all Clemson campuses, as well as university-owned and leased facilities.

Nearly 1,600 colleges and universities have tobacco-free policies, including TriCounty Technical College, Anderson University, the University of South Carolina, the University of Arkansas, the University of Florida and the University of Kentucky.

Choose to be healthy

For those who want to quit smoking, this might be the perfect time. Clemson offers its faculty, staff and students a number of smoking cessation resources.

One of those resources is the Quit for Life program, free to State Health Plan subscribers. Quit for Life encourages participants to live tobacco-free by using “the 4 essential practices” of living without tobacco. The initiative pairs participants with a “Quit Coach,” who provides support and assistance, a “Web Coach,” where participants can complete online activities and track progress.

According to the Joseph F. Sullivan Center, quitting the use of tobacco products improves your health within minutes, even if you’ve used them for years. The center’s “CU Quit” program helps faculty and staff move toward that goal through counseling and customized treatment plans. The “CU Quit” program is also offered to students through Redfern Health Center.

Visit www.clemson.edu/tobaccofree for more information about the tobacco-free policy, a list of frequently asked questions and answers, and online links to tobacco cessation resources.

By Jackie Todd, Office of Media Relations

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that more than half of the country is experiencing high flu activity.

According to Will Mayo, the Joseph F. Sullivan Center’s medical surveillance coordinator, flu and upper respiratory issues at Clemson typically spike in January and February. “This is typically the time of year that flu and other respiratory illnesses peak in our area.” Add to this the problem that with Christmas and holiday travel behind us, everyone comes back and converges on campus,” he said. “We bring it all back, it is the gift that keeps on giving.”

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has reported widespread flu activity in past weeks. Since September, DHEC has reported nearly 35,000 laboratory confirmed cases of flu, as compared with 21,243 cumulative cases this time last year. So far, this year’s flu season has resulted in more than 1,600 lab-confirmed hospitalizations and 38 deaths in South Carolina.

Mayo said that people often confuse symptoms of either a gastrointestinal virus, or an upper respiratory illness with the flu. The first line treatment for most viral illnesses in healthy individuals is rest and plenty of fluids. Influenza is a lower respiratory disease with considerable symptoms, malaise, fever, and cough.

“If a person feels like they may have the flu, it is important that he or she contact a primary care provider or go to an urgent care within the first 48 hours in order to obtain medication that can be helpful in shortening the course of the disease and reduce the risk for complications,” Mayo explained. “People with significant symptoms, or are at high risk for complications should seek care immediately.”

The Sullivan Center works diligently to set appointments quickly for employees. And many times when personal physicians are overwhelmed with flu and upper respiratory patients, the Sullivan Center attempts to set same-day appointments for the university’s faculty and staff who are acutely sick. The Center accepts Blue Cross and Blue Shield and, in addition to acute care services, it offers a host of other services including health management services, immunizations and screenings.

Some flu prevention tips from the Sullivan Center:

1. Wash your hands.
2. Cover your nose/mouth when sneezing.
3. Don’t touch other things like door handles, telephones and office equipment, and then touch your face.
4. If you experience symptoms like fever, body aches, sneezing, coughing, consider staying home to avoid the spread of the illness.
5. Get a flu shot. Although circulating flu strains aren’t always an exact match to the year’s flu vaccine, it may still provide you with some level of protection, potentially shortening the course of the disease, or reducing complications. The Sullivan Center offers flu shots for $25.

The flu season varies each season, but it typically begins as early October and lasts through April.

Click here for more information about the Sullivan Center.

Click here to find out what to do if you have the flu.

By Melanie Kieve, Public Information Director
Office of Communications & Public Relations
College of Health, Education, and Human Development

During February’s National Cancer Prevention Month – and every month – Clemson’s Sullivan Center is focused on cancer prevention.

As part of the Sullivan Center’s broad spectrum of wellness services, providers screen, diagnose, and treat a variety of basic skin issues and provide referrals to local dermatologists for advanced issues, according to Caitlin Moore, the center’s wellness coordinator.

“The Sullivan Center diagnoses and treats patients with common skin conditions such as acne, actinic keratosis, condyloma acuminatum, eczema, plantar warts, psoriasis, rosacea, seborrheic keratosis, tineal fungal infections, and verruca vulgaris,” Moore said. “Providers can also remove skin tags, splinters, or other foreign bodies, and treat infected toenails.”

With the addition of a new licensed master esthetician, the Sullivan Center is now also adding esthetic treatments to its dermatology services. The treatments include chemical peels that aid in reducing precancerous lesions, improving melasma (due to pregnancy or birth control pills), treating acne, wrinkles and brown spots, and lessening the appearance of fine scars. Services also include the removal of unwanted hair.

Licensed master esthetician Shirley Anne Bramlett has joined the Sullivan Center as a clinical support specialist and will provide the esthetic services. A skin care specialist for 14 years, she is a graduate of Esthetics International in Columbia.

Esthetic treatment costs range from $50-200 and may not be covered by insurance. These services are available by appointment on Fridays from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Other dermatology services are generally covered by insurance, depending on your insurance plan, and are available by appointment weekdays from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

To make an appointment, contact the Sullivan Center at 864-656-3076.

Located on the first floor of Edwards Hall, the Joseph F. Sullivan Center is a nurse-managed health center that provides health services to Clemson employees, and community outreach programs to underserved communities and individuals. Part of the College of Health, Education and Human Development, the center provides opportunities for Clemson students studying nursing, public health, recreation therapy, and other disciplines to practice in collaborative settings.