Student Health Services physicians performed 100 more exams yesterday than they do on a typical day as Penn athletes flooded in to get their physicals.
And, thanks to its new building, SHS could handle the influx.
Just a few months ago, however, such an increase in students seeking an exam would have been impossible to handle, said Student Health Services director Evelyn Wiener.
On July 1, Student Health Services opened its new location at 3535 Market St. The new center is about 24,000 square feet - more than double the size of the old space, located in the Penn Tower at 399 S. 34th Street. The new building gives physicians more work space and provides a more pleasant environment for patients.
Wiener and Associate Vice Provost for University Life Max King cited the need for larger facilities as a major factor in deciding to move buildings.
"We needed more space as more students were coming through the door," King said.
In recent years, about 71 to 72 percent of the roughly 20,000 eligible students made at least one visit to SHS.
Wiener said SHS picked the Market Street location because it was "the only location with anywhere close to the space we needed" and that there was no space in a closer proximity to students.
She added that the new location is not any farther away from the heart of campus than the old one.
The larger size and new space helps to improve the environment for patients and caretakers, according to Wiener.
In the old location, there were about 24 to 26 patient rooms, and these rooms doubled as physicians' administrative offices.
The new location has 53 clinical care spaces, as well as separate offices for doctors and other medical professionals.
These clinical care spaces include four rooms designed for allergy shots and immunizations, four exam rooms designated for sports medicine and an entire unit for women's health.
"We're able to absorb more students, and I think that makes for a better experience," Wiener said.
She added that patients now spend less time in the waiting room.
Not only do doctors, nurse practitioners and physician's assistants now have their own space, but nurses have stations in the primary and women's care areas, too - a shift from the decentralized layout of the Penn Tower location.
Wiener said the new setup allows doctors and nurses to work together as a unit and improve their communication skills.
The new center is also an aesthetic improvement over the old one, according to Wiener.
The nicest way to describe the environment in the old location, Wiener said, is "limited window space."
Window space and the amount of light in the new facility is significantly greater.
Pat Urevick, a physician's assistant, said that her son - a student at Penn Law School - told her that she went "from the outhouse to the penthouse."
Primary care physician Vanessa Stoloff agreed, saying, "My patients are happy, and so are my plants."
Students also appear to like the new facilities.
"This is a significant improvement," said third-year Law student Matthew Schwartz. "This is better. Way, way, better."
