The Issue: Students left waiting by infrequent shuttles
What we think: More communication could improve service
Generally, injured students have enough difficulty getting to Health Services in Cushing for a scheduled appointment, let alone St. Elizabeth's on Cambridge Street. That is why Eagle Transportation is so vital to students both on and off campus. The transport runs a daytime route that involves a 90-minute round trip between Boston College Health Services and St. Elizabeth's. To take advantage of this, injured students must have their name on a medical list and arrive at the clinic at the scheduled time.
A number of students have complained that this system is inefficient in transporting injured students to the hospital. Students often find themselves waiting far too long at either the clinic or the hospital for the van to arrive. Because of the schedule, those whose appointments do not last an hour and a half are left waiting. This is largely the result of lackluster communication between drivers and dispatchers, as well as the availability of only one transport van. A system that takes better advantage of a dispatcher could help shuttle students between the hospital and infirmary on a more as-needed basis.
Students have also complained about being left by the van because it arrived earlier than the dispatcher had previously said. If the infirmary really wants to run on a schedule, it should be sure to try to keep to it or at least inform those students on the medical list of any changes. By doing something as simple as taking students' phone numbers and ensuring that drivers and dispatchers are on the same page, these problems can be eliminated.
Injured students are one of the most vulnerable populations on campus. It is hard enough to get up the Higgins Stairs on crutches; students shouldn't have to plan half of their day to go get a sprained ankle checked out.
Spring Break
