Self-Care Station vending machine now available for students
Self-Care Station vending machine now available for students Heading link
UIC Student Health and Wellness Rockford proudly invites you to explore the newest service available for our health sciences students. The Self-Care Station vending machine is now installed in Student Health and Wellness near the waiting room in N115.
“Vending machines on college campuses are rapidly growing in popularity and provide an excellent example of health promotion in action,” says the director of UIC Student Health and Wellness, Noel M. Pycior, MS, FNP-BC. “Bringing this service to our campus has been in the works for almost a year. Research on the concept of health and wellness supply vending machines and their positive impact on college campuses began some time ago. The machine was chosen due to its innovative design and it’s used at many locations on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. The self-care station is the first of its kind on any UIC campus.”
Health and wellness vending machines are intended to bring equity and affordability in the health space for students. Having the machine easily and discreetly accessible to students provides increased access to health and self-care products when a student may be in need.
“We realize that students may not find time or have means of transportation to obtain over-the-counter products in times of need, or simply cannot afford the cost of supportive products,” Pycior says. “As a family nurse practitioner, I know that some students may seek some of these products during an untimely illness, concern, or even in a state of distress, so ensuring they can comfortably and quickly get the items is essential.”
The self-care station is stocked with over-the-counter medications and supplies for common illness and injuries, rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, pregnancy tests, menstrual care products, contraceptives, emergency contraceptives (Plan-B) and Naloxone (Narcan) nasal spray for suspected opioid overdose. Pycior is available to provide guidance in selecting a product that may address health concerns if needed or for scheduled office visits should illness, injuries or questions need additional support.
“A Self-Care Station is just one more way we work to support our students,” Pycior says. “This new service, along with our primary care, counseling/psychiatry and wellness activities, helps to address both physical and mental health needs that support academic success and personal growth.”
The Self-Care Station is available both during clinic time and after-hours. After-hour access to the machine is available, however, students should come through the main entrance and sign in as you typically do during off-hours. Students need their student ID card to access the machine.
Although all items are free, the quantity and frequency items are dispensed at any given time are limited. Please select only what you need so you can reduce any unnecessary waste or limited supply for your fellow student colleagues. The machine provides up-to-date information on items that are dispensed to meet current demand or even identify items with low popularity.
“I would like to thank many members of the UIC Health Sciences Campus-Rockford community who took part in making this goal a reality: campus facilities, IT, Office of Communications and Student Health and Wellness providers and staff,” says Pycior.