Student Committee to Act as Haison Between Health Services and Houses

In an effort to make the University Health Services (UHS) more accountable and more responsive to its patients, representatives from each of the Houses began meeting this week with UHS staff members.

The newly-formed committee will serve as an active Haison between the Health Services and undergraduates by seeing that students' complaints and suggestions are brought before UHS staff members. Margaret S. McKenna '70, assistant to the director of UHS, said.

McKenna said the committee will not only follow up and act on suggestions but it will also insure that at least one person in each House is fully informed about UHS's services and operation.

"A lot of comments come through present channels--about the per week--but if I go to a House, I get 20 in 20 minutes," she said.

The committee evolved out of an informal undergraduate group which last year conducted a study of area pharmaceutical prices and surveyed patient reactions to health care of UHS.

"As an outreach network, this is a significant departure from traditional health care which is determined exclusively by the providers not the consumers." McKenna said. "The committee should help open up the Health Service to more active consumer participation."

House representatives will meet weekly with Dr. Warren Wecker, director of UHS; Dr. Sholen Pastel, moderate director; Dr. William Kandon '96 bend of the emergency word; Dr. Kenneth Dinklage, head of psychiatry; Dr. Paul Walters, head of psychology, and Muriel Cunningham, head of nursing.

Student representatives are Marllyn Sasportas '74, Currier; Deborah M. Winn '73, Lowell; Carolyn A. Longacre '73, Leverett; John S. Veach '73, Mather; Loe E. Sheehy '73, Winthrop; Ron Vender '73, Kirkland; Laurie Quaries '73, Dunster; Beth Goldman '73, Eliot; Catherine Bence '74, South; Earl P. Steinberg '74, Quincy; and David Smith '73 and Carlyn Christensen '74 from the Yard.