Moving out and attending school in a new town can mean leaving a familiar general physician, dentist or veterinarian back home. Preparation for any emergency is important, especially when searching for locations that meet both medical and financial needs.
Try to choose locations that accept your form of insurance. If you are not insured, the hunt for affordable services can be difficult, so look for places that offer payment plans or student discounts.
Emergency clinics
Being from St. Petersburg originally, through personal experience, and based off of what her friends’ experiences, senior Christa Hegedus has a few recommendations for students.
“[Go to] Bayfront [Hospital] for emergencies, Bayfront Medical Clinic for any illnesses,” she said. “Though, instead of that, I would go to our clinic at USFSP since we pay for it.”
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg is located at 701 Sixth St. S.
Chiropractors
As far as chiropractors go, she recommends Farkas Chiropractic Clinic, located at 3200 4th St N.
Dental Care
Sophomore Nick Palmer discovered Bay Dental Associates and has been going there ever since he moved here in the summer of 2013. He found them online, and they accept his insurance.
Bay Dental Associates is located at 2201 Fourth St. N Suite C.
Animal Hospitals
Marielle Machacek, a master’s student, has had to locate emergency clinics for her dogs and found just the place for her.
“Animal Emergency Clinic on 22nd Ave. N has always been a good choice for me,” she said. “The staff there are very kind-hearted and understanding. And it is really great to have a clinic like that open on nights and weekends because pets have emergencies just like people do and I know how heart wrenching it feels to have your pet in pain and feel like there is no place you could take them to.”
Animal Emergency Clinic is located at 3165 22nd Ave. N.
Health Services
If finding the right services for you becomes a struggle, keep in mind the University of South Florida St. Petersburg Wellness Center, located in the Student Life Center, is accessible to all students. Physical exams, immunizations, women’s health and treatment of some minor illnesses are among the several services offered.
Junior Anna May took advantage of the on-campus clinic during the summer and fall semesters of 2013.
“They were always just very kind whenever I would come in,” she said. “They would always do the best they could but also understood that they didn’t have everything, so they referred me when necessary. Also, because I go to them, I have a friendship with the staff, which is something I haven’t had going to just a regular primary care place. That and just the fact that they’re on campus makes it so easy since I spend 90% of my time there.”
