The University of Texas Medical Branch regional maternal and child healthcare center of Prairie View offers students as well as the community an assortment of valuable healthcare services.
UTMB was established on the campus of Prairie View in 1994 to educate patients on health care and sexual issues. UTMB also provides services including high risk and low risk prenatal care, family planning, contraceptive management, and well women examinations which include the pap smear and breast examinations. In conjunction with receiving a well women’s exam patients are evaluated and may be eligible to receive birth control.”Following a well women’s exam and lab work, clinical staff members carefully counsel patients on the various methods of birth control available to help determine what might be appropriate to them,” said clinic manager Diane Neuberger.
Since many students have been given misleading information regarding sex, the staff of UTMB seeks to educate patients on the importance of being aware of the correct information on sexual issues.
“Students have been so bombarded by the wrong information about sex, and the best I can do is counsel my patients with correct information. People’s lives are ruined by a one time incident,” said CNM clinical director A. Janis Billups.
UTMB further encourages safe sex by offering the “brown bag special.”
Anyone who comes to UTMB is welcome to request the “brown bag special,” which includes free condoms, medical brochures on STDs, birth control information, and information on the proper usage of a condom.
Students interested in receiving the services offered by UTMB are welcome to the clinic with or without health care insurance. The medical services are covered by grant money, and when the money runs out patients still continue to receive medical assistance.
UTMB offers its patients complete confidentiality, no one other than the
patient themself is able to get information regarding that individual.
“The services offered at UTMB are very beneficial, the staff is
professional and always willing to answer any questions about issues you may be experiencing. They don’t make you feel embarrassed, also, they highly promote safe sex or abstinence, and that’s important on a college campus,” says sophomore Erica Phillips.
UTMB is located on the campus of Prairie View A&M University on the second floor of the Owens-Franklin health center. The clinic is open to patients by appointment on Mondays between the hours of 8 a.m.-7 p.m., and Tuesdays – Fridays between the hours of 8 a.m.-5 p.m.