Rutgers Camden STI Clinic: Essential Healthcare Services to Students

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By Naely Fajardo

Amidst the bustling campus life at Rutgers Camden, there exists a vital resource often overlooked but crucial to the health and well-being of students: the STI Clinic. Situated within the campus healthcare facilities, the clinic plays a pivotal role in providing accessible and confidential services for the prevention, testing, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In this article, we explore the significance of the STI Clinic at Rutgers Camden and the essential healthcare services it offers to students.

Sexual health is a fundamental aspect of overall well-being, yet it remains a topic that is sometimes overlooked or stigmatized. The presence of the STI Clinic on campus serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing sexual health and promoting awareness among the student body. By offering comprehensive services and resources, the clinic empowers students to take control of their sexual health and make informed decisions regarding their well-being. One of the key benefits of the Rutgers-Camden STI Clinic is its commitment to providing confidential and accessible healthcare services to students. Whether seeking routine STI testing, treatment for an infection, or information and resources about sexual health, students can rest assured that their privacy will be respected and their needs addressed in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. This accessibility encourages students to seek out the care they need without fear of stigma or discrimination.

The STI Clinic offers a wide range of services aimed at promoting sexual health and preventing the spread of STIs within the campus community. These services include STI testing and screening for common infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV, as well as counseling and education on safe sex practices, contraception options, and risk reduction strategies. Additionally, they offer treatment for STIs, including antibiotics or antiviral medications as appropriate and Vaccination against STIs such as human papillomavirus (HPV). They are also able to offer referrals to other healthcare providers or specialists as needed.

By providing accessible and confidential healthcare services, the Rutgers-Camden STI Clinic contributes to the campus’s broader efforts to promote a culture of health and wellness among students. Regular testing and preventive care not only protect individual health but also contribute to the overall well-being of the campus community by reducing the prevalence and transmission of STIs.

Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance (2022) provides the most current and complete data for nationally notifiable STIs for federally funded control programs and the CDC’s annual report further underscores that STIs must be a public health priority. In 2022, more than 2.5 million cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia were reported in the United States. The most alarming concerns center around the syphilis and congenital syphilis epidemics, signaling an urgent need for swift innovation and collaboration from all STI prevention partners. In addition to the syphilis epidemic worsening, reported gonorrhea cases declined for the first time in at least a decade while reported chlamydia cases were level. The CDC will continue to examine this finding closely and look to 2023 data for better understanding, but recognize this finding may be a cause for an even closer look at public health efforts and redoubled prevention strategies. As STI services and related resources continue to rebound from the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic and mumps outbreak, we must act now to mobilize and execute a whole-of-nation approach if we hope to turn the tide. (Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance, 2022, 2024)

The RCSWC is committed to safeguarding the confidentiality of protected health information (PHI). The contents of any patient medical records, created, received, or maintained by RCSWC, are to be used or disclosed in accordance with this Policy and consistent with State and Federal guidelines. Everyone working in the Student Wellness Center is required to follow our Confidentiality Statement Policy and State and Federal Guidelines. Confidentiality is a professionally and legally complex issue, not subject to a thorough explanation in a few sentences. Information that a student shares with his/her services provider in the course of a meeting will be treated as confidential material. Treating information confidentially means not releasing it to anyone outside the agency without the student’s permission, including Rutgers University personnel. Under certain, special circumstances, however, information may be released without the student’s permission.

The main — although not the only — exceptions to confidentiality arise in situations involving:

Danger to self or others
Court orders or subpoena of records
Child abuse or neglect
Students are encouraged to discuss any concerns they have about confidentiality with their provider of services.

The Rutgers-Camden STI Clinic plays a vital role in supporting the health and well-being of students by providing accessible, confidential, and comprehensive healthcare services related to sexual health. By promoting awareness, offering testing and treatment, and fostering a culture of health and wellness, the clinic contributes to creating a safer and healthier campus environment for all. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the resources and services offered by the STI Clinic to prioritize their sexual health and well-being during their time at Rutgers Camden.

References

Rutgers Camden Wellness Center. (n.d.). Medical Services. wellness center camden rutgers. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://wellnesscenter.camden.rutgers.edu/medical-services/?_gl=1*17dfcq3*_gcl_au*OTgyNzk0OTMwLjE3MDc2MTYzMzA.

Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance, 2022. (2024, January 30). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 10, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2022/default.htm