Bakersfield College students may have to suffer through finals without access to the doctor normally available at BC’s Student Health Center.
Dr. Michael Farber may not be at BC during the rest of May and all of June due to problems with his contract. Farber may be back at BC in July, said Debra Strong, BC nurse.
This means many BC students who do not have access to other means of medical assistance will not be able to get antidepressants, blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, asthma or anti-anxiety/stress prescriptions during what remains of May and for the entire month of June. According to Farber, nurses cannot prescribe or dispense medications; it takes a doctor.
The problem is that Farber “maxed out” on the hours allowed by his contract somewhat earlier than expected, according to Angela Guadian-Mendez, interim dean of students.
“This is the first time this has ever happened,” said Guadian-Mendez. She said Farber’s contract that was signed July 1, 2007 cannot be changed. A committee will be formed in late August or early September to address this issue and the possibility of securing a mental health counselor at some point, she said.
During this fiscal year, the health center saw an increase in student visits. More students equaled more hours expended, and Farber also used up many of his allowed hours by conducting the physicals needed for the PHIT program, as well as for the emergency medical technician, certified nursing and radiology programs. The paperwork that needed to be done was also time consuming and more extensive than usual, Farber said.
“The funds were not increased. Everyone should have foreseen this issue coming, myself included,” Farber said. “However, it shouldn’t take that much money to finish out the year,” he said. “I don’t understand.”
Farber does not work anywhere else at present due to an injury suffered years ago, and he cannot work more than 20 hours a week. Despite his limitations, however, he still offered his services free of charge for May and June, but his offer was rejected due to district policy, he said.
If negotiations with administration go well, then he might secure a few more hours of service in May.
Farber’s contract was meant to last from July 2007 to June 2008. However, due to the much higher than normal number of students needing his services during the months of September and October in 2007, Farber hit his official limit in hours.
During September 2007, the health center addressed the problems of 973 students and in October 2007, the center saw 806. A total of 5,794 students from July 2007 to April 2008 came to the center, and out of that number, 1,567 students got to see the doctor, according to Guadian-Mendez.
Farber, who has rendered his services to BC for nine years, expressed concern for the chronic cases he addresses.
“We’re responsible for the students. There could be a liability issue. They were told that they would get medications in May,” Farber said.
“This is really bad for people who can’t take the pressure of exams,” said Catrina Aguilar, 19, BC child development major.
Lucy Cruz, 19, undeclared, agreed. “This is horrible for kids taking pills for stress,” Cruz said.
“This makes things complicated,” said Brittney McAlister, 19, nursing. “Students won’t be getting what they need.”