WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - William & Mary announced Monday their partnership with VCU Health to significantly increase its capacity to provide access to health care on campus starting this fall.
The partnership will include management of an extensive, university-wide COVID-19 testing program for students, faculty and staff.
VCU Health will continue COVID-19 testing among students and employees throughout the semester in order to track positivity results and modify operations.
During the semester, William & Mary will provide dedicated housing for quarantine.
In addition, employees will also have access to optional testing. All students and employees will be able to sign up for “exit testing” as they leave campus in November, as an additional precaution for their home communities.
The partnership will also expand the university’s health care, including general care support, mental health services and comprehensive orthopedic and sports medical coverage.
“This agreement greatly expands our services and allows William & Mary to closely align with a leading university health center,” said W&M President Katherine A. Rowe. “Our partnership with VCU Health will support immediate needs during the pandemic while also providing the W&M community long-term access to a broad network of exceptional medical and mental health services. This is a terrific example of the kind of innovative collaboration that is essential to the success of a world-class university.”
William & Mary and VCU Health are in the process of finalizing a 10-year contract with two five-year renewal options.
The partnership with a third-party health care provider is the first of its kind at W&M, according to university officials.
VCU Health will provide enhanced support services in conjunction with the on-campus Student Health Center and for the Counseling Center, including mental health services to the student population and medical options for staff and faculty.
It will administer sports medicine and orthopedic care to the university’s athletics department, as well as club sports, intramural sports and other related areas of the University’s Health and Wellness division.
As part of this partnership, VCU Health will occupy the building at 332 North Henry St. The new clinic will be equipped with patient rooms and imaging technology and will be accessible to anyone, not just the university community, school officials say.
