The Gable Health Center

Aimee Luo, D.O. ’04, College Physician
Dr. Luo is a Berks county native. She graduated from Albright with an individualized studies major in biology, psychology, Spanish, and pre-med in 2004. She received a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Luo completed a family practice residency at Bryn Mawr Hospital and joined a private practice in Narberth, Pa. after her residency. Upon returning to the Reading area, she joined the Reading Hospital Family Medicine residency program as a faculty member before transitioning to the role of program director. Throughout her career, she practiced full-spectrum family medicine, in both inpatient and outpatient settings, providing care for newborns through geriatrics, as well as mentoring and teaching college, nurse practitioners, medical students and medical residents. Most recently, she took some time off to be with her family, especially her three sons.  In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with my family and attending her kids’ sporting events.

Karen Ashcroft, MA, Medical Assistant
Karen Ashcroft is a 1975 graduate of Lehigh County Community College as a certified Medical Assistant. Karen helps student immediately upon matriculation, ensuring each student is up to date with their necessary health care prior to arrival to campus. She spearheads financial stewardship within the Gable Health Center keeping student costs as low as possible while still providing quality care. After students’ appointments, Karen continues her work, meticulously following results and relaying information to students from providers with personal care. Her past experience includes twenty years of experience in various medical offices performing both clinical and clerical duties and seven years of experience in a dental office as an assistant/receptionist. In her spare time, Karen enjoys keeping up with the activities of her three children, walking and playing tennis.

The third edition of Obstetrics and Gynecology describes sexual assault as manual, oral, or genital contact with the genitalia of the victim without the victim’s consent. Rape is the coital form of sexual assault involving oral, vaginal or anal penetration, against the victim’s will, involving an element of force. It’s not your fault!

Steps to take:

1. Go to a safe place.
2. Preserve all physical evidence of the assault. Do not shower, bathe, douche, or brush your teeth. If possible, do not change your clothing.
3. Call a friend, family member, your RA, Assistant Director of Residential Life or someone else you trust and ask her or him to stay with you.
4. Report the assault to the Gable Health Center (ext. 7532) and the Public Safety Office (ext. 7670).
5. Go to St. Joseph’s Hospital or the Reading Hospital emergency department for medical care.
6. Get emotional support by scheduling an appointment with the Counseling Center by contacting the Gable Health Center (ext. 7532) or contact SAFE Berks (844-789-SAFE).
7. Always remember to take care of yourself! This is not your fault!
8. If the assault happens between 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri., call the Gable Health Center at ext. 7532.
9. After hours call the Public Safety Office at ext. 7670 whether you are interested in filing a police report or not. You may be transported to the hospital at your request by Public Safety.
10. Even if you think that you do not have any physical injuries, you should still have a medical examination and discuss with a health care provider the risk of exposure to sexually transmitted diseases and the possibility of pregnancy. A medical examination is extremely important even if you are unsure if you are interested in pursuing a police report.
11. If your clothing has been removed place it in a paper shopping bag or grocery bag. Do not use plastic bags. Do not disturb anything in the area where the assault occurred.
12. If you suspect that you may have been given a date rape drug, ask the hospital emergency department to test for date rape drugs.
13. Write down as much as you can remember about the circumstances of the assault, including a description of the assailant.

For more information, call the Gable Health Center at ext. 7532 or the Public Safety Office at ext. 7670.

The health, safety and well being of students are among Albright College’s highest priorities. A significant College resource in ensuring student wellness is the Gable Health Center. In recent years the Gable Health Center has experienced a significant increase in the number of student visits and the complexity of health issues presented to staff. Even with this added caseload, the Gable Health Center continues to meet the needs of Albright students, with more than ninety-five percent of them reporting they are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their visits there.

To ensure that the Gable Health Center can continue to provide students with access to the highest levels of health care, Albright charges a flat fee of $100 per semester. This fee applies to all traditional undergraduate students. It allows for unlimited visits to the Gable Health Center and covers illnesses, student alerts, athletic follow-ups, liaisons with home health-care providers, and short-term counseling. This is in keeping with best practices in campus health care and allows Albright to strengthen our ability to fulfill our commitment to the health and wellness of all students. Specialty services will require an additional fee.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Aimee Luo.

Why is the health center instituting a health center fee?
Healthy students are much more successful academically. Historically, the Gable Health Center has charged students for visits when patients are seen by a provider in the Gable Health Center. This visit charge has deterred some students from seeking care in the Gable Health Center. Not accessing needed care subjects the student to longer periods of illness and it exposes other individuals in our community to illness. We want students who are sick to be able to access medical care when it is needed. Research conducted has demonstrated that twelve of our sixteen peer schools charge a health center fee.

What is the health center fee and how will it be billed?
The health center fee is $100 per semester and the charge will be billed to each student at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.

Why doesn’t the health center bill a student’s health insurance for visits to the center?
In order for a provider to bill an insurance company, the provider must be registered on the panel of providers for each insurance company. Every semester, new students enter Albright College. Each student brings with them an individual insurance plan. Due to the number of various insurance carriers used by our students, it is unrealistic for the health center team members to be listed as providers for every insurance plan utilized by our students.

Why does the health center request my health insurance information and a copy of my insurance card?
Every year we request updated health insurance information along with a copy of your insurance card in the event that we need to order lab work or radiology testing. This information is also needed if we need to arrange for you to see a health care specialist outside of the Gable Health Center.

Why can’t I just go to the emergency room for care?
Emergency Rooms are intended to care for patients suffering from a medical emergency. Medical emergencies, to name just a few, include profuse bleeding, chest pain, difficulty breathing and alcohol poisoning. To avoid paying the current health center visit charge, some students have opted to go to the emergency room for non-emergent visits. Medical problems such as urinary tract infections and sore throats are not the type of medical problems requiring care in the emergency room. This is a very costly practice to our health care system and it causes a negative impact to patients who are in need of emergent care.

What services will be covered by the health center fee?
The fee will cover sick visits, concussion follow-up, athletic injuries and study abroad visits.

What services will not be covered by the health center fee?
Prescription medications, specialty services, specialty treatments, and physicals requiring the completion of paperwork will incur additional fees. The current no-show fee of $25-40 (dependent upon the type of visit scheduled) will continue be charged to the student account if a student schedules an appointment, does not attend the appointment and does not call to cancel the appointment within twenty-four hours of the scheduled appointment time.

How quickly will I be seen by a provider?
Students will be required to call the Gable Health Center at 610-921-7532 to schedule an appointment with a provider. For sick visits, it is the intent of the Gable Health Center providers to see patients within forty-eight hours (during the week) of calling to schedule an appointment.

Hotlines and Crisis Numbers:
SAFE Berks Hotline: 844-789-SAFE
ruOK? Berks: Call 877-236-4600 or 610-236-0530 OR Text ruOK to 484-816-ruOK (484-816-7865)
Reading Hospital: 484-628-8000
Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center: 610-378-2000
Planned Parenthood (Reading): 610-376-8061

Pharmacy Phone List:

CVS
Corner of 11th and Rockland Sts.: 610-921-1200, option 3 for pharmacist

Rite Aid
3215 N 5th Street Hwy., Reading: 610-929-9775

Target Pharmacy
4220 N 5th St. Hwy., Temple: 610-921-5140

Walmart Pharmacy
5370 Allentown Pike, Temple: 610-939-0616

Weis Pharmacy
2020 N 13th St., Reading: 610-929-4747