Students will be able to enjoy added convenience when getting health care from the University starting this fall.

Just across Wooster Street from Hanna Hall, construction has begun on the Falcon Health Center, the official groundbreaking ceremony will take place Thursday, Feb. 14 at 3:30 p.m.

The health center, which is set to be completed by fall 2013, will be managed by Wood County Hospital and will offer students new opportunities for convenience such as increased parking, a drive-thru pharmacy and radiology services, said Bill Kidd, vice president of Support Services at Wood County Hospital.

The new health center will feature approximately 65 parking spots on site, Kidd said. The spots will be monitored by parking services, he said. The new health center will also be on the University bus route.

Richard Sipp, associate vice president for Student Affairs and executive director of the Center for Student Health, said he thinks the addition of a drive-thru pharmacy will be good for students.

“I think that’s a plus because it means it’s more convenient for students,” he said. “Especially if you get a refill.”

Deb Busdeker, director of the Student Health Center, said the added radiology services will also help students.

“That should help to expedite their care,” Busdeker said. “We won’t have to transport them.”

If students go to the health center and they need an X-ray, they must be transported to the Wood County Hospital to get one.

In addition to these services, the student insurance office will be located in the new health center for student convenience, however, it will continue to be owned and operated by the University, Sipp said.

The contract between the University and the Wood County Hospital was finalized in December, and Sipp said it went well.

Now, the University and the hospital are working to design the interior of the building while the structure is being completed, Sipp said.

As far as the interior, Sipp said he thinks it will be similar to how the health center is now, but refined.

“I think it’s going well, I think we have a high level of cooperation,” he said. “[The hospital has] done a good job of keeping things moving. They recognize the importance to the students that this opens in the fall.”

There will be no interruption in health care services and no period when the student health service is not open, Sipp said.

“[We’re working] on identification of all the myriad of tasks that need to be completed to transition,” Sipp said. “We want it to be as seamless for the students as possible.”