Wellness Center Partnership FAQ

Why is The College of Wooster transitioning the management of student health and wellness services to Wooster Community Hospital Health System’s affiliate Bloomington Medical Services (BMS)?

• Shifting management to Bloomington Medical Services allows the College to provide students on-campus health and wellness services with the strength and expertise of a nationally recognized health system, while providing these services in a more efficient and sustainable way. The College’s mission is to “prepare students to become leaders of character and influence in an interdependent global community,” and Wooster Community Hospital’s mission is to “provide accessible, quality health care services to all people, to promote community wellness and do so with compassion, dignity, and respect of the needs of those [they] serve”. This partnership between the College and Wooster Community Hospital Health System allows each organization to focus on best serving students in our respective areas of excellence.

How was this decision made, and who was involved?

• Senior leadership at the College worked closely with Bloomington Medical Services (BMS) of Wooster Community Hospital Health System to form a partnership that will provide our students excellent physical and mental health services while increasing the efficiency of managing these services.

Why was BMS selected as the new managing partner of the health center?

• The College has long partnered with Wooster Community Hospital, a health system nationally recognized for excellence in quality and patient safety, in myriad ways — from the Community Care Network (a program where Wooster students act as Health Coaches) to pandemic response and readiness coordination. Considering BMS to manage the College’s health and wellness services was a natural outgrowth of that long-standing relationship. In addition, BMS works with healthcare providers in a wide range of specialties to provide comprehensive medical care throughout the Wooster and Wayne County area, making them a logical choice to provide best in class services for our students.

How long is the contractual arrangement expected to last? 

• This partnership between the College and BMS runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, with automatic renewal for the following three years. The College will work with Wooster Community Hospital and BMS leadership to ensure the needs of Wooster students and the College are met through the partnership as well as to anticipate and meet the changing needs of students while enhancing quality over time.

How is this change expected to benefit students?

• By transitioning management to BMS, the College provides students on-campus health and wellness services with the strength and expertise of a nationally recognized health system. Through BMS services in Longbrake Wellness Center, Wooster students will have access to a broader network of hospital and specialty services. The College will continue working with BMS leadership to anticipate and meet the changing needs of students while enhancing quality over time.

Who currently has access to services in Longbrake Wellness Center, and how might this change under BMS operation?

• The Longbrake Student Wellness Center has provided health services for College of Wooster students enrolled on a full-time basis and will continue to offer and enhance this level of care through the partnership with BMS.
• BMS will operate the health clinic at Wooster’s Longbrake Student Wellness Center including medical and counseling services for students at the College. As the center transitions to full BMS operation, information will be communicated to incoming and returning students through orientation materials, emails, and standard communications from the Dean of Students’ Office.
• Over time, as part of BMS’s broader model, there may be opportunities to thoughtfully expand services; however, no changes are planned at this time.

What impact will these changes have on the center’s hours?

• Through the partnership, the center is expected to operate Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding national holidays, while the College is in session during the regular academic year and on a limited basis during the summer session. The partnership allows the College to work closely with BMS on an ongoing basis to determine the necessary staffing levels and hours of operation.

When will BMS take over operations of the center?

• During the transition, the center will be closed for onsite services beginning July 1, 2026, and BMS will reopen onsite services beginning Aug. 1, 2026.

During the transition, what should students currently on campus do if they need health services?

• Services at the Longbrake Student Wellness Center will continue under summer hours through June 30.
• Students remaining on campus in July will have access to local health and wellness services.
• For a medical emergency, call 911 or 988 for the Suicide Crisis Lifeline. Students can contact Campus Safety at 330-287-3333 for assistance in an emergency.
• Local Urgent Care centers in Wooster are open until 7:30 p.m. Wooster Community Hospital ER is open 24 hours.
• Telehealth services are available on most insurance plans.
• Wellfleet student insurance has a 24/7 nurse line (800-634-7629) and Wellfleet student insurance counseling line (888-857-5462)

Will the cost of services for students change as part of this arrangement?

• Costs of medical and counseling services will vary depending on students’ insurance carriers. All full-time College of Wooster students must be covered by a health insurance plan in compliance with the Affordable Care Act. Students may enroll in or opt-out of The College of Wooster’s Student Health Insurance Plan. Inbound international students are automatically enrolled in the student health insurance plan through Wellfleet Insurance Company. More information about student health insurance is available here.

How does this affect medical records? Will those be kept private? Will they automatically be transferred to WCH?

• BMS will assume custody of medical records of students in compliance with standards set under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), which governs the use and/or disclosure of individually identifiable health information.
• While BMS shall serve as custodian of medical records during the term of the partnership, the College retains access for institutional purposes.

Can students continue their relationships with individual counselors if they wish, or will they need to build new relationships?

• Current counselors may transition to similar roles under new operations of the wellness center on campus or at Wooster Community Hospital. Students requesting counseling services in July may contact the Dean of Students’ Office for more information.

What happens to The College of Wooster wellness center staff as part of this arrangement? Are any staff being laid off? If so, how much notice are they being given, and will they receive any severance?

• College of Wooster employees at the Longbrake Student Wellness Center were notified of the new partnership once it was finalized. They will be employed with the College through the end of June, and they will receive severance packages and full payout for accrued vacation.
• Wooster Community Hospital and BMS’s goal is to provide the wellness center employees with similar roles, either with BMS at the wellness center on campus or within the larger Wooster Community Hospital Health System.
• The Human Resources team from WCH will meet with wellness center employees over the next few weeks to conduct one-on-one conversations with each impacted employee to discuss potential opportunities, onboarding, and new employee orientation for those who move to employment with BMS or WCH.

Will wellness center staff retain College of Wooster benefits?

• Wellness center employees will not retain College of Wooster benefits. Based on an analysis of benefits that has been completed, the WCH Human Resources team will meet with each employee to review their new benefits should they accept employment with BMS.

What does this news signal about the financial sustainability of the College? 

• College leadership is mindful of the broader challenges facing Wooster and all of higher education including demographic shifts, rising costs, and evolving expectations. With revenue pressures, we are constantly looking for ways to manage cost structures while providing a positive student experience and protecting and growing the College’s resources. By taking actions like this partnership, we are positioning the College to provide the best services for our students while increasing our efficiency in providing those services.

Why was this decision announced after the end of the academic year?

• Negotiating an agreement that would best serve our students, the College, and BMS is a long and thoughtful process. The decision was announced once all details were finalized and approved by all partners.

Where can I go if I have additional questions?

• Questions should be directed to the Dean of Students’ Office during the transition at Dean_of_Students@wooster.edu during the transition.