By: Lydia Campbell
In June, NiteOwl Family Urgent Care acquired the University Health Center (UHC) as
part of a new partnership with Southern Adventist University.
According to their website, NiteOwl is a non-emergency medical clinic based in
Ooltewah that provides lab testing and treatment for ailments such as infections, allergic
reactions and minor injuries. The partnership with Southern has extended operating hours and
offers more services for students.
“Our commitment is to continue to provide high-quality care for the students of Southern
Adventist University,” said Eric Johnson, the current president and owner of NiteOwl. “By
coming in and being able to [link] the health center and NiteOwl, we could have a seamless
transition of care.”
Johnson, an alumnus of Southern, said NiteOwl shares a culture similar to the university
as a whole. He said the new partnership aims to streamline care and expand access for students.
“NiteOwl approached Southern Adventist University with an interest in partnering to
bring new services to the campus,” said Justin Moore, associate vice president of Business
Operations and Risk Management. “Students will continue receiving care at the same on-campus
location, now with access to expanded services: extended hours of care at NiteOwl’s Ooltewah
facility, a modern electronic medical records system and the potential for future on-campus X-ray services.”
While administrators highlighted the benefits, some students were unsure how the
changes would affect their costs.
“I used to go [to the UHC] a lot to get checked up, also for some minor injuries,” said
Heaven Robles, senior biology major. “When I heard about the change, I was more curious about
where my money went to and if that number is going to change.”
To address these questions, NiteOwl staff emphasized that the financial structure has
improved for students.
“The costs are now better for the student, as Southern covers the co-pay and their
individual insurance is billed,” said Abri-Ronel Delgado, a certified nurse practitioner who
works at NiteOwl. “They [students] are less likely to have additional bills added to their student
accounts. They just need to bring their insurance information and student ID.”
Delgado also noted that access to other NiteOwl locations and new services, such as an
X-ray machine, can benefit students.
“We are still here for the student. It’s the same team, just with some new features,” said
Delgado.
Rebekah Metz, a junior nursing major, wondered about the new additions that NiteOwl
has to offer and felt better when they were explained.
“I think it is kind of cool that you can access your records online and extra hours,” Metz
said.
After visiting a NiteOwl location in Ooltewah, Metz said that seeing familiar faces,
getting proper care and having all of her questions answered gave her a positive experience.
Students have access to NiteOwl’s Collegedale, Ooltewah and Cleveland locations at no
extra charge. They can make appointments by walking into any clinic location or by reserving a
spot online at niteowlurgentcare.com.
NiteOwl’s on-campus clinic is located at 4687 University Drive, just past the Outdoor
Education building. Opening and closing times can be found at
www.southern.edu/administration/university-health-center/ or by calling (423) 648-6483.
