Meningitis can be devastating if it is misdiagnosed. The condition is an infection of the membrane protecting the brain and spinal cord. It can be bacterial, viral, or, less commonly, fungal, or parasitic. Left untreated, it can cause brain damage, paralysis, and even death. Tragically, college campuses are no less likely to see devastating outcomes from missed diagnoses of conditions like meningitis. The situation may be even more insidious.

A recent investigation by the Washington Post revealed patterns nationwide of underfunded, understaffed, and poorly managed campus health centers. These clinics are meant to provide convenient access to care for college students, but often miss serious diagnoses for ill students. Sometimes with devastating outcomes. Frustratingly, many of these conditions, like meningitis, were treatable if caught early. 

The article’s authors highlight several examples around the country of health centers operating on limited schedules, with inadequate staff, and increasingly shrinking budgets. These combination of factors have contributed to permanent injury and death for some unfortunate families. 

A condition like meningitis commonly appears in clusters, and the article’s authors identify one of the symptoms of a poorly managed clinic – inadequate communication – has allowed for devastating outcomes. 

The post’s investigators noted that the vast majority of campus health clinics are not licensed by their state boards, nor are they accredited by any organizations. This information is not typically made apparent to students.

Frustratingly, if providers at the clinic misdiagnose a condition early (and when it could have been easily treated), the student may end up in the emergency room and admitted to the hospital for a more advanced disease. As you may have read in some of our previous posts, delay in treatment can often lead to serious consequences with substantially higher cost. This itself can put the patient and his or her family in a devastating financial situation.