The Campus Health Operating Model Evaluation Framework

Download the Framework

Universities are not choosing between vendors. They are choosing between operating models.
Campus Health Operating Model Evaluation Framework comparison document with side-by-side analysis of university health system operating models.

Most campus health assessments evaluate three approaches. This framework introduces a fourth operating model increasingly included in advisory recommendations.

A side-by-side comparison of all four models—internal expansion, outsourced health system, telehealth augmentation, and distributed on-campus care infrastructure—mapped across access, clinical capability, cost, and operational impact. Structured for use in client-facing assessments.

Outcomes data from deployed models:

• 92% of visits resolved on-site without escalation to a specialist, ER, or urgent care

• 40% repeat utilization—meaningful in a population where accessing care at all is the primary barrier

• 33% reduction in overflow burden on the existing on-campus health center

• 25% reduction in campus clinic operational costs

Where Each Model Breaks Down

Internal Expansion: Multi-week wait times persist regardless of investment level. Business hours dependency—campus health needs do not follow business hours.

Outsourced Health System: Still appointment-based and centralized—does not solve access friction. Reduced institutional control over care delivery and protocols.

Telehealth Augmentation: No diagnostic tools—cannot diagnose or treat most physical conditions. Effective supplement. Not a primary care model.

Distributed On-Campus Care Infrastructure: Addresses access and capacity simultaneously. No construction or staffing required.