Did you know that you are paying for a 24/7 medical and mental healthcare service? TimelyCare is a telehealth service offering around the clock appointments and is included in your SWOSU tuition. In a recent interview, Dr. Adam Johnson, Vice President for Student Services, discussed what TimelyCare is and how it works alongside our current counseling services. 

Johnson oversees many critical functions of student life from admissions and academic records to the wellness center and counseling services. He describes himself as a “believer in face-to-face interaction,” but believes TimelyCare is an important extension of SWOSU’s existing health resources. 

Launched at SWOSU on Aug. 1, 2025, TimelyCare is a relatively new resource aimed at expanding student access to care. “I want to reach out to them and make sure that we’re taking advantage of those offerings because I want to make sure students do use it,” Johnson noted. With it being this new, it has only served about 300 individual users, a number Johnson hopes to see rise as awareness increases. 

TimelyCare is available to students through their Single Sign On menu. The platform is designed for ease of access throughout all of the sections. It also allows students to navigate through articles and videos for self-help without the face-to-face requirement. 

 TimelyCare includes seven sections: 

• Talk Now: On-demand support for basic needs like housing and food with no appointment necessary. 

• Scheduled Counseling: Students can choose a licensed therapist that specializes in their specific needs. The first six sessions of the year are free but any appointment after is $79. 

• Health Coaching: 30-minute scheduled appointments for nutrition support, exercise guidance, and managing general anxiety. 

• Peer Community: A moderated, anonymous live chat where students can connect with others across the nation dealing with similar challenges. 

• Self-Care: Static, self-paced modules focused on time management and stress relief. 

• Medical Now: 24/7 on-demand access to health professionals who can write prescriptions to local pharmacies. 

• Scheduled Medical: Access to a doctor for more formal appointments. 

TimelyCare has a diverse care team. As Johnson explained, “[Students] can actually go in there and pick and choose based on personal preferences… if they want to talk to male or female, or someone who specializes in [specific needs].” 

TimelyCare is a partnership sponsored by Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. This resource is being implemented in universities across Oklahoma. Because the state is paying for it, it’s important that they are used to having a reason to keep providing us with this resource. As Johnson put it, “The more students use it… the more that can encourage the Regents to continue to pay for it.” 

TimelyCare is not meant to replace the current on-campus counseling services offered to students but as a resource when the on-campus ones are not available. Johnson strongly advocates that students still utilize on-campus resources saying, “I don’t want TimelyCare to be viewed as a total replacement… but certainly as a supplement for times we’re not open.”  

With 24/7 access now available, the university hopes to ensure that the next time a student is struggling, help is only a click away.