It’s a scenario parents and teachers face all too often.
A child complains of a sore throat and goes to see the school nurse. Yes, the nurse determines, it looks like there could be a problem.
So, the child leaves school, the parent attempts to schedule a doctor’s appointment and the child is kept out of school until they can be assessed, treated if necessary and given the all-clear.
In some cases, parents can’t afford a doctor’s visit so the child remains home for several days.
Imagine if the child could be tested at school, for free, without having to go through all the rest of that routine.
A regional health group wants to offer just such a solution at Iola schools.
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas has offered to set up a health clinic, likely at the new Iola Elementary School, that would provide basic medical care to students and faculty.
Students and faculty could access the clinic as needed for a variety of health care needs, beyond the services typically provided by a school nurse.
That could include well-child checkups, immunizations, tests for infectious diseases like strep throat and injuries at school, as well as writing prescriptions.
Families would not have to pay out-of-pocket costs, such as co-pays, for the school-based services, though the services would be billed to insurance.
All of the district’s students could participate, though it was not determined if that meant students would need to travel to the site or if the health professionals would visit all schools.
CHC/SEK has started similar clinics in several other school districts, including at Pittsburg, Wyandotte County and Baxter Springs.
“We’re very selective on which districts we offer this service. We believe it can be sustainable,” Ashley Hooper, director of school health services for CHC/SEK, said.
Hooper and Dan Duling, vice president of community partnership with CHC/SEK, asked USD 257 school board members to approve a plan for the service. Board members said they wanted to study the matter for two weeks and discuss the issue with members of the community.
They had several questions about the proposal, particularly how it would affect those whose family physician works outside the CHC/SEK group. They also were concerned about costs and the long-term viability of the program.
