School based health center

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2016

We have them in the school districts around me, but not in my school. I think they're a great idea here. Though they collect insurance, they don't charge the students anything (I'm not sure if they waive co-pays/deductibles, etc, or don't charge insurance at all or have some other way of handling it though.)
From my understanding, in my state, they're a completely separate entity from the school nurse. They're not going to administer medications prescribed by outside providers and they don't respond to emergencies at the "first responder." They require an appointment, whereas I don't (although I wish I could! :)) They can also do things like pregnancy tests and rapid strep tests (which would be amazing!)
I'm curious how it increases nurse's visits? Since I don't actually have first hand knowledge, I'm interested in your thoughts about that.

Same in MA. The first school I subbed had one, but it was separate from the school nurse. And only certain kids went to it and it had very specific hours. (And moved off site after school for sexual health related appointments). It was very nice for one thing, however - immunizations. New students could be referred there before the first day of school to get up-to-date, which made everyone's job easier.

My charter school does not have this, nor will it ever. But they are becoming part of some larger public districts.

AmeliaBe · Mar 4, 2016

As a nurse, you should be using the correct name for this program. The Affordable Care Act. Do not perpetuate political bias in the healthcare system.

JerseyTomatoMDCrab, BSN · Mar 4, 2016

My school doesn't have one but some of the lower socioeconomic schools in my district have an NP and dentist that work with the kids in a similar fashion. The schools need to qualify for a certain designation to qualify for these services but from what I understand they are a VERY beneficial addition to the schools.

Spuen · Mar 4, 2016

Like some of the posters above there are a few clinics but only in lower socioeconomic schools, I applied to work at one and they had a fairly nice size clinic in a portable. They had a social worker, therapist, three rooms for treating patients, all of them were equip with the making that allows for doctors to examine through a video camera. But there were only 5-6 clinics in total owned by the one organization. Interesting thing is there was still a nurse stationed at the school to treat specific patients.

To kinda explain that, around where I live there is no such thing as a nurse for the entire school any more. Instead we have specific patients we treat, check on and chart on everyday. They have to have their doctor fill out a special form and have it approved by the district. Only then can a student receive medical aid. Kind rough on my part because kids come into the clinic and I can't give them anything only tell them to call their parents. Most of the time were like some hidden secret kept in a teach planning room or small clinic. When a teacher sees me in the hall they usually do a double take and say "we have a nurse?"

OldDude · Mar 4, 2016

AmeliaBe:

Actually, Affordable Care Act is an abbreviated term for Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, PPACA. President Obama has referred to PPACA as "Obamacare" as well as Nancy Pelosi and many others responsible for its passage into law. You offered up your opinion here which is your 1st amendment right and this is a public forum. But I'll tell you, it takes quite the audacity to get onto a public forum and tell thousands of nurses what to say and what not to say, as a nurse, in regard to perpetuating political bias in the healthcare system. I'll call the PPACA Obamacare or Dumbocare or Insurocare or Darth Vadercare, if that's what I feel like calling it.

Dogen · Mar 4, 2016

I don't know about physical health, but out here we have school-based mental health. The agency finds it's better able to treat kids because they're more likely to appear at a school-based clinic than a standard outpatient clinic (where about 25% of appointments don't show). We also have school-based chemical dependency counselors in Clark County across the river, who are employees of a non-profit agency there, and who do a combination of treatment, outreach, and prevention education in the schools.

... which has nothing to do with other kinds of clinics popping up, except to say that it's been going on for years in one way or another.

Windchaser22 · Mar 4, 2016

As a nurse, you should be using the correct name for this program. The Affordable Care Act. Do not perpetuate political bias in the healthcare system.

That was rude and incorrect as well. Do your research before you opine in here. School based health centers have been around in one form or another for more than 40 years. School-Based Health Centers in an Era of Health Care Reform: Building on History

SchoolNursey · Mar 4, 2016

Thanks everyone for your responses! I am currently doing a lot of research on these clinics in an effort to learn more. And as far as referring to Obamacare vs Affordable Care Act, whatever you want to call it....I will continue to call it Obamacare. I cannot refer to it as the Affordable Care Act because my OPINION based on my experiences, is it is not affordable. Assuming that me referring to it as Obama care showed political bias, well that says more about your political bias than mine.. You automatically ASSUMED that I think a certain way. You shouldn't JUDGE a person so quickly. I simply referred to it by its popular name. If you don't care for this, then please don't read my post.

Windchaser22 · Mar 4, 2016

Look forward to hearing about what you find out!

SchoolNursey · Mar 5, 2016

Look forward to hearing about what you find out!

I will definitely update as I learn more. I have learned that in many places, these clinics are contracting with school boards and getting rid of the school nurses. Before anyone attacks me for saying this, it is fact. It happened in East Baton Rouge parish. I have also been told that it has happened in Chicago (still trying to confirm the details). And many other places that I am trying to get specific information on before I say who they are. I am certainly for these clinics if they work the way they should but too often it's about the bottom dollar. I just wanted to bring awareness because it could be coming to your area soon. I think our best tool is awareness.