Community Health & Wellness Partners seeks to partner with Benjamin Logan Schools to add an on-site health center that officials for the healthcare provider say will help bolster student productivty, and reduce the amount of time pupils miss because of health checkups or other medical reasons.
The concept of the “school-based health center” is to serve, “students and faculty with primary care, integrated behavioral and ancillary health services — pharmacy, nutrition, chronic care management and social services,” Tara Bair, President/CEO of Community Health & Wellness Partners told Ben Logan school board of education members Monday during a regular meeting.
Bair pointed out that an on-site health center offers a convenient way for parents to have their children seen by a healthcare provider, as well as reducing the need for parents to have to switch health care providers because of scheduling conflicts or a change in insurance.
Ultimately, the point is to maximize the amount of time students spend in in-person instruction, and, “studies indicate that students who receive school-based health care also have fewer long-term health issues and experience improved academic outcomes,” Bair said, adding that families also maintain complete control over what health services their children do or do not receive.
“School-based health care connects students to health care providers in a way that minimizes overall disruption to their instructional time — including tardiness or early dismissals,” Bair said. “Research has shown that schools that provide healthcare on-site report better graduation rates, improved grade promotion, lower rates of absenteeism, tardiness, withdrawals, dropouts, failing grades and fewer disciplinary problems.”
School-based health centers offer access to healthcare for children regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay.
“When parents give permission for their children to be seen at a school-based health center, they know they will not have to miss work to care for minor problems,” Bair said.
“They also know that their children will receive prompt attention from health care providers trained at working with youth.”
Board members took no formal action on the proposed health center during the meeting.
“Having the opportunity to have our board learn about the school-based health center model is a big step forward in keeping our students healthy,” said John Scheu, Benjamin Logan Schools superintendent. “Healthy children will improve their academic results, and by paying more attention to their health at the time and place that is convenient, we expect their long-term health will be better.”
The health center would be staffed by a primary care provider and nurse, to support the ongoing efforts of the current school nursing program currently existing at Ben Logan schools, according to information provided by Community Health & Wellness Partners.
In other student healthcare matters, board members were told Monday the school is assisting students age 16 and over to secure COVID-19 vaccinations for students/parents who want one.
In personnel matters, the resignation of activities directer Scott Reule was accepted, effective July 31, for the purpose of accepting other employment. Reule was recently hired as the athletic director at Jonathan Alder High School.
The next regular school board meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, May 17.