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New School-Based Health Center Coming in November 2024!
We are pleased to announce a new partnership between the Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union (OSSU) and Northern Counties Health Care, Inc. (NCHC) to bring a school-based health center (SBHC) to our community. Through this partnership, OSSU students (PreK-12) can access prompt assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for immediate health concerns while at school.
This clinic will initially operate two days a week during the school day when school is open. OSSU health care provider Jen Olsen, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, will be available onsite at schools for acute illness care. She will be based at Hazen Union and Hardwick Elementary and will travel to all our schools as needs arise. The goal will be to see students in person as much as possible, but we will also use state-of-the art telehealth equipment to accommodate students’ health needs. Click this link for a step-by-step illustration of how the SBHC will work.
Who can Enroll?
All OSSU students may enroll; students do not need to be patients of NCHC to use these services, but you will need to submit the registration form. If your child is an existing Northern Counties Health Care patient, and you would like to participate in the new School-Based Health Center, you do NOT need to complete the registration paperwork.
Insurance billing will be part of these visits, similar to seeing a provider in the office. NCHC will offer a sliding fee scale discount program to make health care more affordable for those who need assistance. This program provides reduced fees to eligible primary care and dental patients based on income and family size, following federal guidelines. Please note that patients seen for urgent care appointments will continue to be followed by their primary care provider at their usual health center.
Our projected launch date for the school-based health center is early November 2024. Please print, complete, and return the registration/consent form if you would like your student to participate in this new service, and they are not an existing patient of NCHC.
We are committed to helping our families access high-quality health care for their children in the timeliest manner possible. We hope that by providing school-based care, parents and guardians will miss fewer workdays, and, by beginning treatment sooner, students will spend more time in class and not miss out on school-related services such as special education, counseling, and school meals.
We look forward to caring for your child's acute health care needs through your participation in the SBHC!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are SBHCs important?
School-based health centers (SBHCs) bring health care to the place where children spend much of their time: school. SBHCs offer the following benefits:
Convenience: Children can access care without leaving school. Parents do not have to miss work to take their child to medical appointments.
Improved attendance: Fewer missed school days due to health issues and continued access to school counseling services, school meals, and special education services.
Continuity of care: Collaboration between the SBHC health professional and the child’s primary care physician expands the health care network. All students are served regardless of their insurance or primary care provider. The SBHC can assist families without one in finding a medical home.
Prevention: Close access to care, school-based monitoring of new or existing chronic health conditions, and early intervention can help prevent more serious health issues. Risky behaviors are identified and addressed.
How do parents feel about SBHCs?
Parents appreciate SBHCs because they miss less work, and their children can receive care quickly.
Do SBHCs interfere with parental authority?
No. SBHCs require the parent or legal guardian to sign a consent form before their minor child (ren) may receive services in the SBHC. SBHCs take the approach that the provider, parents, and child should work together to resolve health problems.
Shouldn't schools just focus on education?
Schools cannot do their job of educating if students are not in school or are unable to concentrate because of pain or other health problems. Research shows that students who use SBHCs are less likely to be absent or tardy and more likely to graduate or be promoted than nonusers.
Do SBHCs eliminate the need for school nurses and school counselors?
No. SBHCs do not replace school nurses or counselors. Instead, they expand the network of care for students.
Do SBHCs take patients away from local providers?
No. SBHCs collaborate with and make referrals to community medical providers to coordinate preventive services or for follow-up care when needed. SBHCs are another entry point into a community’s health care system for children who may not otherwise be able or willing to seek help outside the school.
What age groups do SBHCs serve?
SBHCs are located in preschools and elementary, middle, and high schools.