Southern Indiana Business Report
PAOLI — Health care access at schools across Orange County will reach a new dimension through a partnership that’s set to bring telehealth clinics to area elementary, middle and high schools. Paoli-based Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) is working with the three schools district in the county to establish in-school telehealth clinics. The new telehealth clinics, beginning with Throop Elementary School in Paoli, will allow students to be seen by medical professionals through a secure link using digital diagnostic instruments.
“This is a great advancement for our schools, as our students in need of health services can now been seen privately by medical professionals in the school nurse office instead of having to be transported to a doctor’s office or have their parents pick them up during school hours,” said Greg Walker, superintendent at Paoli Community School Corporation. “This helps both keep students learning in classrooms and doesn’t result in unnecessary disruption that affects families.”
In the spring of 2021, SICHC survey research showed a high level of interest at all Orange County schools for the digital in-school service, with more than two-thirds of parents surveyed expressing interest.
Using CARES Act funding for COVID-19, SICHC then purchased the digital equipment required for the clinics in the area schools and provided training for school nurses. The secure digital diagnostic equipment allows SICHC medical professionals to conduct examinations.
When students becomes ill or report symptoms while at school, they can go to the nurse’s office as they typically would. Then, as necessary, they will receive direct medical treatment through secure connectivity with an on-call SICHC professional.
“Through this equipment, SICHC providers can view high quality live images of what the school nurse is seeing in a student’s eyes, ears, nose and mouth,” explained Dr. Yolanda Yoder, SICHC medical director. “Working in concert with the school nurse, a virtual stethoscope also allows our providers to listen to important heart, lung and abdominal sounds.”
The telehealth clinic services from SICHC will expand to elementary and junior high schools at Springs Valley Community Schools in French Lick and Orleans Community Schools at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year.
“We are looking forward to having this service expand into the Springs Valley Community Schools next year and appreciate all of the advance work SICHC is doing to make this possible,” said Dr. Trevor Apple, superintendent at Springs Valley. “This will bring several advantages to students attending our elementary and junior and senior high schools.”
Advance parental registration for the service will be open at all school sites in Orange County during the summer.
Services at the telehealth clinics can include diagnosis and treatment for acute illness and minor injuries, as well as limited laboratory testing and behavioral health services. Any prescriptions made during a virtual visit can be sent to a parent’s preferred local pharmacy for later pickup by a parent.
“The telehealth clinics can treat common cold or flu, cough and sore throat issues, including strep, ear infections, rashes, pink eye, ear and urinary infections,” said Yoder. “Since good health comes from the whole health of mind, body and spirit, they will also be able to provide behavioral or mental health care as needed from our professional licensed counselors in collaboration with school counselors and social workers.”
Parents remain engaged with the virtual diagnostic process, as they will be given the option of joining any session by phone. Parents must also provide permission in advance for their child to be seen through the telehealth clinic. SICHC will provide a written summary of the session to both the school nurse and parent.
No student will be denied service because of an inability of the family to pay. Services provided at the school-based clinic will be billed to the family’s insurance. If a family does not have medical insurance, parents will be referred to a SICHC certified insurance navigator to explore options.
About the Southern Indiana Community Health Care
Well known as a high-impact health care provider committed to continuity of care, the non-profit Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) organization is committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive, community-sensitive health care utilizing Christ-centered principles to medically underserved, rural communities. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, SICHC serves as a “safety-net” provider for vulnerable populations and focuses on increasing access to primary care services for Medicaid and Medicare patients in rural communities. SICHC offers medical care in medically underserved areas of Crawford, Martin, Orange and Washington counties. SICHC is a member of the National Health Services Corps and receives program funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SICHC offers services to all persons, regardless of the person’s ability to pay. For more information, please visit https://sichc.org/.