Got a child suffering from the flu or a bout of strep throat? Need to get updated on vaccines? Problems with asthma and other chronic childhood illness?
Just send kids to school to get those ailments taken care of.
This scenario is becoming reality for a small but growing number of school districts in Georgia forming school-based health centers. Not your traditional school nurse stations, these urgent care-type facilities run by doctors and nurses on school grounds are aimed at keeping kids healthier and from missing school for relatively minor ailments.
» MAP: See which Georgia schools have health centers
At a time when schools have police officers patrolling hallways, offer free and reduced meals and after-school care as well as other services not directly related to classroom learning, some question whether it’s appropriate for schools to take on yet another role in the lives of children: medical provider.
“In order for us to help students be successful academically, they have to be in class and they have to be healthy,” said Harvey Oaxaca, principal at Lake Forest Elementary in Sandy Springs, which is expanding services at its health center. “We’re preparing students to be successful long-term. If you start off healthier, you’re going to end up more successful.”
Georgia has at least six school-based health care centers, with up to four more expected to start up this coming school year. Dozens more could be on the horizon as more schools explore establishing such centers, which typically operate as partnerships between districts and local health care providers, such as hospitals or other health centers.
To find out more information about the school-based health centers, check out myajc.com.
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