5 Answers to your School-Based Clinic Questions

Getting health care for your child can be complicated –  Coordinating schedules, rides and trying to avoid school absences and work conflicts are not easy tasks. This is why School-Based Clinics (SBC’s) have become increasingly popular in the United States. This convenient option for healthcare for both students and staff has made for extremely effective results from these clinics.

Coplin Health Systems is lucky enough to have three SBC’s in their family: Jackson County Schools Wellness Center, Southern Local Schools Wellness Center, and Wirt County Schools Wellness Center. While the concept seems simple – there is still so much to learn about SBC’s. Here are five things you should know about SBC’s:

1.) This isn’t just the nurses’ office – School-based health centers are primary care clinics that are based on school campuses. Most school-based health centers provide a combination of acute care, primary care, mental health care, dental health, along with health education and health promotion to their patients.

2.) They aren’t going to replace your primary care provider (PCP) – School-based clinics are not meant to take the place of your PCP. Although they do offer primary care, its purpose is to provide in a convenient setting and to decrease the amount of instructional time that may be missed by students and staff while still meeting their health care needs.

3.) Convenience for the entire community – Many SBCs only see the students and the staff of the schools they serve; however, the Coplin’s SBC do see community members. We provide services for patients’ ages ranging from infant to adults.

4.) They integrate education alongside providing – The SBC’s work to provide preventative care, treatment, and education regarding routine health care in the form of well visits, sports physicals, immunizations, laboratory services, dental health education and assessments within the schools, as well as mental health services.  The Jackson County Schools Wellness Center in Ripley also offers DOT physicals to the community.

5.) They form a solid partnership within the community – School-based health centers generally operate as a partnership between the school district and a community health center such as Coplin Health Systems. This partnership allows the SBC to provide services to students, staff, and community members who may not otherwise be able to receive health care services due to lack of transportation, time restraints, or ability to pay.

Coplin Health System’s SBC’s are here for the community and ready to serve those with the highest quality of care available. The impact of SBC’s reach beyond the school and into the community – To learn more about specific services at your own school-based wellness center, visit our website to learn about all three locations.