A telehealth partnership between the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and the Van Buren County School could benefit children in the county.
Director of Schools Katina Simmons said these services could help address attendance and truancy issues that come with being sick as well as provide quick care for students. Simmons said nurses can set up appointments, and patients can be seen without leaving school.
“[The nurses] are very excited about what that can offer, the support for them,” Simmons said. “Of course, our nurses do a great job, but they’re limited in the things they can do because of the tools that they’re provided. So it just gives them some extra support in making determinations.”
Simmons said staff could also utilize telehealth services as needed. Simmons said telehealth will be provided at no cost to the school.
Simmons said every year, schools have to figure out how to stay healthy when illnesses run rampant. Simmons said in the past, Van Buren schools have had to close for sick days, but telehealth services could reduce the likelihood of those shutdowns.
Simmons said these services will increase student access to care.
“If a student’s not feeling well, [nurses] can immediately look at that,” Simmons said. “Look at the student, determine if there really is a need there, if they really are sick and do need to go home and do need further treatment. Or if perhaps, it’s something that can just be, you know, take a couple ibuprofen and continue the rest of the day.”
Convenience was a large factor in bringing in telehealth services. Simmons said parents and families can also reap the benefits.
“I know as a mother myself, when you get a call from the school and your child is sick, and you’re trying to take off work to pick up that child and take them to a physician,” Simmons said. “This kind of eliminates that step and helps support our families as well to limit those times they have to be inconvenienced and leave work.”
Simmons said parents will have to opt their students in to telehealth services, and they will be notified at the beginning of next school year. Student participation in the program is not required.
