What Are School-Based Health Clinics?

There’s nothing quite unsettling like getting a call while at work from the school that your child is feeling under the weather.

Do I need to pick them up? Do they need to go to the doctor? Am I going to be reprimanded by my boss for leaving work early?

Along with ‘Is my child okay?’, these are questions that run through the minds of every parent/guardian that receives the call.

Luckily for some students and parents, school-based health clinics are a convenient way to ensure your child is being cared for when they don’t feel well.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the benefits and services offered at school-based health clinics.

What is a school-based health clinic?

The premise of the school-based health clinic is to provide care to the children of the community, and because the facility is on school grounds it ensures that these children don’t have to miss any school and parents don’t have to miss work.

What types of care are offered in these clinics?

Children can be seen for well-child checks, immunizations, acute care, counseling, dental and vision screenings, scoliosis screenings, sports physicals and more.

How are they involved in the schools?

Clinic staff work closely with the schools so that specific education can be provided and offered to students.

How can a parent seek care for their child?

A parent would typically call the school and tell the clinic that they will send their child over. Clinic staff will assess what’s going on with the child, and then parents will be notified of what the plan of care is.

Who do you see at the school-based clinics?

School-based clinics can see children from Pre-K through 12th grade, and folks within the community can also be seen, including newborns and senior citizens.