School-Based Clinic Ready to Treat Students (OK)

August 18, 2010

Irving, Whittier and Cherokee elementary schools now have a school-based health clinic right inside their buildings.

“If a student is sick and can’t get in to their regular doctor, the parent can bring them to whichever school we’re at that day, ” said Toni Terrell, LPN. “It’s also for teachers and support staff at these three schools to use.”

The Muskogee Community Hospital Rougher Clinic is directed by Dr. Kevin Wade of Wade Pediatrics and staffed by a family nurse practitioner and a licensed practical nurse with a combined 64 years of experience.

Joan Baker and Terrell will move between the three elementary schools every week.

The Rougher Clinic, a joint effort between Muskogee Community Hospital and Muskogee Public Schools, is funded by nearly $200,000 in grants from the City of Muskogee Foundation.

“There is a three-fold purpose to this clinic,” said Baker, a family nurse practitioner.

The clinic hopes to help decrease absenteeism, decrease parents’ lost work hours and educate children about their responsibility in their own health, she said.

Children at any of the three schools can visit the clinic during the day and, hopefully, return to class without causing their parents or guardians to miss work, Baker said.

When the clinic is staffed at one school, and a child gets sick at another school, the parents or guardians also have the option of bringing their children over to Baker and Terrell.

Nonetheless, Rougher Clinic is not just a school nurse office, Terrell said.

Rougher Clinic can see patients for anything a person goes to a doctor or practitioner for, Baker said.

If a child falls on the playground and needs stitches, they can take care of it.

If a child has a fever or a sore throat, needs a prescription or a breathing tr eatment for asthma, they can do that too, Baker said.

“If a child has an asthma attack at school, instead of the parent taking them to the emergency room and missing work all day, they can bring their child here and we can do a breathing treatment and send them back to class,” she said.

Those who do not have medical coverage will be offered assistance in acquiring it, Terrell said, and the clinic accepts SoonerCare and private insurance.

Irving, Whittier or Cherokee students, teachers or support staff will be never be turned away for lack of insurance.

Patients who do not have a primary care physician will have help in finding one if they need care outside of the in-school clinic.