UMMC issued the following press release.
After Jackson Public Schools made the tough decision in spring 2018 to close 193-student Brown Elementary due to low enrollment and aging facilities, the school’s student body transferred this fall to Galloway Elementary.
And so did Brown’s school-based health clinic staffed by the University of Mississippi School of Nursing.
“I had open arms,” said Marvin Davis, principal of 470-student Galloway. “Any opportunity to improve our students’ health is welcome.”
The University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Nursing and school district on Sept. 20 introduced the clinic to the community surrounding Galloway, a pre-K through 5th grade school and one of the district’s 38 elementaries. The School of Nursing also staffs JPS-district clinics at Johnson Elementary, at 1339 Oak Park Drive; and Lanier High, at 833 W. Maple St.
School of Nursing administrators and the district worked quickly to establish the Galloway clinic. “The buy-in was real,” said Dr. Anne Norwood, professor of nursing and a nurse practitioner who staffs and directs the clinic at Johnson, which opened in 1999. “To be able to come into Galloway and have a clinic that can see patients, assess health, diagnose, prescribe and refer out was a lot more beneficial and a lot more cost-effective for taxpayers.”
The nursing staff sees a variety of ailments, including “headaches, sore throats, sinus infections and sinus drainage, congestion and lots of rashes,” said Lora Martin, a family nurse practitioner with the School of Nursing who staffs the Galloway clinic. “I’ve seen some bones that were broken, and I sent them to the Medical Center’s pediatric Emergency Department.”
It’s a boon to working parents and those with limited financial resources for their children to be seen in the school-based clinics. Parents have the option of giving permission for their child to be treated and designating a pharmacy where prescriptions can be called in by clinic staff. Staff calls parents to update them on any care delivered. If the parent can’t be reached, a note goes home with the child detailing diagnosis and treatment.
Sharon McElwain and Kathy Rhodes, both assistant professors and family nurse practitioners, also lend helping hands at Galloway. Cheryl Ervinjones serves as Galloway’s patient services coordinator. Also on clinic staff at 418-student Johnson Elementary is family nurse practitioner Dr. Molly Moore, an assistant professor in the School of Nursing.
While the Lanier clinic has a number of funding sources, the clinics at Galloway and Johnson are funded through the Mississippi Department of Education.
Tassica Stamps, whose daughter Raygan Pirtle is a Galloway student, said Raygan was seen at the Brown Elementary clinic last year. “I absolutely love it,” she said of the school-based clinics, which offer both flu and strep testing.
“With me working and my crazy schedule, this is great,” she said. “Raygan has had strep four or five times already. When she had strep last year and went to the Brown clinic, I was able to get her antibiotics and then pick her up. I didn’t have to pick her up from school and then rush her somewhere else to be seen.”
Not only do children receive care for acute illness, but they receive well-child checkups and education that promotes everyday wellness.
“Part of the well-child checkup is addressing things including nutrition, good choices, no tobacco use, gun safety, exercise and oral care. We teach them at an early age about college, making good grades and staying in school,” Norwood said. “We even do depression screenings. It’s a totally holistic approach to the child.
“We look to see if they’re safe. Who do they live with? Do they have running water? Some kids don’t have running water, and some don’t have food.”
Families can take advantage of Galloway’s food pantry stocked with donated non-perishables and fresh produce. “We teach them what foods are good for you and what’s bad for you, and we talk to the parents as well,” Norwood said.
The clinics also are a rich training ground for nursing, medical and nurse practitioner students and pediatric residents. During the 2017-18 school year alone, they logged more than 2,600 hours of clinical experience.
“They check in patients and do vital signs,” Norwood said. “We are able not only to provide a community service, but we teach the students at UMMC what it’s like to be in a child environment. It helps them to be more comfortable around them.
“A lot of the children will tell us things that they won’t tell other people,” she said. “The clinic is a safe place, and they get individualized attention. It’s not just a clinic.”
Lanier’s Teen Wellness Clinic opened in October 2015 and teaches the 634 students how to adopt a healthier lifestyle in addition to delivering primary medical care. It’s staffed by clinic director Dr. Kate Fouquier, associate professor of nursing and a certified nurse midwife; nurse practitioners Koscher Jackson and John Farr; patient administrator and data manager Jasymin Shepherd; health education specialist Tori Jones; and Dianne Mounger, a social worker with the Mississippi Department of Health.
UMMC and the School of Nursing also operate four clinics in the Mississippi Delta through its Mercy Delta Express Project, which provides mobile school-based medical and dental health care and health education to about 1,100 children in the South Delta School District. Clinics are operated at South Delta High in Rolling Fork, South Delta Middle in Anguilla, South Delta Elementary in Rolling Fork, and Ripley-Blackwell Head Start Center in Rolling Fork.
They’re overseen by Dr. Lisa Haynie, a nurse practitioner and School of Nursing professor, and also serve as a clinical learning environment for UMMC nursing, medical and dental students in addition to pediatric residents.
Already, dozens of children have been seen at the Galloway clinic. “It’s a great benefit to all of us,” Davis said. “It increases our attendance. The children are healthier and well maintained.”
“We’re always looking for community sponsors. We are on a limited budget, and donations are always welcome,” Norwood said.
“UMMC has a giving heart,” Norwood said. “Our goal is serving others and taking care of the people of Mississippi, especially these children.”
To donate to the School of Nursing school-based clinics, go to www.umc.edu/givenow, Select Category> School of Nursing Options, Select Fund> School of Nursing Clinic Fund.
12 comments:
I might have missed it, but the article says the clinic 'opened to the community surrounding Galloway'... Does that mean people who live in a certain radius of the school can come there for medical issues or am I misinterpreting 'the community surrounding Galloway'?
If that is true, should the treatment of non-students be coming out of the Department of Education budget, which the article says pays for this clinic?
Another question: Is any attempt made to determine insurance status and if a 'student-patient' is covered by insurance, does the state attempt to get that reimbursement? If not, why not?
If insurance status is not determined nor pursued, is that where we are headed in education, as a state? And is that the direction we want to be going - Taxpayer paid medical treatment for students who are covered by insurance plans? For example; If the woman who is quoted as saying she is working and doesn't have time to pick the child up and take her elsewhere to be seen...if she has insurance coverage, should the taxpayer funded program be providing coverage for treatment at school when a claim should be filed with (and paid) by an insurance plan?
10:59 is looking the gift horse in the mouth, the esophagus, the stomach, and all of the bowels.
1059-legitimate concerns
Calm down, 10:59, because this is a good thing. Just because a person in Mississippi has a job does not mean that they can afford insurance premiums. Most people in this state earns the minimum wage. My family's insurance from my employer costs me $345 for heath, $80 for dental, and $22 for vision per month. My child was seeing a psychologist at one of JPS's middle schools, and my insurance was billed, and I was required to pay the co-pay. It was great because I didn't have to take off work to drive him to a clinic twice a week. It's fortunate I can afford it, but some families are struggling, and there is nothing wrong with giving and receiving help. People need to stop being so selfish.
Yes, legitimate questions and concerns. That state money was just pocket change that the cronies between the MDE and the Oxford plantation play with to appear they are doing something progressive, when the truth is, billions are duplicated, completely lost through graft, corruption, or incompetence, or simply wasted on poorly thought out initiatives that only serve to make those organizations look good in the press. People say that the reason for the state of Mississippi’s failure is its poor public grade-school education and that improving this is the key to extraction from poverty. Wrong! South Carolina and other Southern states with now nationally ranked colleges and universities have proven that prosperity begins at the university level, by both education and research, and then empowering a strong professional class (not social class) that can then lift an economy from the top.
The so-called "flagship" university's mission has been to protect itself and Mississippi’s elite class (white) structure first. Until Mississippians tear this structure down, you will not merely remain where you are, but you will fall further and further behind. And, to the recent grads roaming the streets of other Southern states looking for jobs: No matter how often Ole Miss may style itself as “progressive”, your educational credentials are inferior to those of other candidates. Outside of Mississippi, people wince at that name due to it's racist roots. That's why most white graduates from Oxford stay in Mississippi to draft off of their family's and friend's "connections". Sheesh. Mississippi - born and inbred.
Not sure how Burke sees this as a 'gift horse' when he is being asked to pay for and wrap the gift and has no clue who the recipient is. More like a shaft-horse.
s/10:59
The clinic at Galloway is for children who go to school there only. It is not for anyone except the faculty, staff, and students who attend and whose parents give written consent. The School of Nursing opened the first nurse-managed, nurse-practitioner run clinic in the state of MS 20 years ago at Johnson Elementary with the help of the late Aaron Shirley, MD, an amazing black doctor who had the foresight to see that this area of Jackson needed help with health/health education. This clinic is still in existence. Because of these clinics, the students stay at school, parents stay at work, and it has reduced the number of ER visits from these children who used to use the ER for illnesses such as colds, strep, pink-eye, coughs, and other non-emergent medical conditions. Instead of charging the taxpayers of MS 600.00 for a diagnosis of strep in the ER, it is costing $76.00. These clinics are doing amazing things and I commend these nurse practitioners, the School of Nursing, and UMMC for going into the schools to take care of these children. Some of the NPs that practice in these clinics, such as Anne Norwood, practice 'in-kind' and does not get a dime for giving her time and attention to these kids. Quit being so pathetic and be thankful for these people who give of themselves. Like 11:52 said...stop being so selfish and be grateful for this service!
11:52 posted this asinine bullshit: "Just because a person in Mississippi has a job does not mean that they can afford insurance premiums. Most people in this state earns the minimum wage."
I posted the concern regarding recovery of insurance payment due. Nothing was said about who can or can't afford insurance, but an effort to determine that should be in place. If these parents are covered by an insurance plan, then a claim should be filed. Period.
And regardless of all your family members who work at drive-thru windows, if you think 'most people in this state earns (sic) the minimum wage, you're nuts.
Hold on! Now we learn that the 'faculty and staff' at this school can also see the school nurse for treatment and prescriptions. What a nice benefit. They all have insurance. Are claims being filed with deductibles met and copays paid? Or is this just Burke's 'gift horse' that we need not question.
Duplication and waste.....the Mississippi Way. Let's just play with the people's money and keep campaigning for the next office.....who the hell is in charge of the asylum?
Dr. Jones (former Ole Miss Chancellor) and Carey Wright are in charge of this particular asylum.
For the thousand (is it that many?) students, all the administration, faculty, staff, bus drivers, cafeteria works, maintenance folks and others....this is actually better than Obama-Care.
Free medical treatment and there's no sign up process. If you're there, you're coverage is automatic. Would not be surprised to learn that if the school 'nurse' later refers them to UMMC for tests, further treatment, etc, that too is appended to the file at the school for payment.
NO! This is NOT where we want to be.
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