Coshocton Schools and MVHC partner on health clinic
COSHOCTON — Providing a new health care outlet for students and the community is the primary reason a new health clinic opened at Coshocton High School.
Coshocton City Schools and Muskingum Valley Health Centers partnered to open the clinic in January. It's similar to one MVHC started in fall 2020 with Ridgewood Local Schools. There's also one at Meadowbrook High School.
The health center provides complete health care during school hours. Parental consent is required. Along with students, staff and faculty can be seen too. Provided are general wellness visits, immunizations, sports physical, primary care and more. No clinic funding is coming from the district.
In the future, the clinic will also provide care to the community after school hours by appointment only. Superintendent David Hire said security measures have to be met first, so those coming to the clinic don't have access to the rest of the building.
"We want to get started and see how things go with just students and staff, but down the road I don't see why we couldn't start serving some of the families," Hire said. "We have to figure out how people wouldn't have access to the rest of the building and figure out how to expand the hours to meet the needs of the community."
The clinic is in a former storage area at the ground floor entrance of the high school near the flagpole. It includes a reception area, two exam rooms, storage room and a small office for Nurse Practitioner Daryan Lynch. Licensed Practical Nurse Melissa Matchett mans the reception desk.
Grant Fauver, director of Operations and Engagement, said they wanted a space centrally located for easy access. He said it helps to eliminate some common barriers to health care, including financial assistance and quick appointments.
"There's no reason we can't get access to health services for our kids with a clinic right here in our district," Fauver said.
Patients can walk-in, schedule an appointment or be referred by one of the two school nurses. Nurse Laura Roberts said the relationship between the school nurses and clinic has been good so far.
"We'll be able to get a lot of these students whose needs aren't being met over here. We'll work with the parents and coordinate care and services for these students," Roberts said. "It's going to be good for the kids."
Lynch practices at the other school clinics as well, but can perform telehealth appointments if needed. Otoscopes are coming, which would allow for Matchett to put devices in patient's ears or throat and Lynch can see it if elsewhere. She can also make referrals to specialists if need be. Behavioral health services via telehealth will be added in the future.
"It keeps people from not having to come to school or coming and leaving. They can take care of it in a half hour or hour, rather than half a day because they have to travel somewhere," Hire said on offering the health care.
The clinic is open from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information, contact the district office at 740-622-1901.
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@llhayhurst
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This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Coshocton Schools and MVHC partner on health clinic
