Background
School-based health clinics, staffed by an interdisciplinary team of nurse practitioners (NP), registered nurses (RN), medical assistants (MA) and a consulting physician, can provide acute and primary care services to elementary school children. Because of cost constraints, however, this team can only be on-site with children on a limited basis. When the NP is not on-site, children with asthma, skin rashes, wounds, and ear/throat infections may be sent home to await treatment – often missing multiple days of school and falling behind in their lessons. This model could be made more effective by utilizing telemedicine technology to allow the RN or MA to access the off-site medical director or NP for teleconferencing, diagnosis, treatment planning and disposition.
Goals
- To develop, implement and evaluate the use of telehealth technology to enhance school-based health services in Milwaukee elementary schools,
- To increase access to primary care and health promotion services for underserved children in Milwaukee elementary schools, and
- To engage Wisconsin Medicaid staff as partners in providing more cost-effective care for school children with acute and primary care needs in the school setting.
Population
Six Milwaukee elementary schools for a total population of approximately 800 students, the majority of which are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches (which can be an indication of high poverty level).
Timeline
May 2007 - June 2008
Study Sponsor
Russell and Betty Shaw Foundation
Investigators, Staff & Partners
Aurora UW Medical Group
- John Brill, M.D., M.P.H.
Aurora School-Based Health Team
- Teresa Rommelfanger, R.N.,F.N.P.
- Victoria Carlson-Oehlers R.N., C.P.N.P.
Center for Urban Population Health
- Jennifer Evertsen, M.S.
- Jessica Bergstrom, M.P.H.
Milwaukee Public Schools
- Lincoln Elementary
- Allen-Field Elementary
- Sherman Elementary
- 35th Street School
- St. Charles Elementary
- King Academy
