Through high-tech secure connectivity, rural elementary and middle school kids at North Daviess, Loogootee, Barr-Reeve and Cloverdale will now have access to state-of-the-art telemedicine, according to Kathleen Chelminiak, project director of the Indiana Rural School Clinic Network (IRSCN). On January 16, IRSCN announced the opening of new school-based telehealth clinics in Daviess, Martin and Putnam counties. The clinics in Daviess and Martin counties will be served by health care professionals at Daviess Community Hospital, while the high-tech clinic located in Cloverdale will be served by medical professionals at Putnam County Hospital.
The new clinics will make available a new host of on-site medical services to students, said Chelminiak. The opening of the new clinics was celebrated by separate events at Daviess Community Hospital and Putnam County Hospital on January 16.
Officials participating in the event at Daviess Community Hospital included Cara Veale, vice president of Provider Services for the hospital; Chip Mehaffey, superintendent of Loogootee schools; Tiffany Lingenfelter, Loogootee school nurse; Renee Judy, principal of North Daviess; Carrie Loheider, North Daviess school nurse; Travis Madison, superintendent of Barr Reeve schools; and Mandy Ash, Barr Reeve nurse. Officials participating in the Cloverdale event included Greg Linton, superintendent of Cloverdale Community Schools; Tiffany Shields, Cloverdale schools nurse; Meagan Montague, Practice Manager of Putnam County Hospital; Jane Littiken, director of Physician Practices; Ms. Kathleen Chelminiak, project director for IRSCN and the Indiana Rural Health Association; and others.
“Through these state-of-the-art clinics, rural students at North Daviess, Loogootee, Barr-Reeve and Cloverdale schools will have access to an Indiana licensed physician or provider from a hospital who will use high-tech and high-resolution diagnostic technology – such as an electronic otoscope or digital stethoscope – to digitally view ears, eyes and throat as needed during a student’s visit,” said Chelminiak.
Given that many of these students come from rural areas of these counties, these new clinics mean that parents will not have to leave work or drive to the school to pick their child up for a routine exam.
Funded by a grant from the Indiana Rural Health Association, the secure digital technology gives school nurses and medical providers the opportunity to use secure technology and real-time high-resolution images to help diagnose and treat students without an onsite school visit or a disruptive, time-consuming daytime trip to a hospital.
School nurses and related staff have received several hours of training on how to utilize the equipment. This training provided an opportunity to build a strong team, according to Cara Veale of Daviess Community Hospital. “The three school nurses and our team at Daviess Community all went through the planning and training together, which produced a strong team focused on great results,” said Veale. “The ability to work and connect together produced a great environment in which to launch these new services.”
“Our goal is to provide high quality healthcare quickly and remove any barriers to accessing primary care,” said Chelminiak.
The medical professional or provider conducting the telehealth diagnostic session at the Daviess, Martin and Putnam county schools can directly send follow-up information to the children’s physician and prescriptions directly to local pharmacies for pickup. To participate, children must have prior parent/guardian consent. Any fees are appropriately billed to insurance. No student will be denied coverage or treatment because of lack of ability to pay.
The January 16 ribbon-cutting at both locations included a live demonstration of the high-tech telehealth equipment to be used by the rural clinic, including a high-tech imaging stethoscope, dermscope, and otoscope in addition to customized video equipment and software platforms. With the expansion, the participating Daviess, Martin and Putnam schools are now formal participants in the Indiana Rural School Clinic Network (IRSCN).
Accessing health care in rural areas of Indiana is often more difficult because of factors like poverty, transportation and provider shortages.
“Through this innovative approach of incorporating telehealth into the school setting, we are confident children will receive quality healthcare that is more accessible to them than it ever has been before. Parents won’t have to take time off work, struggle with getting an appointment with their doctor or worry about transportation issues. They can now receive help in getting their children healthier, instead of the limitations they may face with seeking primary care during the school day,” said Don Kelso, IRHA executive director.
The new school-based telehealth clinic is funded through a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant made available to the Indiana Rural Health Association.
