HealthZone Q & A

Q: What is a Bassett Healthcare School-Based Health Center (SBHC)?
A: A Bassett Healthcare SBHC, an expanded school health program, is a joint effort between a school district and the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital. A SBHC provides comprehensive health care services to students in kindergarten through 12th grade at the school. For those children with a primary healthcare provider, the SBHC staff, if desired by the parents, can work with that provider in caring for the child. For those children without a primary healthcare provider, the SBHC staff may become that child’s primary source of health care. If a child is in need of care while school is closed, the child could receive health care from a provider of their choice or any area Bassett Healthcare site.

Q: How does a student receive services?
A: In order for a student to receive services, a parent must complete; the Student Information Form and Consent to Bill Insurance Form. There are no eligibility requirements except to be a student attending the collaborating school. Parents are welcome to accompany their children to the Health Center. A parent may call their child’s school nurse or SBHC staff or send a note to arrange for the child to be seen at the SBHC. Every effort will be made to contact parents before their child receives treatment, except if treatment is a matter of life or death. If a child were too ill to attend school and the parent would like them to be seen by the SBHC staff, parents are encouraged to call the school nurse or SBHC to arrange for a same day appointment.

Q: What services are provided?
A: *Complete physical examinations *First Aid
(may be used for athletic eligibility ,NYS mandated *Immunizations
school physicals, camp, college, working papers….) *Mental Health screening and referrals
*Diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illness *Mental Health Counseling (limited sites)
*Health Education *Social Work services
* Referral Services (Child Health Plus information and enrollment assistance)
*Health screening (vision, hearing, scoliosis)
*Oral Screening and Dental Referrals

Q. Will students need to be enrolled in the SBHC to utilize the school nurse services?
A. No, the school nurse will continue to provide all students with the same services they have in the past regardless of their enrollment in the School-Based Health Center. Enrollment in the SBHC is voluntary and can be completed at any time.
Note: Students who do not have a completed SBHC enrollment on file will not be able to utilize the services of the SBHC.

Q. What is a Nurse Practitioner?
A. A nurse practitioner at a SBHC is a RN who has successfully completed an accredited Nurse Practitioner program and has a National Certification. The Nurse Practitioner may also have a Masters Degree in Nursing. Nurse practitioners may diagnose and treat illnesses and prescribe medications within their specialty area of practice. This is done in collaboration with a licensed physician qualified to collaborate in the specialty involved in accordance with an approved written practice agreement and protocols.

Q: Who is the School-Based Health Center Staff?
A:
The school nurse in each school will coordinate health services with the nurse practitioner and physician.

A nurse practitioner (NP) will be available to assess student’s health status and treat illnesses. The nurse practitioner will be on site on a regular basis and will always be available for phone consultation with the school nurses.

A Bassett Healthcare physician is the nurse practitioner’s collaborating physician. He will be available for consultation as needed and will be on site at the school regularly to provide direct patient services and review.

A Patient Service Associate will provide clerical and operational support to the program along with assisting families with Child Health Plus enrollment.

Q: What does it cost to use the SBHC?

A: The SBHC program will bill student’s health insurance for services provided on site at the School-Based Health Center. All the money collected will be applied toward SBHC expenses. There will never be any out-of-pocket expenses to any family for SBHC services. If the student does not have adequate health insurance there will be no charge for health services provided. Billing services are provided through Bassett Healthcare.

**It is important to note that the cost of services, not provided on site at the SBHC, such as; some laboratory tests, all x-rays, specialty consultations, and prescriptions are the responsibility of the parent.

Q: Who has access to my child’s medical records?

A: All medical records are confidential and only the staff of the School Health Program will have access to these records. In order to provide quality, comprehensive health care to the students enrolled, the SBHC staff would be happy to send a copy of your child’s Medical Records to your primary care health provider. Prior to sending any records, the SBHC Enrollment Form: Student Information form must be completed with necessary signatures.

Q: What happens when my child is ill and the school is closed?

A: The SBHC will be open whenever the school is in session. Services will not be provided during the summer, during school vacations, or days off. When the SBHC is not open, Bassett Healthcare is the back-up health facility. If the school is closed and your child is in need of emergency treatment call 911. If not a medical emergency, call your health care provider (doctor, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant) or:

Bassett Healthcare 1-800-BASSETT
1-800-227-7388
Please note: Families with health insurance need to be aware of the rules of their individual plan, to avoid billing difficulties..

If you have any questions regarding the program, feel free to call any of the school nurses or the SBHC offices for further information. Remember, there will never be any out of pocket expenses to any family for SBHC services provided on site. Should you receive a bill for these services in error, please contact the SBHC office immediately. We look forward to working with you to assure that your child is receiving the best health care possible.
Please feel free to call your child’s school nurse or SBHC office with any questions

		Laurens Central School
	Q: What is a Bassett Healthcare School-Based Health Center (SBHC)? A: A Bassett Healthcare SBHC, an expanded school health program, is a joint effort between a school district and the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital. A SBHC provides comprehensive health care services to students in kindergarten through 12th grade at the school. For those children with a primary healthcare provider, the SBHC staff, if desired by the parents, can work with that provider in caring for the child. For those children without a primary healthcare provider, the SBHC staff may become that child’s primary source of health care. If a child is in need of care while school is closed, the child could receive health care from a provider of their choice or any area Bassett Healthcare site. Q: How does a student receive services? A: In order for a student to receive services, a parent must complete; the Student Information Form and Consent to Bill Insurance Form. There are no eligibility requirements except to be a student attending the collaborating school. Parents are welcome to accompany their children to the Health Center. A parent may call their child’s school nurse or SBHC staff or send a note to arrange for the child to be seen at the SBHC. Every effort will be made to contact parents before their child receives treatment, except if treatment is a matter of life or death. If a child were too ill to attend school and the parent would like them to be seen by the SBHC staff, parents are encouraged to call the school nurse or SBHC to arrange for a same day appointment. Q: What services are provided? A: Complete physical examinations First Aid (may be used for athletic eligibility ,NYS mandated Immunizations school physicals, camp, college, working papers….) Mental Health screening and referrals Diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illness Mental Health Counseling (limited sites) Health Education Social Work services * Referral Services (Child Health Plus information and enrollment assistance) Health screening (vision, hearing, scoliosis) Oral Screening and Dental Referrals Q. Will students need to be enrolled in the SBHC to utilize the school nurse services? A. No, the school nurse will continue to provide all students with the same services they have in the past regardless of their enrollment in the School-Based Health Center. Enrollment in the SBHC is voluntary and can be completed at any time. Note: Students who do not have a completed SBHC enrollment on file will not be able to utilize the services of the SBHC. Q. What is a Nurse Practitioner? A. A nurse practitioner at a SBHC is a RN who has successfully completed an accredited Nurse Practitioner program and has a National Certification. The Nurse Practitioner may also have a Masters Degree in Nursing. Nurse practitioners may diagnose and treat illnesses and prescribe medications within their specialty area of practice. This is done in collaboration with a licensed physician qualified to collaborate in the specialty involved in accordance with an approved written practice agreement and protocols. Q: Who is the School-Based Health Center Staff? A: The school nurse in each school will coordinate health services with the nurse practitioner and physician. A nurse practitioner (NP) will be available to assess student’s health status and treat illnesses. The nurse practitioner will be on site on a regular basis and will always be available for phone consultation with the school nurses. A Bassett Healthcare physician is the nurse practitioner’s collaborating physician. He will be available for consultation as needed and will be on site at the school regularly to provide direct patient services and review. A Patient Service Associate will provide clerical and operational support to the program along with assisting families with Child Health Plus enrollment. Q: What does it cost to use the SBHC? A: The SBHC program will bill student’s health insurance for services provided on site at the School-Based Health Center. All the money collected will be applied toward SBHC expenses. There will never be any out-of-pocket expenses to any family for SBHC services. If the student does not have adequate health insurance there will be no charge for health services provided. Billing services are provided through Bassett Healthcare. **It is important to note that the cost of services, not provided on site at the SBHC, such as; some laboratory tests, all x-rays, specialty consultations, and prescriptions are the responsibility of the parent. Q: Who has access to my child’s medical records? A: All medical records are confidential and only the staff of the School Health Program will have access to these records. In order to provide quality, comprehensive health care to the students enrolled, the SBHC staff would be happy to send a copy of your child’s Medical Records to your primary care health provider. Prior to sending any records, the SBHC Enrollment Form: Student Information form must be completed with necessary signatures. Q: What happens when my child is ill and the school is closed? A: The SBHC will be open whenever the school is in session. Services will not be provided during the summer, during school vacations, or days off. When the SBHC is not open, Bassett Healthcare is the back-up health facility. If the school is closed and your child is in need of emergency treatment call 911. If not a medical emergency, call your health care provider (doctor, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant) or: Bassett Healthcare 1-800-BASSETT 1-800-227-7388 Please note: Families with health insurance need to be aware of the rules of their individual plan, to avoid billing difficulties.. If you have any questions regarding the program, feel free to call any of the school nurses or the SBHC offices for further information. Remember, there will never be any out of pocket expenses to any family for SBHC services provided on site. Should you receive a bill for these services in error, please contact the SBHC office immediately. We look forward to working with you to assure that your child is receiving the best health care possible. Please feel free to call your child’s school nurse or SBHC office with any questions