Access Family Care

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Joplin has been working toward a school-based health center for more than two years. Although the Board of Education has not yet decided whether it wants to proceed, the proposal currently under consideration would involve Freeman Health System, ACCESS Family Care, Ozark Center and Preferred Family Healthcare Inc. to provide a range of health services to students from a clinic in the new high school. Board members last week, wanting to review the scope of the project and needing more time to consider it, tabled the proposal, but it could resurface for further discussion at this month’s meeting. The proposal, as submitted by the medical collaborators, would provide services such as evaluation and treatment of injury and illness, physical examinations, immunizations, reproductive health services excluding abortion services, nutrition counseling, and a variety of behavioral health services. Mark Barlass, executive director of student services for the district, said during the board meeting that the district would be financially responsible for providing the space, but would not compensate the health providers for any services rendered, or provide any staff.

Carl Junction is working with Freeman Health System to provide on- and off-campus health services to students and staff. According to their agreement, a nurse practitioner at a Freeman clinic on Main Street, just a few blocks from the schools, would be available for health care needs and would collaborate with the school nurses via video. Students could also be transported by the school to the clinic if needed. Stacey Whitney, nurse for Carl Junction schools, said available health services would be similar to those offered by a family practice office, such as physicals, treatment of minor illness or evaluations. Parental consent would be required for all services, she said. Cook, the superintendent, said the district would be responsible for providing the space for an onsite wellness center, which will be converted from an old weight room at the high school, as well as the staff to drive students to the Main Street clinic. He said the process by which students seek medical help at school will largely remain the same, with them first seeing the school nurse and notifying their parents.

ACCESS Family Care (ACCESS), was founded in 1996 as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) for the purpose of increasing access to primary health care for those who lack medical insurance coverage. As an FQHC, ACCESS receives a 330 Federal grant from the Bureau of Primary Health Care designed to offset the expenses associated with providing sliding fee discounts to patients who demonstrate economic need.

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