Telemedicine provides access and convenience to students, staff and parents

Freeman Health System works closely with participating schools to provide telemedicine, which facilitates prompt access to a local Freeman provider. The goal of the program is to reduce the number of school days missed due to illness or injury by providing prompt access to a local medical provider for diagnosis and treatment of minor illnesses. Prompt access, diagnosis and treatment assists to keep students and staff members of the school district healthy and in school. When a student or staff member becomes sick at school, he or she visits the school nurse. If the nurse determines the patients’ need is beyond the resources available at the school, the school nurse will offer or can ask for a telemedicine visit to take place. Permission is obtained from the parent or guardian, then the telemedicine visit is conducted from the school nurse’s office with the school nurse’s assistance. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend the visit virtually to participate in their child’s care. While participating in the visit, parents can physically remain at home or work, and their child remains at school. If it is medically appropriate that the student remain at school, the medical provider will clear the student to return to the classroom.

During the school telemedicine visit, parents connect virtually from their smart phone or computer and are “in the room” with their child, the school nurse and the medical provider. As the medical provider assesses the patient, the parent can see, hear and visualize everything the medical provider is assessing. If the patient or parent has questions, the medical provider will address their questions. If medication is needed, the provider will call in the prescription to the pharmacy of choice. If further testing is needed, the provider will order the needed tests for the patient to have completed at their location of choice. Prompt evaluation and treatment allows students and staff to return to the classroom as quickly as possible, frequently within the same hour.

There is no need for students or school staff to pre-register for the program. Registration occurs at the time the service is accessed. Students and school staff do not need to have a Freeman provider to use the program. At the request of the patient or responsible party, records can be shared with any primary care provider. Freeman’s school telemedicine program is available to all students and staff of participating school districts during regular school hours. Parents are provided with written information each school year regarding the telemedicine program. More information can be found on your school’s website under their telemedicine link. Additional information can be viewed at freemanhealth.com/schools > Resources > School Telemedicine.

About the Author

Renee Denton is chief operating officer at Freeman Neosho Hospital, serving in this position since 2012. She joined Freeman in 2010. Renee represents Freeman Health System and plays an integral role in collaborating with local school districts to establish area school telemedicine programs to provide convenient, quality healthcare to students, faculty, staff and their families.

Freeman Health System collaborates with seven area school districts to date. With the success of these programs, Freeman hopes to continue growing area partnerships. Freeman currently partners with the following school districts:

• Diamond

• East Newton

• Joplin

• McDonald County R-1 School District and Freeman Clinic of Anderson

• Neosho R-5 School District and Freeman Neosho Physician Group

• Seneca R-7 School District and Freeman

Seneca Family Medicine

• Westview