OurLegacyToday Fall 2016
Legacy Community Health Board of Directors Beth Bruce Chairperson
Amanda Goodie Vice-Chairperson
Lauren Soliz
School-Based Clinics Offer Accessible Health Care for Students and their Families
Secretary
Glenn Bauguss Treasurer
Glenna Pierpont
At-Large / Executive Committee
Sehba Ali Beryl Basham Tony Bravo George Burch Dr. Abigail Caudle Victor Cordova, Jr. Cyndy Garza Roberts Bryan Hlavinka Alex Jessett Bethsheba Johnson Alton LaDay Johnson Olatunji Marissa Taler
Legacy Community Health Endowment Board of Directors Claire Cormier Thielke Chairperson
Tripp Carter
Vice-Chairperson
When students at KIPP and YES Prep schools get sick, they no longer have to leave campus for a doctor’s appointment. Quality care is just a short walk away at Legacy Community Health’s schoolbased clinics at 11 KIPP schools and seven YES Prep campuses, where students can see Legacy providers for primary care and behavioral health services. Families who want to participate must register their children prior to the first day of school. Then, when children fall ill, the school clinic coordinator can call parents to approve an appointment. The best part? Parents don’t have to miss valuable time away from work. “At KIPP, we believe that healthy children are better able to focus on their own learning growth,” says KIPP Houston Public Schools’ Superintendent and Legacy board member Sehba Ali. “We are grateful our families have access to convenient and high-quality health care directly in our schools.” Students are treated for high fevers, ear aches, or sore throats, and our nurse practitioners prescribe medications and monitor chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, or obesity. But the services aren’t limited to students; parents can also schedule appointments like well-child visits for students and their siblings. Last year, Legacy providers saw more than 4,200 patients through 13,000 patient visits. “It’s not just urgent care. We’ve become their primary care providers, and in turn the medical homes for their families,” says Mykal O’Shea, Legacy’s Director of SchoolBased Clinics. “Because of the access that comes with being right there on campus, we can provide comprehensive care.”
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Ashley Pineda visits with student Sadie Calvillo at Legacy’s KIPP Sharp campus clinic. Clinic providers who observe behavioral issues, family conflicts, or learning difficulties can also refer students to Legacy’s school-based behavioral health services. Students and their families can make an appointment at any campus for depression, anxiety, grief, and family issues. “Social, emotional, and behavioral issues have an unprecedented effect on academics,” says Teandra Gordon, Director of Therapy Services for School Based Clinics. “The more the families interact with our providers, the more the stigma about mental health is minimized.” Seeing the children more frequently improves the continuum of care, which results in better health outcomes. Nurse Practitioner Ashley Pineda says this also builds trusting relationships between Legacy providers and families. “I see them in the halls, and I’m there at their talent shows and special events,” she says. “We even get invitations to birthday parties! We’re part of both the KIPP family and the families that we serve.” Future plans include student ambassador councils at YES Prep locations to encourage adolescent students to become more involved with their health care. The growth of the school clinic program is just one more way Legacy is connecting communities to health every day, in every way!
James A. Reeder, Jr. Secretary
Mike Holloman Treasurer Michael Alexander
Your donations helped fill backpacks with Thank You For Supporting school supplies to ensure our youngsters were Legacy’s Back To School Drive equipped to learn!
Joshua L. Espinedo Bryan Hlavinka Brent N. Whiteley
Melanie Gray
Board Member Emeritus
Melissa Mithoff
Board Member Emeritus
Monsour Taghdisi
Board Member Emeritus
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