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Rural Health Information Hub

School and Workplace-based Healthcare

School and workplace-based healthcare can also help to reduce barriers to care that may result from a lack of transportation. School-based health centers (SBHCs) generally operate as primary care clinics, with a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or physician providing services to students and, in some cases, local community members. Facilities are located in or near schools and emphasize early prevention and treatment, and permit coordination between medical care providers and school personnel for children with complex needs. Many SBHCs are affiliated with federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs) or county health departments.

The range of services available may vary depending on capacity and state regulations, but can include mental health counseling, immunizations, physical exams, vision and dental screenings, and health education. Schools can play an important role in rural health systems because they help overcome access barriers, including challenges related to transportation and missing work for parents. SBHCs are recommended by the Community Preventive Services Task Force as an effective method for improving health outcomes and health equity.

Similarly, workplace-based clinics are designed to provide easily-accessible care for employees who are unable to take time off work to seek services. The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends worksite interventions for:

  • Increasing influenza vaccination coverage among both non-healthcare workers and healthcare workers
  • Improving diet/physical activity and reducing weight among employees
  • Improving a variety of health and safety behaviors
  • Increasing smoking cessation among workers

The Rural Health Information Hub's Rural Services Integration Toolkit has more information on both school-based services and worksite models, including how these programs can be implemented through rural programs, and provides resources for additional information.

Examples of Rural School and Workplace-Based Healthcare Programs

  • The School-Based Health Center Dental Outreach program in rural Louisiana seeks to improve oral health among children by integrating oral health assessments into primary care visits with school-based nurse practitioners. The program has helped to increase the rate of fluoride varnish treatments and improve the number of timely referrals to dentists. The medical team also plays a role in dental case management if additional care at a dental clinic is needed.
  • The Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative is a non-profit primary healthcare services provider that staffs 22 school-based clinics at elementary, middle, and high schools. Students receive care at no out-of-pocket cost, and services are provided to both students and community members.
  • The Wolves Wellness Center is the first SBHC in Merced County, California. The SBHC is located in a high school in which 90% of the students live in poverty. In addition to serving students, the clinic offers their families and other community members mental health services, dental services, primary care visits, medication management, and referrals to other community-based organizations for more specialized needs.
  • The JM Family Enterprises, Inc.'s Health & Wellness Center in Commerce, Georgia offers an onsite clinic staffed with a team of physicians, nurses, dietitians and physical therapists. The clinic provides services for employees, as well as dependents ages 16 and older. Services include vaccines, laboratory testing, wellness exams, and chronic disease management.

Considerations for Implementation

Providing care at school instead of in off-site clinics increases the likelihood that students will obtain primary care and preventive services including immunizations and vision or dental screenings. Schools with access to SBHCs also see increased rates of attendance. In part, this may be related to the ability of the student to obtain services without needing the parent to remove the child from class to visit the clinic. Some jurisdictions may decide against providing reproductive health or contraception services at SBHCs. Clinic staff should be prepared to provide referrals to other community organizations or providers as needed.

In most states, parents will need to provide written consent before their child can become a patient at an SBHC. Other states permit consent by minors of a certain age. Signed consent forms will need to be kept on-site or otherwise stored appropriately based on state law. SBHCs will need to obtain consent for unaccompanied minor community members in addition to students who wish to use their services.

Schools and school districts have limited funds to spend on school support services, as seen by the shortages of full-time school nurses in rural areas. For this reason, SBHCs often seek funding from a number of different sources. Some SBHCs are supported by private foundations, while others receive state funding. Most also bill insurers, including public insurers like Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Considerations for implementation of worksite programs are discussed in the Worksite Model of the Rural Services Integration Toolkit.

Program Clearinghouse Examples

Resources to Learn More

Benefits of On-Site Clinics
Document
Describes the history and value of on-site clinics, focusing on the healthcare cost savings for both employers and employees.
Author(s): O'Keefe, L.C. & Anderson, F.
Citation: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 22(2)
Date: 3/2017

OnSite Clinics
Website
A collection of resources including news, research, conferences/meetings, and other tools for researching and implementing a workplace based clinic.

Rural School-Based Health Centers: A Framework for Success
Document
The Rural Health Consortium (RHC) is a professional network for school-based care providers and administrators in rural Colorado. This report from a meeting of the RHC outlines keys to success, provides examples of successful programs, and outlines challenges and opportunities for SBHCs to reach students in need, particularly immigrant and uninsured children in rural communities.
Organization(s): Colorado Association for School-Based Health Care
Date: 4/2009

The School-Based Health Alliance
Website
This national advocacy organization supports school-based health clinics with resources, training, and networking support. Also includes a list of links to state-level affiliates.

Workplace Health Promotion
Website
Includes links to resources designed to help employers create or expand worksite based health programs.
Organization(s): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention