School-based healthcare centers (SBHC) are playing an important role in providing equitable access to healthcare for children who are not able to access a regular medical home. Today, host, Dr. Lia Giggino talks with Dr. Sara Bode about the benefits of a SBHC and the challenges they face in ensuring that every child has access to quality care. They discuss the challenges that school-aged children face in accessing healthcare, such as transportation issues, location, and competing priorities for parents. Dr. Bode emphasizes the importance of school health in providing a safety net for children and the need for collaboration between healthcare providers and educators to ensure that children receive quality healthcare and education. This episode highlights the benefits of a partnership between the health and education systems, demonstrating how working together can improve the overall health and well-being of students. If a school-based health center is something you want in your own community, you’ll hear information on exactly how you can make it happen.
[00:33 -15:08] The Benefits of Having an SBHC
- They provide a safety net for kids who do not have access to a regular medical home due to various reasons such as transportation issues, location or access, and competing priorities for working parents
- They can partner with primary care providers to provide comprehensive primary care to the underserved population of kids and connect them to a medical home for continued care
- They offer opportunities for collaboration with specialty providers to provide better health outcomes for kids with chronic health conditions such as diabetes
- They can help with wraparound care and observation to identify and address underlying health issues
[15:09- 22:07] How SBHCs Co-Manage Children’s Health: Funding and Services
- Students without an established medical home can receive care at the center
- Partnership between school-based health centers and primary care providers can support medication management and follow-up care
- School-based health providers have a unique understanding of social determinants of health for students
- Funding for school-based health centers typically comes from traditional insurance sources such as Medicaid and private insurance
[22:08 -31:07] The Role of SBHCs in Addressing Mental Health Care Needs for Students
- Lack of mental healthcare providers for students is a crisis in schools
- School-based health centers can be a part of the solution to bridge the gap in services
- Comprehensive primary care mental health services can be provided through school-based health centers
- Telemedicine services, such as telepsychiatry, can be used to provide care and maintain appointment attendance
- Advocacy and community pediatrics play a crucial role in transforming the systems of care provided to meet the needs of the community
[31:08 37:11] Opportunities for Pediatricians to Get Involved in School Health
- The AAP Council on School Health provides resources for pediatricians to partner with schools, including working with school nurses and teachers.
- The Council on Community Pediatrics offers opportunities for pediatricians to engage in advocacy and learn about community initiatives.
- The Community Pediatric training initiative offers training opportunities for pediatricians interested in tackling issues like food insecurity in their communities.
- It is important for pediatricians to keep their eyes and ears open, listen to patients’ stories, and intentionally find ways to help families who may not be receiving care. Partnership between education and healthcare is crucial, especially in areas like mental health and suicide prevention.
[37:12 – 42:30] Closing segment Takeaway
You can reach Dr. Sara Bode
LinkedIn: sara bode | Search | LinkedIn
Twitter: @SaraBodeMD
Links to resources mentioned on the show
Advocacy:
- Aap.org/cpti
- This website offers and overview of the advocacy training opportunities for faculty and residents. It includes the advocacy training modules and the new Advocacy Portfolio, which is a supplement to a CV for faculty to use for promotion in advocacy.
- Academic Careers in Advocacy Article:
- Academic Careers in Advocacy: Aligning Institutional Values Through Use of an Advocacy Portfolio | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics (aap.org)
Key School Health Websites and Articles:
- School Health (aap.org)
- This resource has a collection of key articles as well as tools and learning opportunities in school health through the AAP.
- Council on School Health (COSH) (aap.org)
- Learn about how to get involved in school health through the Council on School Health at the AAP to help guide policy and practice.
Other episodes you may like:
Episode #106
Youth Suicide Prevention: Building Community Coalitions
Episode #113
Advocate For Kids: #PutKids1st
Key quotes for Twitter:
“It’s really an opportunity to have wraparound care for these kids with chronic health conditions to make sure that they’re getting everything they need from education to medicine, to all of the pieces with parents at school to keep them healthy and in school.”… Dr. Sara Bode
“Finding ways to bring care into schools so that we can really help improve that access has been an important part of what many of our providers in school health will do.”… Dr. Sara Bode
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Pediatric Meltdown was listed as a Top 20 Pediatric Podcast on FeedSpot.
If you’d like to connect with me, you can Tap the “What Are Your Thoughts” button at the top of the notes or you can find me on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or email me at [email protected] or [email protected]. To learn more about me visit https://www.medicalbhs.com/
LOVE WHAT YOU HEARD? Leave us a 5-star review so we can continue to provide you with great content. Share this episode and help people know more about children’s health and well-being.
