Health clinics to open in elementary schools

In a unique move for the Massachusetts health-care industry, the Joseph M. Smith Community Health Center will open two primary care clinics in elementary schools this year, according to Valerie Vigoda, the center’s director for health services.

The clinics, planned for the Thomas Gardner Elementary School and the Jackson Mann Elementary School complex, will provide basic medical services, as well as mental health and dental services, family planning and nutritional advice. Services will be available to students, families and community members during most school hours. Services will also be available before and after school on certain days.

“We’re somewhat of a pioneer,” Vigoda said. “I think it’s a great model, and we’re optimistic about our success.”

Although the clinics are still in the planning stages, the center has received a federal grant and plans to open one in September and the other in December. Soon after they open, the center will file for licensing though the Department of Public Health. The clinics do not have to be licensed to provide services. 

During the first year of operations, Vigoda hopes to serve about 1,000 patients, including students, their families and local residents. “The idea is that you provide a familiar environment, something that’s non-threatening,” said Vigoda. “Some of the people [in the community] don’t have health insurance; they have language barriers and immigration issues. We want a place for them to feel safe.” 

The Horace Mann School, which shares a building with the Jackson Mann School and serves hearing-impaired students, will benefit from having a health clinic in the familiar school environment, according to Principal Jeremiah Ford.

“Students have a comfort level in the school, and I imagine that would transfer over to the clinic,” said Ford. “If the medical staff has a strong relationship with the students, health care will only be enhanced.”

Ford explained that the clinics will be convenient for parents, who might otherwise need to pick up their children from school and transport them across the city for doctors’ appointments, leaving work early and fighting traffic to get there.

Ford also pointed out the advantage of shared information between the school and the clinic. “The school is rich with information for the doctors and nurses that will speed up the healing process and catch disease faster,” he said. “It will help if the staff knows the students over a period of time.” 

Erica Herman, the principal of the Thomas Gardner School, is equally excited about having medical care on site, especially after the school’s previous clinic, run by St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, lost funding and was forced to close down three years ago.

“It was highly successful having the clinic within the school. But due to the nature of the funding we had, we weren’t able to get the license to keep it going. Joseph Smith has the capacity to secure the licensing which will allow us to pursue the funding long-term.”

Herman talked about the impact that the clinic would have not only on the medical health of the students, but also on their academic life.

“If kids can get the health care they need, we can see students who are much more ready to learn within the classroom,” Herman said. “It makes a huge difference with attendance rates and kids being prepared to learn every day.”

At this point, it seems the clinics’ future depends on continued collaboration between the Joseph M. Smith Center and the schools. Herman’s enthusiasm is encouraging. “I can’t say enough about how excited we are for this partnership,” she said.