VIENNA — The Maries R-1 School District will be using Telehealth from a Rolla provider as a pathway to expanded assistance as the school district moves toward reopening for the 2020-21 school year during the coronavirus pandemic when health safety is a big concern.

At the recent Maries R-1 School Board meeting, Superintendent Mark Parker said he contacted the Your Community Health Center in Rolla about the Telehealth program, which will be offered at no cost to the district. Your Community Health Center CEO Stuart Gipson was at the school board meeting to inform the board about the new program.

They looked at the needs of the community during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and realized the biggest need for health care was in school. Schools want to get back to as normal as they can with students at school in their seats. There has been news about many students missing regular lunches and other problems with students not being able to come to school. They want to help kids stay in school and not overwhelm the school nurse with health issues. This is where the Telehealth equipment comes in that the community health center would provide. An example is a student with a fever and a sore throat which the school nurse could connect with a nurse practitioner or a doctor for advice or help. Service would be billed to the family’s insurance or written off. The community health center is there to take care of underserved patients. Gipson said using Telehealth they “build a pipeline between the school nurse and the health care provider, a pathway to care.”

The community health center also operates the Smile Mobile for dental care for students who need it.

Gipson said community health center plans to hire a floating nurse to assist the schools in the area. Students will need permission slips to use the Telehealth services and they will give the school district resources to get the parent-completed permission slips back to school. Parents can be involved in the online visit as well. Consent forms will be needed and parents will be contacted and informed before any treatment is done. Private insurance is used. There is no fee to the school. It’s an additional service and it takes about 15 minutes. The equipment does not have to have a nurse operate it, as anyone can do it.

They have two doctors, Dr. Bowman and Dr. Porter, a nurse practitioner and a physician’s assistant. The community health center has a large focus on Medicaid and students with no insurance. They will see how it works this year and evaluate it.

Board Vice President Penny Schoene said her concern “is having sick kids come to school.” Board member Mike Kleffner said they don’t want parents to send sick kids to school as this is not a doctor’s office. But, if they get sick in school, they will have this available.

Board member Joe Barnhart said he’s curious how R-1 School Nurse Lindsay Otto feels about it.

Gipson said they have a floating staff member who can help with the process. The community health center can test for COVID-19. The community health center will give the school nurse a lifeline to reach out to.

Parker said he wants to do this and wanted to inform the school board members.