TRC and Jamestown High School celebrate School Based Health Center

Executive Director Paul Cesana addresses a question from the audience during the School-Based Health Center press conference.  With him are Deb Piotrowski, the Nurse Practitioner at the SBHC, and JHS Principal Joe Yelich.

February is National School-Based Health Care Awareness Month, and in conjunction with this observance, The Resource Center and the Jamestown Public School District recently teamed up to celebrate healthy students building healthy communities.

A news conference and open house were held February 9 at Jamestown High School to discuss the importance and success of the School-Based Health Center (SBHC) that TRC operates at JHS.  The SBHC opened in 2005 and continues to be a growing asset to the community.

“The ability to provide this program has really allowed our kids to save time and not miss school for extended periods of time, to get treated for issues that don’t necessarily belong” in the emergency room said JHS Principal Joseph Yelich.  “We’re able to save a significant amount of student and teacher contact time by having access to these programs and services here in our school, and that for us has been huge.”

“This is clearly so important, especially for young people,” said TRC Executive Director Paul Cesana, "in an environment like health care, that we know is most challenging and continues to be most challenging at a local level, but as we know, at the State and National level as well.”

For those who aren’t familiar with the concept, an SBHC is equivalent to having a doctor’s office in the school.  Located right across from the nurse’s office at JHS, the SBHC provides care to kids who otherwise may not get the services they need.

“From the time the student walks into our doors, our waiting room, their privacy is assured,” said Deb Piotrowski, SBHC Nurse Practitioner.  “We are bound by HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) confidentiality, just like a doctor’s office.”

School Based Health Centers across the nation, like the one in Jamestown, are focused on prevention, meaning each one works to stop or catch a condition early, before it gets too costly or does more damage.  The center also offers primary care services, like child exams, the monitoring of asthma and dental screenings, which often lead to referrals to TRC's Dental Services.

And, as part of the education component of the SBHC, kids learn about and discuss preventing obesity, tobacco use, grief, peer pressure, bullying, and suicidal thoughts. 

Studies have shown that having an SBHC supports education by keeping kids healthy and in class.  Experts say SBHCs reduce absenteeism, tardiness and discipline problems.  About 53 percent of students report no class time was missed, while 75 percent report that without the center, they would have missed at least one class to go to a traditional health clinic. 

When the program started, there were 60 students enrolled.  In 2009-2010, 910 were enrolled in the SBHC, with 702 receiving services over the course of 4,834 total visits.  For 56 percent of the students, Medicaid Managed Care was their main insurance provider, with 33 percent utilizing private insurance and 10 percent being uninsured.  Students without insurance are referred to a facilitated enroller to help in securing insurance. 

“We continue to grow the program," said Mr. Yelich, “and we’ve entered into many community partnerships as a result, including the County Health Department, CASAC (Chautauqua Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Council) and the County’s Tapestry program (a system of care for children and youth with severe emotional disturbance)."

In addition, the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation has provided a $200,000 grant to implement an Electronic Medical Records system within TRC's Diagnostic and Treatment Services, and the Community Health Foundation of Western and Central New York funded the $100,000 startup costs for the SBHC.  Also, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and the Jamestown Rotary Club have awarded program and equipment grants to the SBHC.

“We appreciate the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the success of these partnerships,” said Paul.  "It is important to realize how critical it is for a community to put the resources together to ensure better results for everyone concerned.”

Following the news conference, invited guests and members of the media toured the SBHC to get a firsthand account of what goes on. 

“We’ve seen huge growth,” said Ms Piotrowski.  “It’s been very successful, and we need more School-Based Health Centers.”

In addition to Ms. Piotrowski, JHS SBHC staff includes Supervising Physician Dr. Thomas Putnam; Nicole Chapman, Registered Nurse; and Medical Assistant Jillian Zeolle. 

And so, as the group proceeds through year six, those at the news conference say the SBHC will continue to be a successful model for the community because of the strong support of its partners.  If you would like more information about the SBHC, whether it is to enroll your child and help support the cause, please contact Karen LaSota, TRC's Resource Development, Research and Grants Coordinator, at 661-1518, or Joe Yelich at 483-3470.