USA Health pediatrics plans weekly mobile clinic for Saraland public schools
Research on school-based health centers shows significant health benefits for students, including fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations and improved health outcomes, which can in turn lead to improved attendance and greater academic success.
By Casandra Andrews
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A year after expanding healthcare access for local students and families with a weekly health clinic at LeFlore Magnet High School, USA Health pediatric providers are extending that service to the Saraland City School District.
Two USA Health pediatricians, Jennifer Cole, M.D., and Myria Mack-Williams, M.D., will begin providing pediatric services to students on four campuses within Saraland City Schools on a rotating basis. A school nurse will make appointments for students.
“By bringing USA Health pediatric providers directly to where students attend school, we can more quickly and compassionately address healthcare needs without requiring them to leave campus,” said Natalie Fox, DNP, PNP-BC, CEO of USA Health. “This is a way to improve access, keep students in class longer, and it connects them to our academic health system, which can mean earlier detection and treatment of health issues.”
Research on school-based health centers shows significant health benefits for students, including fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations and improved health outcomes, which can in turn lead to improved attendance and greater academic success.
The weekly clinic, which will rotate across the four Saraland campuses beginning Sept. 24, will be staffed by one of the two pediatric physicians who can offer wellness checks, sick visits, sports physicals and preventive care to school-age patients.
“Dr. Cole and Dr. Mack-Williams are passionate about outreach initiatives that advance pediatric healthcare and promote school health,” said Benjamin Estrada, M.D., chair of the Department of Pediatrics at USA Health. “Their shared commitment to serving children and families where they are, thereby increasing access to pediatric healthcare, while simultaneously providing our pediatric residents with valuable community-based clinical experiences, is an outstanding reflection of our department’s mission.”
USA Health Adolescent and Young Adult Health providers will continue to see patients for well and sick visits in a mobile health clinic on Tuesdays during the school year at LeFlore High School. Appointments will also be made through the school nurse there.
In addition, USA Health Sports Medicine staff members provide coverage at most Mobile County Public School football games. The sports medicine team members, along with their colleagues across the health system, also offer free sports physicals during the summer to high school athletes and band members at the USA Mitchell Center.
