In North Carolina, the corridors of education are witnessing a silent revolution. It’s not about new textbooks or novel teaching methods, but rather a digital innovation that’s enhancing student wellness — telehealth. Imagine a world where students don’t have to miss classes to attend medical check-ups. This is now becoming a reality across several schools in North Carolina.
Cutting Absenteeism
According to North Carolina Health News, students at Hillcrest Elementary have a unique opportunity to consult doctors during school hours without leaving the premises. This telehealth model has already proven to reduce absenteeism significantly, allowing students to receive routine care on-site. A visit that might have taken weeks away from classes is now seamlessly integrated into the school day.
Kristy Davis of Alamance-Burlington School System observes, “They could have been out of school for two or three weeks, but we were able to figure out what was wrong and get him the proper care.”
Surge in Academic Performance
The integration of telehealth has been linked to improved academic outcomes. With fewer absences and ready access to healthcare, test scores in schools like those in Guilford County have shown noticeable improvement. Data from the district indicates better attendance and reduced discipline referrals. Schools report an impressive correlation between clinic sign-ups and better reading and math scores.
Collaborative Efforts Across States
The growth of telehealth services is not limited to one area. Collaboratives spanning North Carolina and neighboring states have brought school, health, and government entities together. This partnership explores both successes and challenges, sharing pathways for further expansion.
Different models are in use, like the one at Cone Health where a telepresenter assists with medical consultations. This setup ensures students receive accurate care without having to leave the school environment. John Jenkins, Medical Director at Cone Health says, “The vast majority, about 90 percent of the time, we would return children to class the same day.”
Expanding Horizons to Behavioral Health
The field of telepsychiatry is also fast gaining traction, addressing behavioral health issues within schools. Programs run by the Department of Psychiatry at UNC Chapel Hill are integrating therapy and psychiatric consultations through telehealth.
“Early data shows that 70 percent of patients reported improvement with depression,” says Charissa Gray of UNC Chapel Hill. The schools are adapting to provide flexible sessions to accommodate students’ schedules, contributing to effective mental health management in educational settings.
Beyond the School Walls
The potential of telehealth goes beyond just schools. Kathy Wibberly from the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center advocates for expanding these services to the whole community, improving overall family health and well-being.
For the future, schools are aiming to expand their programs to cover more health aspects, with initiatives to include teacher care and summer session availability already underway. It represents a broader vision to incorporate health care seamlessly into educational settings, ensuring both students and faculty benefit from this transformative change.
As North Carolina schools pilot these cutting-edge solutions, they lay the groundwork for a future where education and health converge more closely than ever before. What implications could this have across the U.S.? Only time will tell.
