Quality Guidelines, Standards of Care, & Certification Requirements
State Resources - Louisiana
Principles, Standards and Guidelines for School-Based Health Centers in Louisiana
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals,
Office of Public Health
Louisiana Assembly on School-Based Health Care
Revised July, 2000
- Principles and Values of School-Based Health Centers
- Standards for Louisiana School-Based Health Centers
- Guidelines for School-Based Health Centers: Administrative
- Guidelines for School-Based Health Centers: Medical/Clinical
- Guidelines for School-Based Health Centers: Behavioral
- Table 1
I. Principles and Values of Louisiana School-Based
Health Centers*
*Adapted from "School Health Policy Initiative,"
Center for Population and Family Health, Columbia University School of
Public Health.
School-Based Health services should be developed based on local assessment
of needs and resources. At the local level schools having students
with the highest prevalence of unmet medical and psychosocial needs should
receive top priority for establishment of a Center. This principle also
guides the OPH selection process.
The Center should be available to and accessible by all currently
enrolled students. If possible the Center should provide services
to out-of school adolescents and dependents of students (e.g., children).
A Center may also provide services to students in other schools particularly
nearby preschool, primary/elementary, junior/middle and high school students.
School-Based Health Centers should be organized through school, parents,
business and community leaders, health, mental health, and social service
provider relationships. A representative Community Advisory Committee
is an essential component of the successful development and operation
of a Center.
Each School-Based Health Center should form and maintain a broad based
Community Advisory Committee to advise and assist in the development and
operation of the program. The School-Based Health Center should provide
comprehensive primary medical, social, and mental health services, as
well as health education, promotion, and prevention services designed
to meet the psychosocial and physical health needs of students in the
context of their family, culture, and environment. These services
must conform with state and local laws, regulations and community practices.
The School-Based Health Center should be respectful of individual
family values and diversity throughout all planning and delivery of services.
The Health Center must recognize that the child's health and well-being
is the ultimate responsibility of the parents. The Center's role is to
support parents in meeting this responsibility.
Parental consent must be required by every School Health Center prior
to enrolling a student as a patient. In School-Based Health Centers, the
parental consent requirement overrides the minor consent law. A parent
or guardian must sign a written consent form, approved by school authorities,
for a student to receive Health Center services. Parents may indicate
which services they do or do not wish their children to receive at the
Center. No child is treated, counseled or referred without prior parental
consent, except in an emergency situation.
The School-Based Health Center and the school must be committed to
operating with mutual respect and a spirit of collaboration. The school/school
district should facilitate and promote the utilization of the Center's
services.
The School-Based Health Center must be integrated into the coordinated
school health program of its host school. Schools with an on-site
Health Center should have or be working towards a school health program
that includes environment and curriculum. School Health Center planning,
services, and programs should be coordinated with school personnel, including
the school nurse, the school social worker, and counselors and other community
agencies and service providers located at the school site.
The School-Based Health Center and all partners involved in service
delivery must develop policies and procedures to ensure confidentiality.
Health Center practice and written policies should be designed to protect
the confidentiality of service delivery and health records.
School-Based Health Center services should be provided by a multidisciplinary
team that includes medical and mental health professionals. To the
extent feasible, service providers should also be drawn from the fields
of health education and nutrition.
The School-Based Health Center must arrange for 24-hour access to
services when the school or Health Center is closed. This may be done
through an on-call system of Health Center staff or other providers or
through a back-up health facility. The Center shall have in place
and publicize telephone answering methods that notify students and parents/guardians
of where and how to access the back-up services.
The School-Based Health Center should be designed to complement services
provided by existing health care providers or to serve as a "primary source
of preventative care". For parishes with community care providers
(Medicaid Managed Care), the Health Center must have a formal memorandum
of understanding with the community care provider that will permit coordinated
care.
The School-Based Health Center should educate the wider community
and the school concerning the health needs of youth and children. The
Health Center should participate in data collection and record keeping
systems and should distribute information about services delivered.
II. Standards for Louisiana School-Based Health
Centers
PRIMARY GOAL:
To provide convenient access to primary and preventive care for students
who might otherwise have limited or no access to health care. To meet
the physical and emotional health needs of adolescents at their school
site.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
Criteria for awarding state funds to local Health Center initiatives include
socioeconomic need of the community, lack of access to health services
by the adolescent student population, community support, working relationship
between the health and education agencies, and likelihood of Health Center
sponsors fulfilling service goals and objectives.
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION:
All Health Centers must originate as a community initiative. State funding
is dependent upon evidence of broad community participation in the planning
process and on the Center's Community Advisory Committee, including parents,
students, civic, business and religious leaders.
SPONSORING AGENCY:
The sponsoring agency shall be a non-profit public or private institution
locally suited and fiscally viable to administer and operate a Health
Center serving the needs of adolescents (i.e., health center, hospital,
medical school, health department, youth serving agency, school or school
system). Non-medical agencies must contract the medical component with
a qualified medical provider; the medical providing agency must have a
formal agreement with the host school district. The preparation of the
physical site and provision of cost of continued utilities and maintenance
of the site is the responsibility of the School Board. The contractor
must maintain compliance with the state's reporting requirements. The
agency must also provide information to the school system regarding liability
issues and other recurring cost obligations. Every recipient community
is required to provide a 20% financial match of the OPH grant award. The
sponsoring agency shall work toward financial self-sufficiency, in the
most cost effective manner possible. Finally, applicants for funds must
demonstrate that the services to be provided do not duplicate existing
services available and are accessible to the students they intend to serve.
OPERATING POLICIES:
Centers must be open to meet students' needs for services. Centers must
function as an integral component of a school's comprehensive health program
and work cooperatively with school nurses, counselors, classroom teachers,
coaches, principals and physical, speech and occupational therapists.
It is the policy of School-Based Health Centers to promote abstinence
as the method for preventing pregnancy and diseases. Centers are prohibited
by State law from distributing contraceptives or abortifacient drugs or
devices, and from counseling or advocating abortion, or referring any
student to an organization for counseling or advocating abortion. A clear
statement of these prohibitions of School-Based Health Centers must be
posted in the Center. The staff shall be required to sign documents pledging
to comply with all policies and procedures of the School-Based Health
Center. In addition, the Center must be certified as a Medicaid provider.
PARENTAL CONSENT:
A parent or guardian must sign a written consent form, approved by
school authorities, for a student to receive Health Center services. Parents
may indicate which services they do or do not wish their children to receive
at the Center.
SERVICES:
Services provided should include, but need not be limited to primary
and preventive health care and medical screenings; treatment for common
illnesses and minor injuries; referral and follow-up for serious illnesses
and emergencies; on-site care and consultation, as well as referral and
follow-up for pregnancy, chronic diseases and disorders, and emotional
and behavioral problems; on-site referral and care for drug and alcohol
abuse and sexually transmitted diseases; sports and employment physicals;
immunizations; preventive services for high-risk behaviors and conditions
such as pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, drug and alcohol abuse,
violence, and injuries; and laboratory testing.
STAFFING:
Health care providers at each Center should include, at a minimum,
a registered nurse with experience in caring for adolescents; one or more
primary care providers (nurse practitioner, physician assistant, physician);
a medical director; and a Master's level social worker or mental health
professional. The Health Center staff should also include an administrator
and a medical office assistant. The school nurse should work with School-Based
Health Center personnel. (See staffing, section III B, for details.)
CONTINUUM OF CARE:
Centers must execute cooperative agreements with community health
care providers to link students to support and specialist services not
provided at the school site. Centers must arrange 24-hour coverage ensuring
that students have access to services during non-operating hours, i.e.,
nights, weekends, holidays, etc.
EVALUATION AND PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT: Every Center is required
to (1) submit and adhere to annual objectives and a plan for monitoring
and evaluation of such objectives; (2) participate in the Clinical Fusion
data collection system; (3) submit monthly and quarterly progress reports;
(4) develop and maintain financial mechanisms; (5) abide by written policies
and procedures; (6) participate in the Louisiana School-Based Health Center
Network in its efforts to maintain and improve quality of care; (7) successfully
complete the LA Program Effectiveness Review Tool (quality assurance)
and develop three quality improvement programs annually; (8) post the
telephone number of the entity to which violations of compliance or other
complaints can be reported. Compliance audits shall be conducted at regular
intervals, and documentation and evaluation of compliance shall be available
for review at each Center and at the Office of Public Health.
III. Guidelines for School-Based Health Centers:
Administrative
A. Relationships
1. School-Based Health Centers are organized through family, school,
community, and health provider relationships. There should be established
relationships with:
a. The student's family
School-Based Health Center providers should make every effort to involve
the student's family, in regard to the care of the student. Whenever possible,
parents/guardians should receive prior notification of any services to
be provided to a child and should be given the option of joining their
child when the services are rendered. Being family-centered means that
policies regarding access, availability, and flexibility take into consideration
the various structures and functions of families in the community being
served. Providing primary care means understanding the nature, role, and
impact of a child's health, illness, disability, or injury in terms of
the family's structure, function, and dynamics.
b. The school, school board and school district
No site can operate without the consent of the school board. All
SBHCs must operate as a partnership between the school and the health
care provider.
The School-Based Health Center is integrated into the school environment,
and both are committed to operating with mutual respect and a spirit
of collaboration. The school assists the Health Center in many ways,
including:
1. marketing the School-Based Health Center;
2. helping to obtain informed parental consent;
3. helping to obtain information on insurance status and on Medicaid
status, including enrollment in a managed care plan;
4. providing access to school health records;
5. maintaining the facility;
6. providing space at no cost; and
7. collaborating in the establishment of a Comprehensive School Health
Program Advisory Board.
The partnership between the school district and the School Health Center
should include the following:
1. there should be a current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between
the health care provider and the school district;
2. meetings between the school district and/or school building administration
and the health care provider should be held on a regular basis;
3. methods for addressing priorities and resolving differences should
be spelled out in the MOU;
4. the MOU should provide assurances that there will be a collaborative
relationship between the SBHC staff and school personnel such as health
educators, school nurses, drug abuse counselors, social workers, etc;
and
5. the MOU should describe how the provider will provide 24-hour access
to services when the School-Based Health Center is closed.
The Health Center's relationship with the school involves routinely
publicizing Center services to the student body as a whole at least
twice a year. Methods of outreach include:
1. contacts during school registration;
2. PTA meeting attendance;
3. mail outs/send home notes;
4. bulletin boards/posters;
5. student newspapers; and
6. teacher/staff referrals.
c. The community
The comprehensive School-Based Health Center recognizes that it functions
within the community and should draw upon and contribute to its resources.
The SBHCs' programs and services will reflect the health needs and concerns
of the community.
d. The back-up facility
The SBHC must provide information on resources for a 24-hour back-up
facility which provides care when the school is closed.
e. The child's regular source of primary health care
Policies and procedures should be in place to assure that there is
communication with the student's parents and/or other health care provider
(if the child has one outside of the SBHC) to ensure that the child
obtains all needed services and to prevent duplication. Procedures should
be in place regarding the sharing of medical records in accordance with
confidentiality laws.
f. Local Children with Disabilities Program-Office of Public Health
Regional Program for Children with Special Health Needs (CSHN)
g. School-based and other health providers serving students with
Individualized Education Plans (IEP)
h. Local Department of Social Services
i. Local Offices of Public Health, Mental Health, and Addictive
Disorders
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) should be in place to assure that
the SBHC and the Parish Health Unit coordinate rather than duplicate
provision of mandated health services when those health services are
the obligation of the Parish Health Unit (PHU). The MOU should indicate
whether the SBHC or the PHU is responsible for assuring that children
obtain necessary physical examinations, immunizations, and screenings
required for entry into school.
B. Staffing
The comprehensive School-Based Health Center (SBHC) services are provided
by a multi-disciplinary team. The staffing requirements for Louisiana
SBHCs are as follows for medical, mental/behavioral, and administrative
personnel. Staffing patterns must conform to one of the following types
of medical and mental/behavioral health models.
1. Primary Care Medical Staff
Type 4
1. Nurse Practitioner
a. licensed to practice in Louisiana
b. maintains prescriptive authority
c. provides comprehensive primary and preventive health care
d. available at one full-time equivalent per 700-1500 students
enrolled in the Center
AND
2. Physician/Medical Director (MD)
a. licensed to practice in Louisiana
b. provides supervision and medical consultation as per the MD/APRNcollaborative
agreement and state standards for APRN
c. available to provide primary and preventive health care as needed
OR
3. Physician/Medical Director (MD)
a. licensed to practice in Louisiana
b. provides primary and preventive health care at a minimum of 32 hours
per week per site
Type 3
1. Nurse Practitioner
a. licensed to practice in Louisiana
b. maintains prescriptive authority
c. provides comprehensive primary and preventive health care
d. available at a minimum of 12 hours per week per site
AND
2. Physician/Medical Director (MD)
a. licensed to practice in Louisiana
b. provides supervision and medical consultation as per the MD/APRN
collaborative agreement and state standards for APRN
c. available to provide primary and preventive health care as needed
OR
3. Physician/Medical Director (MD)
a. licensed to practice in Louisiana
b. provides primary and preventive health care at a minimum of 12 hours
per week per site
Type 2
1. Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant
a. licensed to practice in Louisiana
b. prescriptive authority preferred
c. provides comprehensive primary and preventive health care
d. available at a minimum of 8 hours per week per site
AND
2. Physician/Medical Director (MD)
a. licensed to practice in Louisiana
b. provides supervision and medical consultation as per the MD/APRN
collaborative agreement and state standards for APRN
c. available to provide primary and preventive health care at a minimum
of 4 hours per week per site or 8 hours every other week per site
OR
3. Physician/Medical Director (MD)
a. licensed to practice in Louisiana
b. provides primary and preventive health care at a minimum of 8 hours
per week per site
Type 1
1. Physician/Medical Director (MD)
a. licensed to practice in Louisiana
b. one or more physicians provide supervision, medical consultation
and primary and preventive health care
c. available at a minimum of 4 hours per week per site
Additional Medical Service Provider
1. Registered Nurse (RN)
a. licensed registered nurse in Louisiana
b. Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred
c. provides direct service
d. is available at one full-time equivalent (FTE) per 700 - 1500 students
enrolled in theCenter
(Exception: In Type 4, an RN is not required if the NP is full-time.)
Summary:
Type Provider Hours (minimum per site)
| |
NP
|
MD
|
RN
|
| 4 |
35-40/week |
as needed |
------- |
| 3 |
12/week |
as needed |
35-40/week |
| 2 |
8/week
(PA acceptable) |
4/week or
8 every other week |
35-40/week |
| 1 |
---- |
4/week |
35-40/week |
OR
Type Provider Hours (minimum per site)
|
|
MD only
|
RN
|
|
4
|
32/week
|
35-40/week
|
|
3
|
12/week
|
35-40/week
|
|
2
|
8/week
|
35-40/week
|
|
1
|
4/week
|
35-40/week
|
2. Behavioral Health Counselor
Type A
SBHC services provided by a mental health professional licensed
in Louisiana as either a Clinical Psychologist, Professional Counselor
(LPC) or a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Preferably the clinician will
have experience in child and adolescent behavioral health.
Type B
SBHC services provided by a non-licensed, but academically qualified
mental health professional (i.e., a graduate from an accredited institution)
who is progressing towards a written plan for obtaining a license. This
includes a collaborative practice agreement for at least one hour per
week of direct clinical supervision by a professional licensed in Louisiana
as either a Clinical Psychologist, Professional Counselor (LPC) or a
Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), who is also a Board approved supervisor.
AND
All SBHC employees hired before June 30, 2000 must obtain a license
by June 30, 2003.
AND
To verify that the non-licensed professional is providing qualified
clinical services, a licensed professional must annually review at least
psychosocial charts, and document clinical accountability by signing
the chart review summary (page 23) of the LAPERT.
Type C
SBHC services provided by a non-licensed, but academically qualified
mental health professional (i.e., a graduate from an accredited institution)
who is progressing towards a written plan for obtaining a license. This
includes a collaborative practice agreement for at least one hour per
week of direct clinical supervision by a professional licensed in Louisiana
as either a Clinical Psychologist, Professional Counselor (LPC) or a
Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), who is also a Board approved supervisor.
AND
Any SBHC employee hired after July 1, 2000 must obtain a license within
three years of the hire date.
AND
To verify that the non-licensed professional is providing qualified
clinical services, a licensed professional must annually review at least
psychosocial charts, and document clinical accountability by signing
the chart review summary (page 23) of the LAPERT.
Regardless of service type, all SBHCs
must provide a minimum
of 20 hours per week of
direct mental/behavioral health care
which includes the psychosocial assessment, treatment plan, and progress/follow-up
notes; but, excludes all administrative duties which are not documented
in (or directly related to) the treatment plan. Ideally, the SBHCs offer
school children full time (35-40 hours per week) access to their mental
health professionals.
4. Clinic Coordinator/Receptionist
Shall be available at one FTE per 700-1500 enrolled students to welcome
and register students into the Center; and work with staff in areas
such as patient flow, appointment setting, checking insurance, recalling
students, immunization records, data collection, and state reporting
requirements.
5. Program Manager
An administrator shall be employed to supervise clinic operations,
analyze data, prepare annual budget, staff community advisory committee,
coordinate quality assurance, conduct needs assessment and satisfaction
surveys, act as liaison with school(s), etc.
The following staff should be provided according to local need and feasibility:
1. Health Educator
a. provides individual and group health education, as well as classroom
education where possible; and
b. needs to be trained specifically in health education.
2. Behavioral Health Supervisor (may be available in larger metropolitan
areas)
a. is a doctorate-level professional; and
b. provides consultative and supervisory services for the Behavioral
Health Counselor.
3. Community Outreach Worker
a. coordinates social service assessments, referrals, and follow-ups.
4. School Nurse (RN)
a. provides triage in School-Based Health Center when PA or SBHC RN
is not on site, if located in the SBHC; and
b. refers students to the SBHC as appropriate for evaluation and treatment
or follow-up.
5. Nutritionist
6. Dentist
7. Dental Hygienist
C. Organization and Function
1. Organizational Structure
There should be an organizational chart reflecting clear lines of authority
for the administration of the School-Based Health Center, as well as
the roles of the back-up provider, the SBHC, and the school. This chart
should be reviewed periodically and revised as needed.
2. Community Advisory Committee
The SBHC should have a Community Advisory Committee which is representative
of the constituency and is oriented to comprehensive school health.
Community Advisory Committee meetings should be scheduled on a regular
basis and minutes from meetings should be distributed to all who participate.
Advisory Committee membership can include school staff, community members,
health providers, parents and students. The Advisory Committee should
be involved in program planning and development, identification of emerging
health issues and appropriate interventions, assisting in identifying
funding for the School-Based Health Center, and providing advocacy for
the program.
3. Policies and Procedures
There should be a clear statement or manual of all SBHC policies and
procedures, including specification of who is responsible for a given
policy or procedure. Policies and procedures reviewed annually and dated
include the following:
a. the program assures employment without regard to race, color, religion,
sex, national origin, veteran status, political affiliation, disabilities,
age or an individual's sexual orientation;
b. standards should exist for provider qualifications, which should
be reviewed and updated routinely;
c. job descriptions, curricula vitae, resumes, and annual performance
evaluations should be on file with the program;
d. procedures should be established for orientation, on the job training,
and continuing education of staff;
e. Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant protocols and Registered Nurse
standing orders should be current and signed by the SBHC medical director;
f. there should be a listing of manual procedures which adequately describes
all the procedures to be done (i.e., cleaning of exam rooms), consistent
with the prevailing practice;
g. there should be a policy on parental consent; and
h. medical records should be maintained in accordance with Louisiana
Law.
4. Fiscal Operations & Data Management/Medicaid and Other Third Party
Reimbursement/ Managed Care
Quality Assurance of these areas is monitored by the State of Louisiana
Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, Maternal
and Child Health, Adolescent School Health Initiative.
D. Quality Assurance Activities
1. There should be one person designated as the quality assurance
coordinator.
2. There should be written specified quality assurance policies and
procedures which include:
a. provider licensing credentials and maintenance;
1. documentation of skills and orientation (including confidentiality
information, review of policy and procedure manual, protocols and standing
orders as appropriate, mentoring by other staff, etc.)
b. continuing education;
1. CPR training as required by sponsoring agency
2. review of CLIA precautions
c. pre-employment procedures as required by the sponsoring agency;
d. staff and program evaluation;
e. chart review criteria;
f. selection on clinical issues/investigation;
g. complaint and incident review; and
h. corrective actions and time frame.
3. Evaluation and Performance Improvement:
a. All School-Based Health Centers in Louisiana receiving
funding from the Office of Public Health are required to complete and
submit the Louisiana Program Evaluation Review Tool (LAPERT) to the
Office of Public Health, Maternal and Child Health, Adolescent School
Health Initiative by the 3rd quarter, and to internally review and update
this information to OPH on a yearly basis. The LA SBHCs will be site visited
every three years by a team of health care professionals using the information
submitted on the LAPERT.
b. LA SBHCs are required to:
* Develop a quality improvement program and report on its progress
on a quarterly basis;
* Submit and adhere to annual objectives and a plan for monitoring
and evaluation of such objectives;
* Participate in the Clinical Fusion data collection system;
* Submit monthly and quarterly progress reports;
* Develop and maintain financial mechanisms;
* Abide by written policies and procedures;
* Participate in the Louisiana School-Based Health Center Network efforts
to maintain and improve quality of care;
* Post the telephone number of the entity to which violations of compliance
or other complaints can be reported.
c. Compliance audits shall be conducted at regular intervals and documentation
and evaluation of compliance shall be available for review at each Center
and at the Office of Public Health.
d. Accreditation:
1. LA SBHCs must meet the criteria to qualify for accreditation required
by the sponsoring agency (e.g., if the sponsoring agency for the SBHC
is a hospital accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the SBHC must meet the JCAHO criteria
for accreditation).
2. SBHCs may be required by other funding agencies to meet other health
care quality assurance measures.
IV: Guidelines for School-Based Health Centers: Medical/Clinical
A. Services
The comprehensive School-Based Health Center provides age-appropriate
primary health, mental/behavioral health, social health, and health
education services. These services should comply with Louisiana's Early
and Periodic Screening/Diagnosis and Treatment Program (EPSDT), KIDMED*
requirements. Most primary care is performed on-site. Some services,
based on local need and expertise, may be made available by referral,
including appropriate follow-up. See Table 1 for a listing of the essential
and preferred services.
* KIDMED is Louisiana's State EPSDT program. It is a federally mandated
initiative to provide comprehensive preventive health care and diagnostic
treatment and follow-up to children who are eligible for Medicaid, up
to the age of 21. It is designed to meet the Federal and State requirements
for the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment program
which was created by Title XIX of the Social Security Act.
1. Access to services
The comprehensive School-Based Health Center must be open and staffed
during all school hours. School-Based Health Centers should be located
in areas of need in the community and in schools of the greatest need.
The provider must ensure 24-hour access to services for School-Based
Health Center users during non-school hours and vacation periods and
ensure the continuity of care for School-Based Health Center users referred
to other providers.
When providing services by referral, providers should offer as many
options as possible. Follow-up must involve checking that the appointment
was kept, that services met student's needs, and that the outcome of
the referral, including relevant health care findings, as incorporated
into the patient's medical record. If services are provided by referral,
financial, geographical, and other barriers should be minimized.
2. Enrollment and parental consent
The provider, through cooperation with the participating schools, shall
make parental consent forms available to all enrolling students for
whom services will be available to obtain the written consent of the
parent or legal guardian. If the individual receiving services is eighteen
years of age or older or is an emancipated minor and is competent to
give such consent, he/she can sign the consent.
3. Comprehensive health assessments
These components of a health assessment are required for every student
enrolled in the School-Based Health Center:
Every child will have a health history submitted with the consent form
which will be updated as needed. The health history will include the
following:
1. Past and present medical and surgical history
2. Medications which the child is receiving
3. Any known allergies, particularly to medication
4. Mental health history and interventions
5. Family health history
6. Immunizations (unless this is provided through the school record)
Every child will have, at a minimum, the following:
1.Vitals: Initial height, weight (plotted on a growth chart), and blood
pressure screening yearly (if the student is seen in the Health Center).
2. Review of the submitted health history (this is to be signed by the
clinician who reviews it).
The components of an age-appropriate health assessment must meet KIDMED
standards and include:
1. Reproductive assessment
2. Dental Screening
3. Health Education/Counseling
4. Hearing Screening
5. Hemoglobin/Hematocrit
6. Lead Screening
7. Nutrition Assessment
8. Review of System/Physical Exam
9. Scoliosis Screening
10. Vision Screening
11. Risk Assessment and risk factors
If students are enrolled in a School-Based Health Center which is on
a continuum (beginning with elementary school or middle school), the
health assessments should be reviewed and updated as necessary when
entering middle school and/or high school.
Health assessments as needed: Yearly for sports physicals, and for working
papers, when requested.
More frequent comprehensive health assessments should be performed for
children and adolescents with chronic or at-risk conditions who may
need such visits.
4. Diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions
On-site diagnosis, treatment, and appropriate triage and referral mechanisms
must be in place for:
a. minor problems; and
b. acute problems.
On-site routine management of chronic conditions (asthma, diabetes,
etc.) is provided in consultation with child's primary care provider
or specialist as appropriate and prescriptions are provided for:
a. minor problems;
b. acute problems; and
c. chronic conditions.
5. Immunizations should be provided/verified as necessary as part
of the comprehensive health assessment. As resources permit and as
local needs dictate, immunizations will also be made available for any
student who needs them, with parental consent. The school nurse and/or
health center nurse, based on collaborative agreement with school board,
is responsible for monitoring students' compliance with the immunizations
required by state law.
6. Laboratory testing
Testing performed on-site should include but not be limited to:
a. hematocrit/hemoglobin;
b. urinalysis-dipstix;
c. wet-prep pregnancy tests (in adolescent centers).
Specimens obtained and performed on-site or sent to qualified laboratory
should include, but are not limited to:
a. throat culture and other infectious sites;
b. microscopic urinalysis;
c. sickle-cell test (when appropriate);
d. lead test (when age-appropriate); and
e. complete blood count with differential.
A system for promptly posting lab results should exist. Clinically
significant lab results are flagged for follow-up.
7. Preventive services should be provided for high-risk behaviors and
conditions, such as pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, drugs and
alcohol abuse, injuries, and violence.
8. Health education/promotion
The School-Based Health Center provides health education for the students,
their families, and Health Center staff, and where possible supports
the provision of comprehensive health education in the classroom. Services
include:
a. one-on-one patient education, documented by patient chart;
b. group/targeted education at the Center;
c. family and community health education;
d. health education for Health Center and school staff; and
e. support for comprehensive health education in the classroom, provided
in areas such as:
1. substance use prevention/cessation;
2. intentional and unintentional injury prevention;
3. nutrition;
4. social skills development;
5. death and dying issues;
6. physical and emotional development;
7. conflict resolution;
8. child abuse prevention;
9. violence prevention;
10. STD/HIV/AIDS prevention;
11. relationships based on self-esteem, mutual respect;
12. chronic conditions (i.e., asthma);
13. general parenting skills;
14. chronic disease prevention (smoking cessation/prevention, heart
disease, osteoporosis); and
15. dental health.
B. Facility Requirements
1. Space must be adequate to accommodate appropriate staff, to afford
client verbal/physical privacy, and to allow for ease in performing
necessary clerical, laboratory, and clinical activities.
2. For a School-Based Health Center with an enrollment of 700, approximately
2,000 square feet is required. The size of this space should be adjusted
according to enrollment and changes in staffing. Space should include:
a. a minimum of one hand washing area which is easily accessible to
all clinical areas; a minimum of one exam room, and preferably 2 exam
rooms per full-time provider;
b. 1 counseling room/private area;
c. 1 laboratory area;
d. 1 patient bathroom;
e. 1 waiting room;
f. 1 storage room/area;
g. 1 clerical area.
The School-Based Health Center must be equipped with a private telephone
line and access to fax machine capabilities.
V: Guidelines for School-Based Health Centers: Behavioral
A. Behavioral/Mental Health
The comprehensive School-Based Health Center provides behavioral health
care in both individual and group settings, including assessment, treatment,
referral, and crisis intervention. Services include:
a. individual behavioral health assessment, treatment, and follow-up
in areas including:
1. abuse/neglect
2. suicide/homicide
3. alcohol/substance abuse
4. relationship problems (i.e., peer, parent, teacher, etc.)
5. behavior/emotional problems
6. academic problems
b. crisis intervention;
c. linkage with community counseling; and
d. short- and long-term counseling.
The following services must be made available on-site or by referral:
a. group and family counseling; and
b. further evaluation, treatment and or education.
B. Case management
Case management in the SBHC refers to a coordinated system of care
where Center personnel meet on a regularly scheduled basis (e.g., once
a week, twice a month) to plan for a patient's care. Case management
includes a referral and follow-up system to assure completion of the
plan of care, problem resolution and quality of care as well as staff
assistance that enables patient access to needed services.
C. Social services
The comprehensive School-Based Health Center provides initial assessments
and referrals to social service agencies, as well as some on-site services.
Services may include but are not limited to:
a. social service assessment, referral, and follow-up for needs such
as:
1. basic needs (food, shelter, clothing);
2. legal services;
3. public assistance;
4. assistance with Medicaid and other health insurance enrollment;
5. employment services; and
6. child care services.
b. transportation arrangements to back-up facility or referral site.
D. Other services provided on-site or by referral include:
a. dental care;
b. nutrition services;
c. specialty care; and
d. well-child care of students' children.
Next: Table 1
