LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Virtual healthcare will now be offered to students and staff at all 89 public elementary schools in Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) over the next two years.
Norton Healthcare and JCPS are expanding their partnership to make this happen.
According to a news release, the Norton eCare Telehealth program allows children to see a Norton Healthcare provider through a "secure video visit" from the school nurse's office. Working together, the school nurse and Norton Healthcare provider will use remote technology to treat students and staff for a variety of conditions.
Some conditions treated through a visit include cold, fever, rash, earache, pinkeye, and sore throat. In addition, the school nurse will be able to perform tests for strep throat, COVID-19, and the flu.
Parents have the option to join the visit, but if they can't the provider will send an after-visit summary home with the child. Officials said the telehealth visit is billable through the parent’s insurance plan or covered similarly to an office visit. The needed medications will then be sent to the family's pharmacy of choice.
“The goal is to keep children healthy, in school and learning,” Rachel Alexander, DNP, APRN, manager of telehealth at Norton Healthcare, said. “Through the program, we can evaluate the child while at school and allow them to remain in class if possible.”
The program can also help connect families with primary and specialty care providers, which officials said could help reduce student absenteeism.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for JCPS students, families and staff to receive immediate access to health care from their school,” Eva Stone, DNP, APRN, manager of district health services at JCPS, said. “Now, when a student comes to the nurse’s office with a medical issue, parents and guardians no longer have to inconveniently leave work to check on their children or take them to a doctor.”
The Norton eCare School Telehealth program launched in 2019. The Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation grant is allowing the program to expand to 50 elementary schools during the 2023-2024 school year and the district’s remaining elementary schools during the 2024-2025 school year.
“Expanding access to care, especially for students, is our priority,” said Lynnie Meyer, R.N., Ed.D., FAHP, CFRE, senior vice president and chief development officer, Norton Healthcare. “We see this as an opportunity to improve that access, while supporting busy parents. The goal of our partnership with JCPS is to keep children healthy.”
If you would like to enroll your student in the telehealth program, please click here.
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