HOPE – The health services provided by the Hope Public Schools Bobcat Clinic on the Hope High School campus have demonstrated the success of the concept in the number of registrations logged and corresponding class time and employee time saved in the first four months of operation the Hope Public Schools Board learned at its Dec. 16 meeting.
Gretchen Carlton, clinic director, told the board a total of 395 registrations by students and employees had been logged to date since Sept. 9. Carlton presented figures which show student and staff registrations have been received from all five campuses in the district, exceeding a goal of 10 percent of student enrollment and district employees.
A completed registration packet is required to provide information on medical history of the student and family medical background, as well as parental consent for treatment through clinic services.
Carlton said student registrations have risen, in part, because athletics physicals required by the district have been closely monitored by coaches.
She said visits have been recorded by students and staff which were tracked for time savings.
“I’m really pleased with the results,” Carlton said.
Tracking time savings based upon visits in November, she said total class time saved for students in the month was 20 hours and 19 minutes, while staff time saved in November was 11 hours and 21 minutes.
“This has worked out really well for our staff and faculty,” Carlton said.
By example, most of the time savings in November centered around a push for student immunizations, she said.
“They have been able to come in, get their immunization, and go back to class,” Carlton said.
Immunizations, as is the case with other clinic visits, are based upon recommendation by a school nurse.
Hope Academy of Public Service Principal Dr. Carol Ann Duke said her staff likes the availability and quality of the services provided.
“The staff is really pleased with the medical care they’re receiving,” Dr. Duke said.
Regular hours for the Bobcat Clinic school-based health center are from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday for medical services; and, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday for behavioral health services. The clinic is closed daily from 11-11:30 a.m. for lunch. The clinic’s nurse practitioner may not be on campus during regular hours, at times, but those times will be announced by Carlton.