School-based health centers (SBHCs) represent a growing model of service delivery for medically under-served youth. SBHCs are providing primary care, acute care and health promotion activities for children and adolescents and there are now more than 1000 SBHCs nationwide. While research has shown that SBHCs offer improved access to needed medical care and preventive services, the model differs from community to community. For example, SBHCs serve a variety of functions depending on the managed care environment, state regulations, and community need. They may be identified as primary care providers, provide only acute services, or enhance existing primary care services. In Massachusetts, SBHCs provide primary care to students served by their sponsoring institutions. However, for students who receive their health care elsewhere, they provide urgent care and preventive services through a co-managment relatioship with the student's primary care provider. Co-managment requires communication with primary care providers, HMOs, and Medicaid. These arrangements are important for both rreimbursement as well as continuity of care. During this workshop, we will discuss the advantages to the co-management system and describe the process of implementation including contracts, communication forms, and protocols for collaboration. In addition, we will address issues of confidentiality and timeliness of communication. While SBHCs are fast becoming a proven, appropriate venue for providing health care to young people, they exist within a context of managed care. Effective coordination between SBHCs, school nurses, primary care providers, mental health providers, nutritionists and health educators, is the foundation on which quality care is based.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Articulate the value of providing primary care, co-management and prevention services in a school-based health center. 2. Identify the criteria involved in developing the concept of co-management. 3. Construct an outline to assist them in establishing a co-management system at either a SBHC or a primary care site. 4. Describe an example of successful co-managment between a SBHC and primary care site
Keywords: School-Based Health Care, Primary Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.