Database system solutions for SBHC clinic and staff performance, service and treatment reporting information required by the school district and other community partners

Objectives: School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) in an urban neighborhood provide needed health care services to its uninsured/underinsured students most of whom are low income and/or newly arrived immigrants/refugees. In order to track visits, services and treatments, and evaluate staff performance and the utilization of SBHC resources in association with the long-term benefits of improved health such as academic performance and reduced absenteeism, we created a comprehensive, tailored database (Health Management System/HMS) for three existing SBHCs and one new SBHC. Methods: Designed in collaboration with school nurses, HMS has a nurse-friendly interface with drop-down menus allowing easy recording of the daily student visits including the chief complaint, diagnosis, treatment and education offered or referrals made. HMS allows for recording various health screens e.g. vision, hearing, dental, body mass index and blood pressure with a simple check box. HMS automatically generates up-to-date summaries by aggregating visit data required for monthly reports to the school district and other community partners. Results: HMS can link with school enrollment information such as age, race/ethnicity, gender, grade and attendance records to be merged with clinic information to illustrate the long-range benefits of SBHCs. This system allows for standardized comparisons of geographically associated SBHCs in an urban multiethnic setting. Conclusions: HMS allows accessing of SBHC visit information in a convenient electronic format. HMS summary reports determine clinic and staff performance along with evaluating the impact of improved student heath in relation to academic performance and absenteeism rates. HMS can serve as a model database for SBHCs nation-wide.