1. School-Based Telehealth Approaches May 16, 2017
John Schlitt
School-Based Telehealth Approaches
May 16, 2017

3. Why Schools as Health Care Access Sites?
Not all children and teens are thriving
Persistent gaps for children and teens in health care access, quality, and outcomes
Distribution of health in our nation is inequitable and unjust
Determinants of health and education are the same

4. School Health Care Models
Behavioral Health
Primary Care
Triage and assessment
Oral Health
Vision Care

6. Benefits to School Settings
Child - access is unprecedented in safe and familiar environment
Parent - convenient: don’t have to take time off work
Employers - ditto above
Schools - fewer missed days and more seat time
Health System - cost-effective setting; ED diversion

7. What technology makes possible for school health models
Access to hard-to-reach provider and sub-specialists
Consultants to enhance school health care provider capacity
Greater provider efficiency
Expand access to add’l school sites
Increase visits/encounters

8. Model Examples
Children’s Health of Dallas School-Based Telehealth Network
University of New Mexico provider-to-provider consultation for behavioral health
Bassett Health Care school health, rural New York
Sacramento, Twin River School District tele-dentistry program

9. Conditions for Success
Parent engagement/ consent
Schools – willing partners
School nurses – gatekeeper
Community providers
Payment policy
Scope of practice
Health information exchange
High-speed broadband/ secure connection
Space in school

10. Limitations of Technology for School Health
Limited largely to acute/chronic conditions (medical – not dental)
Complements, not replaces, in-person visits
Challenging to establish long-term, continuous presence in school to effect culture of health

11. Federal Enabling Policies/Programs
ACA School-Based Heath Center Capital and Construction program ($200 M, )
HRSA Telehealth Network Grant Program ($6.3 M, 21 rural sites, 2016)
Hallways to Health Act (S. 356/H.R. 1027)

12. My Contact Info
John Schlitt

13. Program Contacts
Children’s Health of North Texas School-Based Telehealth Scott Summerall O: E: Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital School-Based Health Centers Jane Hamilton O: E:
University of Pacific/Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry Paul Glassman, DDS, MBA O: E: University of New Mexico Department of Pediatrics Kirsten Bennett PhD, RD, LD O: E: