Snohomish County Community Health Center (CHC) has expanded its school-based health center program to Mountlake Terrace High School and now operates a full-service clinic.
This will be the second student health center in the Edmonds School District operated by CHC and funded by the Verdant Health Commission.The first one is in Linwood meadowdale high school – Opening in September 2022.
CHC Business Development Director Zoe Reese and MTHS School Nurse Sherman Davidson explained that having a clinic on campus reduces transportation barriers and makes it easier for people with and without insurance to access health care. Did.
The service is available throughout the academic year, and students can schedule an appointment before, during, or after class.
“I think that's a big part of making them feel like it's a safe place, a private place, and a place that's designed to meet their needs,” Reese said.
However, privacy guarantees extend beyond the physical to the digital, with separate phone and internet lines from the school.
“We use all our own services, not because we don't trust the school district, but because the school district and CHC take privacy very seriously,” Reese explained.
Our clinics are staffed by nurses and provide a full range of primary care services, including preventive care, immunizations, physical exams, treatment of minor illnesses and injuries, management of chronic conditions, and referrals to specialists when needed. .
Reese explained that the clinic follows Washington state law regarding consent of minors and when people can self-consent for reproductive health and sexual health services. They provide primary care with a range of age-appropriate reproductive health services, with a focus on screening rates.
Additionally, we can offer you any contraceptive options in your healthcare provider's setting.
“We don't do abortions,” Reese said. “We are not an abortion provider, and abortion is not part of our CHC primary care practice.”
Dentists and dental assistants provide a wide range of services, including routine exams, cleanings, fillings, health education, and promotion of oral hygiene and preventive dentistry.
The clinic also handles tooth extractions in emergencies such as abscesses. However, this step should be saved as a last resort.
“We want people to have their teeth for the rest of their lives,” Reese said.
Davidson explained that the clinic uses a portable, handheld X-ray machine. This small device is much more affordable and takes up less space than the commonly found dental x-ray systems that have an armature that holds a camera.
Additionally, qualified mental health therapists can provide one-on-one or group counseling for a variety of issues. These help patients develop coping skills, manage anxiety and depression, and provide grief and family support.
The clinic provides physical, mental, and dental health services, but there are limitations. Optical care is limited to screening and requires referral to a specialist. The clinic also offers free or reduced access to vision tests and glasses.
For young people focused on graduation or the next stage in life, learning how to deal with health insurance can be a daunting task. The Health Center coordinates care, including helping students and families connect with additional services in the community and assisting them with obtaining health insurance.
The clinic is designed for people without health insurance, but staff will work with your insurance company to help with costs. We also teach students how to navigate the healthcare system, an essential life skill after graduation.
“We are designed to be a medical facility for people who are uninsured and people who are insured. medicaid or medicareThese are people who are undocumented or people who really struggle to access more traditional health care settings,” Reese said.
To further remove barriers to care, clinics can connect patients with specialty care, assist with arranging transportation services, and coordinate interpreter services at appointments if needed.
For more information about Snohomish County CHC, click here. here.
— Story and photos: Rick Sinnett
