COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Community Health Center of Branch County tele-health clinics celebrated their one year anniversary in Coldwater and Bronson on January 9, 2015. The school clinics were created to help serve the health care needs of our community and have allowed students a chance to have a primary healthcare provider when otherwise they may not have had the opportunity.
Students aged 12 to 21 have access to health care without having to go to the doctor’s office. The Community Health Center of Branch County (CHC) received a State of Michigan Department of Community Health transformational grant in 2013. The grant along with community donations has allowed CHC to plan and implement a tele-health clinic in Coldwater, Bronson, and Quincy schools.
The grant is the first of its kind in the State of Michigan. They provide primary healthcare services via tele-health through the CHC Adolescent and Pediatric Center on the CHC campus.
The clinic works with, and is not meant to replace, the student’s family physician. The clinic will provide primary care services for acute illnesses and minor injuries such as strep throat, ear infections, rash, and influenza; and preventative care such as immunizations. Parental consent must be provided before any student is seen. No student will be denied services. Insurance will be billed for services provided in the clinic. For those students that are uninsured or underinsured, insurance enrollment assistance will be provided.
The tele-health clinics provide the following services:
- Sports physicals
- Vaccines
- Sick visits
- Treatment of minor injuries
- Treatment of acne
- Treatment of allergies
The grant covered planning expenses and provides $200,000 per year for three years for the operation of both the Bronson and Coldwater clinics. The grant requires a 30 percent match. This will be met with in-kind services from the hospital, schools, health department, and local fundraising efforts. For more information on the clinics, contact Theresa Gillette, coordinator, at 517-279-5295 or for information on donating, contact Terra Depew at 517-279-5414.
(courtesy: Community Health Center)
