SPOKANE, Wash. — The back-to-school season is here which means to-do lists are growing. This year, your child can get all their health needs met quickly and easily.
Spokane Public Schools has partnered with CHAS Health to enhance student health services.
This year, SPS students can access a range of health services—including check-ups, cold and flu treatments, vaccines, and more—conveniently at three local high schools. The partnership aims to simplify health care for students and ensure they receive the support they need to succeed academically.
Parents are involved in the process at these school-based clinics. They will give insurance information and sign parent consent forms for most services. The clinics follow the same protocol as any medical office in Washington state.
CHAS Health has established primary care clinics at Shadle Park High School, North Central High School, and Rogers High School. These clinics are currently open to all SPS students.
“We also need things like asthma action plans, allergy reaction plans, food/dietary considerations, and sports physicals—these are all crucial for helping kids succeed in school,” said Jeff Hayward, a physician assistant with CHAS Health.
Chris Dunn, Principal of Shadle Park High School, highlighted the accessibility of the new clinics, “If you don’t go to Shadle but are at one of our feeder middle or elementary schools, families can still access care here. It’s a great opportunity for students and signing up is easy.”
Typically, a doctor’s visit might involve parents taking time off work or students being pulled from class. CHAS Health’s model aims to eliminate these disruptions by allowing students to visit the clinic, receive care, and return to class with minimal interruption.
“We eliminate almost all of those steps in these clinics by allowing the student to literally walk in, be seen, and go back to class,” Hayward explained.
As for costs, CHAS Health bills directly to insurance. Depending on income, the organization may offer reduced fees through a sliding fee discount program. Importantly, CHAS Health will not deny services based on a family’s ability to pay.
“Our hope is to improve the quality of health for these students so that they can excel in the classroom,” Hayward said.
For more information on these services, visit the CHAS Health website.
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