Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Cincinnati School Nurses Continue to Achieve—Children and the Community Benefit

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati

Commissioner’s Corner June 2009, by Noble Maseru, Ph.D., MPH

Often times, children do not have the means to receive essential health services that increase their health and wellness. At the Cincinnati Health Department (CHD), it is our mission to “work for the health and wellness of Cincinnati citizens.” The CHD School Nursing Program is one way we work to improve health care for children in Cincinnati. 

Through this program, which places nurses in 44 of Cincinnati Public Schools, nurses have access to serve a large percentage of school-aged children in Cincinnati.

As one measure of the quality of care children receive through the School Nursing Program, we have reached a 95 percent immunization rate for students in the schools with CHD nurses. This is the third year we have reached this important benchmark—a testament to the dedication of our nurses to provide quality care to children.

We have focused on immunization rates since they protect children and prevent the spread of disease and are one of the leading Indicators for Healthy People 2010, a national benchmark for public health goals. The higher the immunization rate, the healthier a population. 

We are also working to increase the scope of the immunization program to further contribute to a healthier population. In addition to the required immunizations, the School Health Program is providing recommended vaccinations for teens. 

School Health nurses also offer hearing, vision and dental screenings to Cincinnati school children. Kindergarten students receive a Body Mass index (BMI) screenings to determine risk of obesity. Nurses also offer a limited number of comprehensive health screenings or Healthchek exams (also called EPSDT exams or Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis & Testing) for children who lack a medical home. 

These screenings are essential since our School Health Nurses are often the only access students have to health screening since all children in Cincinnati have not been able to receive the health services they need.  The number of appointments for medical care available in Cincinnati does not meet the need for care. 
Through the program, nurses build relationships between the medical community and students and their families. The nurses identify and fill gaps in services by identifying health concerns and working with students and their families to help them receive care they need. 

Our School Health Program is possible because of a long-standing partnership between the Cincinnati Health Department and Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS).  Now, as part of the Community Learning Center model, the partnership between CPS and us, has been strengthened and is enhancing the health services that children in CPS schools receive. 

Without a partnership with CPS, many children would have no access to vaccinations or health screenings. This partnership is just one example of how our collaboration with other organizations benefits citizens of Cincinnati and provides quality healthcare that promotes health and wellness.

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