School-Based Health Center Services

1. What is a School-Based Health Center (SBHC)?

School-based health centers provide comprehensive health services in school buildings where students spend significant amounts of time. This innovative approach is accomplished through schools and local healthcare partnerships and is based on the belief that a student’s physical, mental, and emotional needs must be met in order for them to learn and thrive.

2. Why is the district partnering with Signature Health to have a SBHC?

School-based health can play an important role in helping families manage physical and mental healthcare needs of their children. This delivery of care is a convenient way to get your child seen by a provider – no more leaving work to take your child to the doctor!

The goal of a school-based health center is to minimize the amount of time your child is out of class, therefore maximizing your child’s time spent learning. Illness and chronic health conditions can lead to hundreds of missed hours of learning, and medical appointments for treatment can result in students being out of the building for hours at a time.

Ultimately, providing access to care right in a school setting has been shown to reduce the number of absences for students and can also minimize time away from work for busy families.

3. What services are offered at the SBHC?

Any health service that is available in a primary care provider’s office is available at the SBHC. The SBHC may become the individual's “medical home”.

• Preventive care, including annual physicals and immunizations
• Acute illness diagnosis and treatment
• Lab services
• Mental health and behavioral health services and supports
• Dental services
• Patient education
• Chronic disease management
• Sports physicals
• Work permit physicals
• Care coordination for students with special health care needs
• Referrals to other specialty providers

4. What is the fee for services at the SBHC?

The SBHC program will bill the student’s health insurance if the insurance is accepted at Signature Health for services provided on site at the SBHC. If the student does not have health insurance or has an insurance plan not accepted by Signature Health, there will be no charge to the student’s family for the health services provided. There are grant funds from the Cleveland Foundation to cover the cost of visits for district employees and students.

For community members receiving care, the SBHC primarily serves Medicaid and Medicare patients, with a sliding fee scale available to eligible individuals without insurance.

**It is important to note that the cost of services provided outside of the SBHC, such as laboratory tests and prescriptions, are the responsibility of the parent.

5. Who can be seen at the SBHC?

SBHC services are available to all students in the district. SBHC can also serve students from other schools, families of students, school staff, and community members.

6. What is required for my child to be seen at the SBHC?

Enrollment and consent. Students must be enrolled by their parent or guardian to receive the full range of services provided by the SBHC. Every effort is made to involve students’ families in their care. (Insert hyperlink to web-based enrollment forms)

7. Can my student be seen without a parent/guardian at the SBHC?

Prior to each visit with a student -- whether previously scheduled or sick visit -- a provider at the SBHC will contact the child's parent or guardian by telephone to verify that their child is to be seen by a provider that day. It is preferred that a parent/guardian is present when their children are seen at the SBHC. However, we understand this may not always be possible. Students who attend upper school and have a signed consent form can be seen without a parent or guardian present, but they need to be reachable by phone for questions and updates.

The state of Ohio also allows minors to consent for certain medical care without a parent present. We will honor state law in these circumstances.

8. Is it too late to sign my child up yet for the School Based Health Center? 

The SBHC accepts consent forms anytime throughout the school year. These are available online at (Insert hyperlink to web-based enrollment forms)

9. Are school nurse services still available?

Yes. The school nurse will continue to provide all students with the same past services, regardless of the student’s enrollment in the SBHC. SBHCs provide physical, behavioral, dental and other health services beyond the scope of the school nurse, supporting and complementing — but not replacing — the school nurse role in student health. SBHC providers and the school nurse work collaboratively to improve student health and academic outcomes.

10. What if my child already has a doctor?

If your child already has a doctor, then the SBHC staff will work along with the care that your child’s doctor provides. If needed, the School-Based Health Center staff will talk to your child’s doctor to make sure your child gets the best care both in and out of school.

11. Can the SBHC be my child’s primary care provider (PCP)?

Yes. The SBHC provides comprehensive primary medical care, including preventive well-child care, health screening and education, sports physicals, immunizations, management of chronic medical conditions, and treatment of illness or injury.

12. How do I schedule an appointment?

For medical appointments, call 440-953-9999 and ask to be seen at the Wickliffe location. For behavioral health appointments, please talk to your student’s school guidance counselor.

13. When is the Nurse Practitioner available?

The medical provider is on-site offering appointments on Wednesdays from 9-4:30. The SBHC is open year round, including the summer.

14. Who will my child see in the school-based health center?

• For medical services, Nurse Practitioner Emily Adkins will be on site to diagnose and treat illnesses and prescribe medications
• A Medical Assistant (MA) will also be on site to assist
• A dentist and dental hygienist are available to provide dental care
• Licensed behavioral health providers are present to those needing mental/behavioral health services
  
  

15. Who would have access to my child's medical records?

All medical records are confidential, as they are part of Signature Health’s medical records system. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Family and Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA) both require that data sharing arrangements between educational systems and healthcare providers involve parents and guardians. HIPAA mandates that providers obtain consent, while FERPA mandates that school staff need consent for sharing FERPA-protected data. Before we can share records, parents/legal guardian must sign a Release Form.

Any additional Questions? Contact Sam Bonin, Program Coordinator, SBHC at 440-856-5982, or email SH-Wickliffe@shinc.org

Appointments are available in Wickliffe on Wednesdays only. To make an appointment, call (440) 953-9999. 

We also do our best to accommodate walk-in patients on Wednesdays between 9am and 4pm.

Questions? Complete the Contact Us form and indicate Wickliffe school-based health center in your message.  

Our school-based health center is located within the Wickliffe Family Resource Center at:

2255 Rockefeller Road, Door V-105
Wickliffe, OH, 44092

Signature Health accepts Medicaid plans and some Medicare plans. A sliding fee scale also is available for patients who qualify based on household income. Private insurance is accepted only in some cases for reproductive health services.