Parents are reminded they can take advantage of in-school well-child visits during National School-Based Health Center Awareness Month
West Virginia Press Association
BELINGTON, W.Va. – Marking National School-Based Health Center Awareness Month in February, Barbour Community Health Association (BCHA) reminds parents of the importance of annual well-child visits.
Well-child visits are an important link between student health and academic performance. Children in good health are more likely to attend school regularly, stay focused in class, and participate in extracurricular activities.
At these visits, children receive required vaccinations and a physical examination to assess their overall health, growth, and development. Any chronic health concerns can also be assessed, and prescription refills or a referral to a specialist can be provided if needed.
BCHA encourages parents to take advantage of the well-child visits offered in all Barbour County schools through Brandon School-Based Health Services.
While maintaining children’s health is important, many families find that accessing healthcare for their children is a logistical challenge. Between work schedules and school hours, getting an appointment with a healthcare provider often requires a parent to take time off work and for a child to miss valuable class time.
Utilizing a school-based health clinic for an annual well-child visit can address these challenges. Brandon School-Based Health Services offers well-child visits at school-based health clinics during regular school hours, minimizing the time students are out of class. Parents are encouraged to attend to ensure they are aware of their child’s health status and to ask questions of the provider conducting the examination, but it is not required.
“Annual well-child visits are critical because they provide an opportunity to catch health issues early and prevent more serious problems down the road,” says Joyce Wilson, FN-P, Director, Brandon School-Based Health Services.
“While these visits are offered throughout the school year, February is a great time to ensure your child gets their annual check-up,” Wilson says. “During February, we also acknowledge our school-based providers and the quality care they provide to students in Barbour County.”
Standard charges for well-child visits are billed to either insurance, Medicaid, or parents (including copays). Most students who do not have private health insurance are eligible for coverage under the WV CHIP, Medicaid, or Barbour Community Health Association’s Health Access program. A BCHA staff member can help students or their parents apply to any of these programs.
To schedule a well-child visit at your child’s school-based health clinic and download a consent form, visit the Brandon School-Based Health Services page on the BCHA website.
About the Barbour Community Health Association
Belington and Myers Clinics are federally qualified health centers that provide medical and behavioral health care and wellness programs to patients with insurance, Medicare and/or Medicaid and for those without health insurance through the clinic’s Health Access program.
The organization also operates Barbour Quick Care Belington Wellness Center, Brandon Wellness Center, and Philippi Wellness Center. Belington Wellness Center is located adjacent to Belington Medical Clinic and offers a wide variety of exercise equipment, exercise programs and a swimming pool. Brandon Wellness Center is a school-based health center that offers a variety of nursing, preventive and acute care medical and behavioral health services to the students and staff at Philip Barbour High School. Brandon School-based Health Services are offered to all Barbour County School students and families. The Philippi Wellness Center is located in the back of Barbour Chiropractic Center at 206 N. Main Street and has services designed to improve physical condition and health through exercise equipment and periodic workshops and seminars.
For more information, visit Barbour Community Health Association’s website at barbourhealth.org.