School-based health centers deliver needed health care services

In your article commentary, "We don't need more doctors" (CNN 5/13/09), you wrote:

"There IS a shortage of health care services being provided, but many of them are not best offered by a doctor. All parents know the experience of worrying whether their child has an ear infection -- treatment involves considerable pleading for a standby appointment at the doctor's office, followed by a long wait, a 30-second visit with the doctor, and then a trip to the pharmacy for another long wait.

Throw in the half-day of missed work and the stiff bill, and it becomes clear why many advocate the need for more doctors. However, a growing number of visits, incorporating quick and easily interpreted diagnostic tests and algorithm-driven care for conditions such as ear infections, sore throats and minor burns, can be handled better in nurse-run clinics."

School-based health centers (SBHCs), provide comprehensive physical, mental, and oral health to our nation's most vulnerable population - school-aged youth. They are predominantly staffed by nurse practitioners and physician's assistants, often with medical oversight provided by a medical doctor. 70% of the 1700 SBHCs nationwide are located in schools where more than half the student body is eligible for the Department of Agriculture's Free and Reduced Lunch Program. They are a vital component to the health care safety net and as Congress moves forward in health care reform, it is essential that SBHCs be reimbursed for the invaluable services they provide, and authorized as a federal program.

Students, particularly adolescents who are the most difficult population to reach in health care, utilize SBHCs at high rates. They are where the kids are and SBHC providers work with parents and the community to provide the best possible care for their students.

I hope, as you continue providing commentary for various news organizations, and as the country moves toward comprehensive health care reform, that you include SBHCs in your dialogue. They deserve wide recognition for the services they provide and the cost savings they incur for the tax payer.