For the past 8 years, University Nursing Associates (UNA), a division of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, has successfully operated a nurse managed school based health center (NMSBHC) "Johnson Health Center (JHC)."

Johnson Elementary School is located in northwest Jackson. This school enrolls over 400 students, and is supported by approximately 40 faculty and staff members. Partially funded through the Mississippi Department of Education, Johnson Health Center has been able to effectively serve the students and faculty/staff of this Jackson Public Elementary School since 1999.

Faculty members from the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing led the effort that resulted in the establishment of the first nurse-managed school health center in Mississippi. Following the completion of preparatory work, the Johnson Elementary SBHC opened in April 1999, and has been in continuous operation for the past eight years.

During the past 8 years, the faculty nurse practitioners have seen over 4,000 students/teacher and staff encounters per academic year. Of these 4,000 yearly encounters, the vast majority of these services can be categorized as medication prescription, laboratory testing, Early Prevention Screening Detection Treatment (EPSDT) screenings, immunizations and referrals to other health care providers for further services.

Through documentation in yearly reports and verification of the milestones we continue to meet, the Mississippi Department of Education has continued to support our activities with limited funding to JHC. Our health care services are valuable to this disadvantaged population of children who are faced with health disparities every day.

An environment where children can act like children

Other services JHC has provided which would also be available for these students include, but are not limited to:

• clothes closet

• coat closet

• monthly educational bulletin board with a health theme

• hygiene supplies for children and families in need

• educational information regarding puberty

• nutritious snacks for those children who have missed breakfast

• comfortable room where sick children can rest and be monitored by the nurses until parents can pick them up from school

• one on one contact with parents if child is seen in clinic

• education regarding any prescriptions/medications given

• follow-up care

• a safe, friendly environment where children can still act like children

During the 2006-2007 academic year, there were 1640 encounters at the Johnson clinic. All were seen by the NP or RN.

• Only 7 % of the student encounters were sent home.

• 40% received medication on site.

• 12% received a prescription for a medication.

• One percent of the children were referred to a specialty clinic for further treatment.

• Less than one percent of the children who presented themselves for treatment had no consent on their chart.

• 7% of the children seen at the clinic received daily medications.

• 30% had no medical insurance.

• 3% of the children received EPSDT screening at the clinic. This represents a three fold increase over previous years.

The clinic increased the student attendance at Johnson Elementary as well as increased the parents attendance at work because an on-site clinic with competent nurse practitioners were able to decide if the child was really sick and should go home or if the child was able to stay at school.

Johnson Faculty

Anne Norwood PHD, FNP Director of Clinical services
Molly Moore MSN, FNP

 

Johnson Health Center
1339 Oak Park Drive
Jackson MS 39213
Phone: (601) 713-1642

 

Hours of operation

School days through the academic year