At North Central High School, the school-based health center has become a practical part of the school day.
When students get sick, they do not always have to leave campus, miss a full day of class or wait for a doctor’s appointment after school. Instead, they can go to the school nurse and, if they are enrolled in the program, be referred to the school-based health center run by the Community Medical Clinic of Kershaw County.
There, students can be checked for common illnesses, tested for flu, COVID-19 or strep throat, and, when needed, have a prescription called in to a pharmacy.
For parents, that can mean less missed work and one less hurdle when a child gets sick.
“The Community Medical Clinic has been awesome to work with,” North Central Principal David Branham said. “They provide this access, not just for the students, but it helps out our parents as well.”
Branham said that in the 10 years the clinic has been part of North Central, he has heard no complaints from staff or parents.
Now, after years of success at North Central, the clinic is preparing to expand school-based health services to Camden High School and Lugoff-Elgin High School.
Charlotte Rankin, chief executive officer of the Community Medical Clinic, said the expansion is possible by funding from the Health Services District of Kershaw County.
The new school-based health centers will use a mix of in-person care and telehealth, Rankin said. The plan is to hire a part-time nurse practitioner who will rotate between Camden and Lugoff-Elgin High Schools. A trained clinic staff member would be on site at the other school to help with telehealth visits.
Rankin said telehealth equipment will allow the provider to examine and assess students even when working from another campus. The goal is to offer care Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon. The clinic hopes to begin in August, depending on hiring.
Kimberly Cogdill, FNP clinic director and school-based health center nurse practitioner, said the goal is to treat simple illnesses quickly and keep students in school when possible.
At North Central, students first go to the school nurse. If they are referred to the clinic and are enrolled in the program, they can be seen on campus. Cogdill said many visits take less than 40 minutes.
That can make a big difference for families.
A student with an ear infection, for example, may be seen at school, have medicine called in and return to class after getting relief for pain. A student with strep throat can be tested, diagnosed and sent home with an excuse already in place.
Rankin said the clinic is not there to replace a child’s regular doctor. Instead, it is there to meet immediate needs and make it easier for students to get care during the school day.
Cogdill said that matters because health and education are closely tied.
“When students stay healthy and stay in school, that helps them in every way,” Cogdill said. “We’re trying to keep kids from missing more school than they have to when they get sick. The more barriers we can take away, the better.”
With the expansion, the same acute medical services offered to students will also be available to teachers.
Rankin said that matters, too. When teachers can get care quickly and stay in the classroom, it means fewer disruptions for students and fewer gaps for schools to manage during the day.
At North Central, the clinic has already shown what that kind of access can do.
Now, the Community Medical Clinic is working to bring that same support to two more high school campuses in Kershaw County.
