When students feel well, they learn better; when they're sick, learning is a chore. This simple principle is the idea behind the new in-school clinic, the School Based Health Center, opening on Donald Drive; a short walk from three of Fairfield's schools.
The center is described as a “one-stop shop” for students, who can access medical, vision, or dental care there. One parent, Sally Hathaway, said having the health center located at the school and immediately accessible to students will make it easier for families to get care for their children, especially families who are having a tough time financially, or whose schedules make it hard to find time to get a child to a doctor. Hathaway notes parents will not have to call to schedule an appointment, but instead can simply come to the clinic.
The concept of on-campus clinics has been pioneered in urban areas, but has only recently spread to the suburbs. The center at Fairfield comprises 2,600 square feet, and was funded largely through private partnerships between healthcare providers and Primary Health Solutions (PHS). PHS is also behind the first school clinic in the Hamilton system, which will open at Garfield Middle School in March.
School officials might like to work with a postcard printing company to create cards to mail throughout the school district, describing the center.
