Freeman Partnership Provides Easy Access to Healthcare

The 2016-2017 school year kicks off for the McDonald County R-1 School District with a new partnership with Freeman Health System. The goal is to increase access to healthcare, and decrease time lost from school for students and staff, and reduce time lost from work for parents.

“Freeman is fully committed to helping support this community’s growing healthcare needs,” said Paula F. Baker, Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer. “The resources provided through this partnership will play a vital role in ensuring the overall health of students and school staff.”

If a child is ill or injured, he or she will visit the school nurse for examination. If that child needs further evaluation, with parental consent, the school nurse will have the option of contacting providers at Freeman Clinic of Anderson via telehealth. Freeman providers and the school nurse will work together to determine if the child needs additional treatment, and priority scheduling at the clinic will be available.

“Many parents simply cannot absorb the financial strain it creates when they miss work to take a child to the doctor,” said Renee Denton, Freeman Neosho Hospital Chief Operating Officer. “This partnership removes some of those obstacles and allows the parents, schools and Freeman to work as a team to provide the best care possible for that child.”

• Studies show school-based clinics and partnerships positively impact students in many ways:
• Reduced absenteeism (both students and faculty)
• Reduced emergency room and urgent care visits
• Increased health knowledge among students

“There’s a strong link between children’s health and academic performance,” said Denton. “By forging a deeper connection between healthcare and education, we can help children succeed and become healthier adults.”

Services available through the new partnership include diagnosis and treatment of illness and minor injuries, routine physical exams, health and nutrition education, immunizations and management of chronic conditions.

In addition to primary care and physical therapy at Freeman Clinic of Anderson, student athletes will have access to a full-time athletic trainer. Athletic injury assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and follow-up evaluations will be available.

About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. For 2016, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report ranked Freeman one of the top Hospitals in Southwest Missouri more than four years in a row. With more than 300 physicians on staff representing more than 60 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart and vascular care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com or facebook.com/freemanhealthsystem or follow Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker at twitter.com/freemanceo.