Manning agreed, saying, “We have wanted to plan a clinic like this for many years, and by working with ECU Health, we were able to meet the needs of these children. . It’s really a collaborative effort.”
One of the clinic’s main goals was to ensure that children not only met the health requirements for attending school, but also received follow-up care for other potential needs. Many of the students did not have an established primary care provider and therefore lacked consistent access to health care services. The clinic provided referrals for additional treatments, such as dental and eye exams, and connected families to available resources.
In addition to helping organize the clinic, Dr. Simeonsson has supervised ECU Health’s pediatric residents and Brody students completing child health assessments.
Dr. Abigail Maiorana Boutilier is a third-year resident in the ECU Health Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program and volunteered at the clinic. She said the children seen at the clinic who were scheduled to be unable to attend school after the deadline for vaccinations and health checks are now able to continue attending school. Knowing that makes a big difference for Dr. Maiorana Boutilier.
“I think this is one of the most important things we can do as residents because it’s so tangible in terms of how we support these children. ,” said Dr. Maiorana Boutilier. “And when I leave here, I see parents who are relieved to know that their children will be able to go to school the next day. We take these parents and their children in and we give them vaccinations and health screenings and everything in one day. It’s the most rewarding and satisfying thing I’ve ever done to get this done and take this huge burden off of them.”
In addition to standard health assessments, Maynard Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Asthma Program also joined the clinic to address asthma management. Asthma is the leading cause of school absence in the United States, said Candice Cahoon, the program’s respiratory care manager. Her team conducted non-invasive tests to check for lung inflammation and provided students with asthma action plans, medication forms, and free inhalation spacers.
For both ECU Health and the Pitt County Health Department, this clinic is the culmination of a plan and represents a shared dream to improve access to care for local children. Dr Simeonson described the initiative as a “community response” to a wide range of issues.
Medical students like Lauren Nuridin, a fourth-year Brody School of Medicine student, took an active role in the clinic. For Nuriddin, who plans to specialize in pediatrics, the experience was a strong reminder of why she chose this career path.
“I have a very close relationship with Dr. Simeonson and we share many of the same passions,” said Nouridin. “I started volunteering for events like this last year, traveling to Duplin County with the Healthy Life Initiative and visiting different areas within the region. This clinic in particular is very important to me because… Because there’s a lot of research being done on the effects that happen after kids are suspended from school, how it affects their self-confidence and their ability to stay on track in school. It’s a domino effect of hills, so it’s important to try to mitigate this as much as possible.”
The clinic is the first of its kind in Pitt County and could serve as a model for similar efforts across the state. The success of this event, which attracted more than 130 students over the course of one week, highlighted the urgent need for accessible health services for school-age children. Crystal Kiani, a nurse and child health coordinator for the Pitt County Health Department, said many of the patients she has seen have recently immigrated to Pitt County from out of state and require medical exams to enroll in school. he said.
“We’re excited to announce that we’ve been able to provide more than 10,000 vaccinations,” said Valerie Tannell, a nurse and immunization coordinator for the Pitt County Health Department. We have reached the maximum number of reservations today, and we have also reached the maximum number of reservations for the last clinic day. Thanks to events like today, we can ensure that children see their health care providers and don’t fall through the cracks. ”
Given the clinic’s success, ECU Health, Maynard Children’s Hospital and the Pitt County Health Department are already looking at ways to expand these services and continue to improve access to health care for children across the region. Pitt County Schools said the clinic and collaboration had a huge impact on students.
“We are deeply grateful to the Pitt County Public Health Department, the ECU Health Team, and the Pitt County Schools School Health Manager for their unwavering dedication to working together over six months to plan this event,” said Sarah Pitt County Schools. English said. Interim Executive Director of Student Services. “Their collaboration has broken down barriers to ensure all students receive the essential health care they need to stay in school and meet state-mandated expectations. It’s a powerful reminder of the strength we have when we come together to do what we do.”
