Introduction to school-based telehealth
School-based telehealth improves and expands a student’s ability to access health care providers. Increased access to health care helps students stay or become healthy and focus on learning.
Examples of school-based telehealth appointments include:
- Students seeing a health care provider for annual appointments
- Students seeing a health care provider to monitor conditions like diabetes or asthma
- Students getting behavioral health care to help them focus on learning
Telehealth provides many benefits to student patients, including:
- Improved access to and availability of different types of care. Students who are already attending school will have easy access to health care providers, including specialists.
- Reduced time away from class. Students can attend a telehealth appointment in the school environment and quickly return to class.
- Reduced time and travel costs for the parent or guardian. Patients will have to travel to their health care provider’s office less frequently.
Types of school-based telehealth
Primary care providers are the “front door” to health care. They manage a patient’s care physical examinations and non-emergency injury or illness.
School-based behavioral health care can help students who would not have access to behavioral health services otherwise.
Diabetes care requires frequent communication between health care providers and patients. Patients need to share important information like glucose levels, diet, and physical activity.