Sniffles, coughs, sore throats, bumps, and scrapes. These common childhood ailments can seem overwhelming when you don’t have easy access to basic medical care.
But thanks to a partnership between St. Luke’s and Nampa School District, students and their siblings can be treated right at their school with minimal disruption to their schedule or a parent’s workday, and without having to worry about transportation. Cost is based on need and ability to pay; visits require parental permission.
Twice a week, the St. Luke’s Children’s Mobile Care clinic is in Nampa, visiting a total of eight elementary, middle, and high schools; students from other schools can also be seen at these sites. In addition to treating minor illnesses and injuries, the program offers wellness exams and sports physicals. Providers also often see kids with undiagnosed mental health or behavioral issues and can refer them to appropriate care. Medical emergencies like severe bleeding, compound fractures and seizures are left to emergency personnel.
The partnership was started in the 2019-2020 school year, pre-COVID, with just a physician and a nurse working out of a school office. Two years later they added the mobile clinic; a second mobile clinic serves Boise School District. Named Bluey and Bandit, the retrofitted RVs also offer care for rural areas.
Dr. Noreen Womack has been with the program from the beginning and sees it as an important way to increase access to care.
“Nampa School District was already in St. Luke’s footprint,” she recalled, referring to the health system’s long history of supporting kids in the community, particularly those from Title 1 schools. “It was important to keep going, even when the schools were closed for the pandemic.”
Dr. Womack stresses that while she does treat patients, she is not a primary care provider. For those who are between primary care providers, she offers referrals. Working alongside Womack are a nurse, Nicole, and a bus driver, Dan.
The partnership has proven to be highly successful and will continue in the coming year, although some locations will adapt to new boundaries.
For at least one young patient, that appears to be a good thing. On his first visit to the mobile clinic, he excitedly proclaimed, “I’ve never been in a doctor truck before!”
Success Stories
The program has treated hundreds of students and made some significant diagnoses, including the following:
- A child from a family that hadn’t gotten care in years was found to have a heart murmur and was referred to a cardiologist before it turned into a problem.
- A young patient with what everyone thought was constipation was diagnosed instead with IBD (irritable bowel disease), which requires the care of a pediatric specialist.
- Kids often come in with undiagnosed ADHD and are looking at suspension related to their behavior. Getting appropriate counseling and treatment has helped turned around their school year.
Learn more about St. Luke’s Children’s Mobile Care at https://www.stlukesonline.org/health-services/service-groups/childrens-services/st-lukes-childrens-mobile-care.