GRAND RAPIDS, MI - It used to be when kids felt sick during school, they would walk into the school nurse's office, lay down on a cot and relay their symptoms to a sympathetic ear.
But with school nurses becoming a rare breed, virtual nursing care has proven a viable alternative for some cash-strapped West Michigan school districts.
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Spectrum Health's MedNow, touted as a convenient way to access health care
virtually, is improving access to care for thousands of schoolchildren in West Michigan, district leaders say.
Greenville Public Schools and Montcalm Area ISD piloted the virtual nursing service with success last year. Now, it's expanding into schools in Kent, Mecosta and Osceola counties.
Telehealth uses technology to bridge the distance between schools and a registered nurse.
Each school building in a district has a computer and webcam hooked up so an administrative assistant or other staffer can reach out to a registered nurse online. The nurse via a video conference can assess and discuss a student's rash, illness, injury or medication issue.
"The Center for Disease Control recommends a ratio of one nurse to every 750 students, while Michigan has a ratio of one to 4,500 or none at all," said Tracy Zamarron, director of school health programs for Spectrum Health in West Michigan.
"We all know there is a critical link between a students' health and academics. By using this tool, MedNow is removing barriers to learning and keeping kids in their classroom seats."
This school year, Zamarron said the program is expanding into Kent County's Northview, Cedar Springs and Kentwood schools. She said Big Rapids and Reed City schools will also use the service.
School leaders say less than half of the country's public schools employ a full-time nurse at a time when chronic illnesses such as asthma, food allergies and diabetes appear on the rise.
Montcalm Area ISD Superintendent Ron Simon highly recommends the virtual nursing service, especially for districts unable to afford full-time nurses. He said they have about 11,000 students spread over multiple buildings, miles apart in the rural district, and the service has been a "tremendous'' resource.
He said the cost is mainly in the equipment, which most of their districts had access to already.
Northview's West Oakview Elementary administrative assistants Laura Niedzielski and Michelle Walsh were trained last week by Vern Moeggenborg Jr., a MedNow specialist, in the simple connection process.
The assistants spoke with RN Angela Smith, who will be the district contact, and were even shown how they can use the webcam to give her a look at rashes or a bruised limb, for example.
"It is going to improve our safety and service to kids and families in our district," said new West Oakview Principal Dan Heitzman, former director of special education services for the district. "It is going to help with a quick diagnosis so kids can either get back to class or get the additional health care they need."
Last year, Niedzielski said there were three diabetic students in the school. She said the frequency of students coming to the main office in need of care varies, but it will be nice to be able to contact a nurse with any questions or concerns.
"We would love to see this nurse hub that we're building appeal to other schools and contract with Spectrum Healthier Communities to bring nursing services on, offering that affordable nursing option that they are looking for," Moeggenborg said.
Joseph Brennan, senior director of Spectrum Health's MedNow, said more and more people are becoming comfortable receiving care through technology. He said MedNow has spent the last two years engaging school officials to get people comfortable with the service.
"Technology is a viable way to treat students, just like our MedNow for low acute primary care is a viable way to get your cough, cold, rash or flu treated," Brennan said.
"The concern with telemedicine is whether it is secure and how is it HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant," he said. "That security and the HIPPA compliance lies within the video conferencing that we've chosen.''