Choptank Community Health System has expanded its School Based Health Center program into Kent County with a new site opened at Rock Hall Elementary School. From left are Rock Hall Elementary School nurse Kelly Kirwan, Choptank Community Health Director of Community-Based Programs Chrissy Bartz and Rock Hall Elementary School Principal Gillian Spero.
Choptank Community Health System has expanded its School Based Health Center program into Kent County with a new center open at Rock Hall Elementary School.
The center is made possible through partnerships with Kent County Public Schools and the state and local health departments.
The School Based Health Center offers in-person, virtual, curbside well and urgent care during the school year and over the summer months, with student enrollment required.
"In partnership with Choptank Community Health System, we now have high quality, convenient healthcare, and dental services in our school," said Rock Hall Elementary School Principal Gillian Spero. "If your child starts to feel sick at school and with parent permission, the school nurse can refer them to the School Based Health Center."
A Choptank Community Health provider will conduct an exam, run diagnostics and even call in a prescription if necessary — all in the school setting.
Records will be shared with the child’s pediatrician, and if ongoing care is required, it will be coordinated with the pediatrician.
Dental services include screenings, cleanings, sealants, fluoride treatments and emergency visits. With care once again coordinated with a child’s primary dentist.
Other services include health education and risk assessment, sports and other physical exams, dietary support, asthma management and sick or acute care.
"We’re grateful for our partnerships and staff who have helped to bring this access to dental and medical health services to more students and their families,” said Choptank Health CEO Sara Rich.
Rich said School Based Health Centers often provide a child with their only form of medical or dental care, furthering the importance of this new center.
All Rock Hall Elementary School students and staff can enroll in the program and utilize the School Based Health Center regardless of their ability to pay.
Choptank Community Health accepts most insurance plans and has a sliding fee scale for eligible families without insurance.
“We’re grateful for Kent County’s partnership with Choptank Community Health,” said Dr. Karen Couch, superintendent of Kent County Public Schools. “Our students can focus more on learning when they feel good and are well, while our school families benefit from the convenience and accessibility of these important services.”
Chrissy Bartz, director of community-based programs for Choptank Community Health, said the system's School Based Health Centers help keep communities healthy and thriving.
“These Health Centers meet children and their families where they are to provide more access to healthcare,” Bartz said.
Choptank Community Health provides medical and dental services to more than 30,000 adults and children in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive and integrated healthcare for all.
Medical services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management and care navigation, with new medical patients now being accepted.
Enrollment forms for Rock Hall Elementary School students are available below.