Students enrolled in Mississippi’s 138 school districts can get care during the summer holidays for minor illnesses and injuries during virtual visits with caregivers in the Center for Telehealth at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
The free summer program that debuted June 1 is open to public school students. About 440,000 students in grades kindergarten through 12 could potentially benefit.
In an extension of its partnership with the Mississippi Department of Education, the Center for Telehealth has been offering both minor medical care and behavioral health care facilitated by school nurses and counselors in 67 school districts in a phased implementation since August.
Minor medical care is available from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. seven days a week, and behavioral health care is available from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Children can see a caregiver by appointment only for a variety of minor medical issues and illnesses including flu and stomach bugs, rashes and skin irritations, insect bites and head lice, coughs and colds, asthma and allergies, pink eye, headaches, sore throat and fever. They also can see a licensed counselor for mental health challenges including anxiety and depression.
The summer program is an expanded version of the school-based telehealth program currently offered during the regular academic year in 66 of the state’s school districts.
A summer visit involves a few easy steps:
A parent or guardian sets up a minor medical or behavioral health visit with a UMMC provider by going to umc.edu/k12. All video visits require the consent of a parent or guardian. Tip sheets and help documents will be available on the umc.edu/k12 website. If more help is needed in scheduling a visit, parents or guardians can call (601) 815-2020.
The student and provider will see each other, talk and share information. The parent or guardian must be present at the visit. The provider will recommend treatment, or make a referral to another provider if needed.
Experienced behavioral health specialists will provide care, in non-crisis situations, for anxiety, depression, behavioral difficulties, coping skills, trouble expressing feelings and more.
Although there’s no cost for a video visit for students enrolled in Mississippi public schools, any costs for prescriptions and follow-up visits with primary care physicians or specialists are the responsibility of the parent or guardian.
