School pg 3 8-29-13

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Category: Current Issue

PUTNAM — Putnam schools opened Aug. 28 and so did the doors of the new School Based Health Center (SBHC) at the Putnam Middle School!  Generations Family Health Center (Generations) is growing again and bringing healthcare to the children of Putnam in another convenient location …right down the hall from their classrooms!
This new location is the result of a grant awarded in late June to the Putnam Public Schools and Generations for the establishment of a school based health center in Putnam.   This new location will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.  The SBHC will be staffed by a family nurse practitioner for four hours a day.  This nurse practitioner will help provide well care, chronic disease management and health counseling.  The SBHC will also be staffed for four hours a day two licensed behavioral health therapists.  Generations dental services will also continue at the school and be offered by appointment as part of the SBHC.  Generations accepts all insurances and offer a sliding fee scale.  No student will be refused services because of an inability to pay.  Generations will work closely with existing healthcare providers for the Putnam Middle School children seen at the SBHC.  Once the health clinic is established, the plan is to expand services to elementary and high school students as well.   
Superintendent William Hull said, “This is a wonderful opportunity to provide a wide range of needed services for our students.   The health clinic builds on a great relationship that already exists between Putnam Public Schools and Generations.”   
Melissa Bonsall, COO, said, “We are so excited to work with Putnam Schools on this endeavour.  Having students/families access convenient care right in their own school is a wonderful extension of the services we provide at our nearby permanent location in Putnam. Along with quality care, one of our main priorities will be effective communication and coordination of care with the existing health care providers for the children.”. Bonsall explained that Generations and Putnam Middle School personnel will be forming an advisory group to oversee the school based health center, and that group will include parents, school staff, and representatives from many local community organizations and health care providers, such as the Day Kimball Hospital Pediatric Center and Physician Practices.

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