Changing the healthcare paradigm in a distance learning environment
Jeffrey R. Lewis
For years, the school nurse's office was where students went for care, compassion, and help. A nurse would assess the student and either call a parent or send the child back to class. Sometimes, the healthcare problem persisted. And in some cases, the student faced a mental-health issue. Either way, the problem was beyond the scope of the nurse's office.
In a COVID-19 world, meeting a student's urgent healthcare and mental-health needs is more critical than ever. Public schools have responded to the changing needs of children, adolescents, and teenagers by establishing tele-health and tele-behavioral health services.