Press releases

Released October 31, 1997
Yale-New Haven Hospital news release

Schools Become the Newest Location
for Health Care

For more information, call 203-688-2488 or E-mail Ken Best

Yale-New Haven Hospital is helping to meet the health care needs of New Haven area children by making it easy for them to see a doctor--the hospital brings the doctor to school.

"Now many students can receive all the medical services they need right in their school," said Patti DeWitt, operations director for YNHH ambulatory services, who oversees school-based health centers operated by Yale-New Haven, as well as contracted services the hospital provides at other schools.

School-based health centers are YNHH satellites that serve the local student population and promote healthy behaviors, prevent health problems and improve the physical and mental health of students who might not be able to afford consistent health care. These centers offer nutrition and weight counseling, diagnosis and treatment of minor illnesses and injuries, as well as treatment of asthma, anemia, acne and other health problems. Referral for specialty care, mental health counseling and issue-oriented support groups are offered as well. Last year the school-based centers had 3,000 patient visits.

The clinical staff in each YNHH-managed center consists of a nurse practitioner, a social worker, a health educator, a receptionist and a pediatrician. All are Yale-New Haven staff. Yale-New Haven manages the Hillhouse High School and Vincent E. Mauro school-based health centers. The Hillhouse center has enrolled 700 of the school's 1,100 students and has averaged 2,000 to 2,400 visits a year since its opening in March 1994. It is the only one of the school-based centers operating year-round.

During the school year, the Mauro health center provides primary and preventive health care to about 530 students, from kindergarten to 5th grade.

Additionally, Yale-New Haven has contracted to provide health services for a clinic at Hamden High School managed by the Quinnipiack Valley Health District, and to Riverside Academy in New Haven (the former Transitional High), whose health center is funded by the Consultation Board.

This September, Yale-New Haven opened two new school-based health centers. One is at Sheridan Academy of Excellence, a middle school with a population of 550 students located in the Westville section of New Haven. The second is at Walsh Intermediate School in Branford, a community identified by the state health department as needing school-based health services. Walsh school has more than 1,000 students in grades five through eight.

"We've been successful in establishing school-based health centers to meet the needs of the communities we serve," said James Rawlings, assistant vice president for administration. "We're very pleased to be able to provide these children and their families with the option of receiving health care services in low-cost, high quality centers located right in their school."

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All information is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regimen.