UMMC School of Nursing mobile clinic offers summer care for students

By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu

Photos By: Jay Ferchaud/UMMC Photography

Jackson Public Schools and South Delta students can get health care at school thanks to the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing’s school-based clinics, but what about summer break?

Those students can get access to health care this summer through the School of Nursing’s mobile clinic, which is traveling to the schools where the School of Nursing operates clinics. The summer program is funded through a $75,000 grant from Molina.

“At Molina, we are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals across the state,” said Bridget Galatas, plan president of Molina Healthcare of Mississippi. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing in providing families across the Jackson and the Mississippi Delta regions with access to critical health care services during the summer months when school-based clinics are closed. The mobile unit will not only offer vital physical and mental health care services, but they will also provide important health education and telehealth support as well.  We want to equip families in our communities with the services and resources they need to thrive.”

Dr. Anne Norwood, professor of nursing and associate dean for practice and partnerships, said the summer mobile clinic availability will help students start the new school year ready to learn.

“We’re thankful for Molina’s support of our mobile clinic and the care we provide to Mississippi’s school-aged children and teens,” she said. “Being able to continue to provide care during the summer months is essential for their health today and will prepare them for a healthier future.”

The mobile clinic will be at Lanier High in Jackson every Monday this summer, and at Johnson Elementary on Tuesdays in June. On Tuesdays in July, the mobile clinic will be parked at Galloway Elementary. It will be serving the South Delta School District on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Mobile clinic hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For Oriana Bogan, the mobile clinic being parked outside Galloway Elementary made a wellness visit for son Kyrie Brown convenient since she is the school’s office manager. 

“This makes health care more accessible, and we trust UMMC,” she said, “We don’t go anywhere else.”

Kyrie’s visit included screenings to make sure he’s ready to start kindergarten at Galloway in August.

“A lot of parents may want their children to have wellness visits this summer before school starts,” said Madalyn Martin, patient services coordinator. 

Often clinic visits come with extras such as hand sanitizer, toothbrushes and toothpaste to help children stay healthy. Kyrie received a goodie bag with a few health essentials plus a snack.

“I’m glad this makes care more accessible, and I hope this program grows,” said Jaleesa Battle, a certified clinical medical assistant at Galloway’s school-based clinic.

During the school year, school-based care reduces absenteeism and puts care such as testing for strep and influenza just a few steps away for students. 

Having access to the School of Nursing’s mobile clinic during the summer completes “a continuum of care,” Norwood said. “It’s important for kids and their families to know that health care is available to them at their schools in the summer, too.”