Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Back in the day, the school nurse was the first stop for a scraped knee, a headache or a bout of nausea. If you were lucky, you'd get a tissue, a cold compress and maybe a quick chat before heading back to class.
While that was once the extent of health care in schools, some of today's students are benefiting from something far more comprehensive — and it's making a huge difference in their lives.
Fast forward to now, when schools like West High in Salt Lake are transforming the idea of health care at school. Instead of simply managing minor injuries or illnesses, kids now have access to full-service clinics operated by University of Utah Health right on campus.
The clinics offer everything from routine physical exams and sports physicals to vital mental health services — an especially important resource in a time when kids are struggling with more than just colds and flus. What once was a place to rest and recover for a few hours has evolved into a center that supports the physical and emotional well-being of students.
And the impact is powerful. For today's students, it's not just about feeling better during the school day; It's about setting them up for long-term success, both in school and in life. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 6.3 million students nationwide now have access to these school-based health clinics, and hopefully that number keeps growing.
It's the kind of resource you find yourself wishing that you had when you were younger, and one you'll be immensely grateful that your children have. Here are some of the highlights of West High's health clinic and the difference it's already making for numerous students.
Getting important routine physical care
It's a basic necessity, yet many students lack access to or can't afford back-to-school physicals or crucial mental health checkups. The West High clinic fixes this.
"When we do our check-ups, our physicals, and our sports exams, screening for mental health and other physical issues is critical. A lot of these kids have not seen doctors in years," said Kimberly Hansen, MD, FAAP. Hansen is a pediatrician with University of Utah Health and medical director of the West High School Clinic.
The clinic is really a special place, and that is why I jumped at the chance to be involved with it
–Kimberly Hansen, MD, FAAP, University of Utah Health
"The clinic is really a special place, and that is why I jumped at the chance to be involved with it. We know if there is a clinic at the school, students will spend three times more time in their classrooms. They also have a four percent increase in their graduation rates, and it lowers their dropout rates by a third," Hansen said.
Not surprisingly, the benefits of these clinics extend beyond just physical health.
Addressing the urgent mental health crisis
University of Utah Health reports that suicide is the leading cause of death for teens ages 15 to 19 in the state. Sadly, that's just part of the problem.
"Right now, we only have six child psychiatrists for every 100,000 children who have mental health needs," Hansen says. "It's really fallen onto the schools, the private primary care doctors, and the parents to try and make up this gap."
With so few mental health professionals, it's no surprise that so many students are struggling without support. In Utah, the wait for counseling services can be as long as eight to nine months. That's a long time to wait if a child is struggling emotionally.
At West High, the clinic is stepping in to help. Students have access to psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists who are part of the school staff. They do mental health screenings for all students and work with school counselors to find kids who may be at risk. Best of all, students can be referred to the clinic by their parents, teachers or even by the students themselves.
Making health care accessible for all students
The great thing about the West High Clinic is that it's open to all students in the district, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Parental approval is the only requirement. This makes health care more accessible for families who might otherwise struggle to afford the care their children need.
As Hansen points out, students who get this care stay in school longer and do better academically. But this kind of care isn't available everywhere — yet. Hansen and her team want to see this clinic model spread across Utah and beyond so that every student can get the help they need.
A path to a brighter future
The clinic at West High isn't just about treating problems — it's about preventing them and helping kids succeed. By offering both physical and mental health services, and by working closely with students, this clinic is helping students stay healthy, stay in school and graduate on time.
It's also helping build the next generation of health care professionals. Medical students, social workers and nursing students are gaining hands-on experience in a real school setting.
What you can do to help
As a parent, you can help push for more resources like this in schools. You can talk to school officials, local leaders and other parents about the importance of school-based health clinics. You can make sure your child gets the health checkups they need and ask your school to bring more support to students who may be struggling.
The bottom line: Catching physical and mental health problems early helps more kids on the road to success. A simple checkup could be the key to making sure your child has the best chance to do well in school and beyond. To learn more about West High's program — and how more clinics like these could benefit Utah students — click here.
It's time to ensure that every child gets the health care services they need.
The opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are the sponsor's own and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com. This Site Does Not Provide Medical Advice. Any content on this Site, such as text, graphics, images, information obtained from, or contained on this Site are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this site! The owner and operator of this site do not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the site. Reliance on any information provided by the Operator, including their employees, contractors or others appearing on the Site at the invitation of the Operator, or other visitors to the Site is solely at your own risk. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
