School-Based Health Center to Open in Reed City
REED CITY, Michigan – A new school-based health center will open at Reed City Area Public Schools in August.
Family Health Care, a Federally Qualified Health Center that operates school-based clinics in Baldwin, Grant, and White Cloud, has tentatively set August 15 as the opening date for the clinic inside Reed City High School.
“The clinic will provide access to pediatric care and behavioral health care to Reed City students regardless of income or insurance status,” said Heather Battle, program supervisor. “The goal is to make health care affordable and accessible.” A grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ Child and Adolescent Health Center program funds the project. The clinic will provide primary care, preventative care, comprehensive health assessments, vision and hearing screenings, medication, immunization, treatment of acute illness, chronic disease management, health education, and mental health care to youth and adolescents ages 5 to 21.
Audrey Cooper, PA-C, has been hired to serve as the medical provider at the school-based center.
“Audrey brings several years of pediatric experience to our team,” Battle said. “Her calm, caring, and compassionate demeanor perfectly fits a school-based clinic. We are fortunate to have her as the provider to help expand services in Reed City.”
School-based health centers help eliminate barriers that rural communities often face, such as transportation and cost. The school-based model allows students to see their medical or behavioral health provider without leaving school, eliminating the need for parents to miss work to transport children to appointments. Studies have shown that students who use school-based health care have better academic outcomes due to less missed class time. Students can only be seen at the clinic if their parents/guardians have signed a consent form to be treated.
Construction crews are finishing renovations at Reed City High School for the new health center, which will have a secure, dedicated entrance. A public open house is being planned for September.
The clinic will be open year-round, Monday – Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment with Audrey Cooper, call (231) 791-7435.
To learn more about Family Health Care’s school-based health center, visit www.familyhealthcare.org/schoolbasedhealth
Media Contact:
Alan Neushwander
Director, External & Internal Relations
(231) 745-0433
aneushwander@familyhealthcare.org
