TeleKidcare® uses telemedicine technology to “bring the doctor to the school”. This unique health care delivery system has proven effective in overcoming significant access issues including socio-economic condition, transportation availability, and language barriers. TeleKidcare® enables school children with acute or chronic health care conditions or mental/behavioral health concerns to “see” the doctor from the convenience of their school nurse’s office.
You can also view the video produced at KUCTT about the local TeleKidcare® program here.
In February 1998, KUMC partnered with a local urban school district, USD 500, to establish TeleKidcare®, providing timely health care to students at four elementary schools. Since that time, with funding support from local and federal agencies, the program has provided more than 4,000 consults and now includes elementary, middle, and high schools.
Typical services include diagnosing and treating acute health care concerns; consultation and education regarding management of chronic health care conditions; assessing, treating, and managing ADHD; and assessing childhood and adolescent depression and providing treatment/therapy.
After almost 10 years in operation, research shows that 57% of consults have been for mental and behavioral health issues; 38% of consults for ear, nose, and throat concerns; 3% of consults for school physicals (no longer offered); and 2% for miscellaneous ailments.
TeleKidcare® is truly a community-
centered,
collaborative effort to provide health care for children. In
addition to the essential support of school district and building
administrators, the day-to-day involvement of the school nurse,
and the expertise provided by pediatricians and child psychiatrists,
TeleKidcare® has been supported through grants from TOP;
NTIA; U.S. Department of Commerce; Kansas Community Enrichment
Program; Southwestern Bell Foundation; Wyandotte Health Foundation;
Prime Health Foundation; Kauffman Foundation; and the State
of Kansas.
On June 22, 2000, TeleKidcare® was designated as a Model that Works by the Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services. Recognized for its proclivity to replication and to serving the needs of the under-served and under-insured, TeleKidcare strives to ensure 100% access to health services with 0% disparity.
TeleKidcare® was honored again in 2003 with the Best Practice Initiative by the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Office of Public Health and Science. The Best Practice Initiative is designed to showcase the "best practices in public health from around the country to foster an environment of peer learning and collaboration."
You can read more about the TeleKidcare program by visiting the Best Practice Initiative website (requires Adobe Acrobat).
For more information on the TeleKidcare® Project, please contact:
©
The University of Kansas Medical Center