The Slicer Health Clinic, a service of La Porte Physician Network, is open and available to serve all La Porte Community School Corp. students, thanks to a grant from the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte, and support from the school board and La Porte Hospital administration.
The clinic is at La Porte High School, 602 F St., and accessible through the main entrance. It’s open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays in conjunction with the school calendar. La Porte Physician Network nurse practitioner Elisa Bergquist and medical assistant Lauryn Jones will staff the clinic.
Research shows that student-based health clinics improve the health of student bodies by providing access to services at the time they are needed, while helping to instill healthy behaviors in young students and teens, when they are more likely to form good habits that last a lifetime, according to La Porte Hospital.
“We see the Slicer Health Clinic as an extension of the primary care provider or pediatrician role,” said Ashley Dickinson, CEO of La Porte Hospital. “The nurse practitioner coordinates any care provided at the clinic with the student’s primary care provider, while helping the student to manage any immediate health needs.”
The clinic offers convenience for parents whose children may need to be seen by a healthcare provider but cannot obtain a same-day appointment during the school day. While the clinic is located at the high school, any student in the corporation may use it after parents complete an enrollment and consent packet.
Mark Fancesconi, superintendent of schools for La Porte Community School Corp., said a lot of research was put into the project by a steering committee that included local physicians, school administration staff, nurses, teachers, students, parents, La Porte Physician Network staff, and representatives from the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte.
“We were able to present a solid case for the potential benefits of a student-based health clinic and look forward to being able to offer a service that can improve the health of our students, improve attendance numbers and engagement in school activities, and provide a health support network for students and parents during the school day,” he said. I am excited to see the project unfold.”
The Healthcare Foundation of La Porte provided a $165,323 grant for the clinic.
Services provided at the clinic include diagnosis and treatment of illness and injuries; physical exams and sports physicals; immunizations and some lab tests; management of chronic health conditions; prescription and over-the-counter medications; promotion of healthy life choices; and referrals for specialty care, including behavioral health and dental care.
