Students at a South Florida school don’t have to wait hours at a doctor’s office for their check-ups. In fact they don’t have to miss a minute of school, because there’s a fully staffed clinic right on their campus of North Miami Senior High School.
Dr. Arthur Fournier: “My passion has been to develop innovative models to deliver primary care to needy populations.”
UM Miller School of Medicine Family Dr. Arthur Fournier wanted a way to give underprivileged kids free medical services in the most convenient way possible.
Dr. Arthur Fournier: “They can come before class; they can come after class.”
Yvenson is a very busy high school senior.
Yvenson Fievre: “This year I have to write three 1,600 word essays.”
He doesn’t have time to take off from school for a physical, so he went to the clinic in between classes.
Yvenson Fievre: “The staff members are very friendly; they know how to treat the kids.”
Students can also get their vaccinations, their vision and hearing checked and the clinic keeps track of chronic conditions.
Dr. Arthur Fournier: “We’ve identified every child with asthma and we have started screening for sexually transmitted infections.”
Twelfth grader Yolanda is getting advice on nutrition from an expert at another school through a tele-health unit. She likes coming here, because she feels she can talk to the staff about anything.
Yolanda Metayer: “Everybody’s friendly; they’re willing to help. They listen to you as you talk, and then they have no judgments against you.”
Nurse Practitioner Marjorie Williams said kids feel comfortable here and are getting the care they need.
Marjorie Williams: “We want it to be a safe place for them, because a lot of these kids, their parents and home situations are not great. So, we make it welcoming for them; we make it with care.”
This program is in nine schools throughout Miami-Dade County and funded through grants and Medicaid.
For more information, log on to The Department of Family Medicine & Family Health http://familymedicine.med.miami.edu/
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