School-based clinics explored
From our weekly issue dated October 08, 2008
Nurse practitioner Carolyn Litak
Four Oregon state representatives, led by District 9 Rep. Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay), toured Southwestern Oregon last week, talking with school officials and school-based medical clinic staff.
They wanted to see how rural towns, schools and such clinics try to meet the medical needs of families. Roblan is chairman of the newly established House Rural Policy Committee. On Thursday, Oct. 2 he, with District 3 Rep. Ron Maurer (R-Grants Pass), District 55 Rep. George Gilman (R-Medford) and District 10 Rep. Jean Cowan (D-Newport) visited Lorna Byrne Middle School in Cave Junction to discuss health-care issues.
They met with Principal Damian Crowson, Robert Duehmig of the Oregon Office of Rural Health, and Carolyn Litak, a nurse practitioner with Siskiyou Health Center. She serves as coordinator of the school-based clinics in Cave Junction at LBMS, Illinois Valley High School, and the newest site at Evergreen Elementary School. Kurt Higuera, Siskiyou Community Health Center CEO, also participated in the conversation.
They group agreed that for most students in Illinois Valley, their only health care is provided through their school. They noted that many families do not have health insurance.
Said Roblan, “If it’s not at your school, they don’t get it,” adding that is the case throughout rural Oregon. Noted Cowan, “Many parents live far out and transportation to a clinic for health care is a problem.”
Schools in S.W. Oregon face daunting challenges trying to care for students with serious health issues -- chronic conditions such as allergies, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). They provide students with education about nutrition, smoking, alcohol, safety, contagious infections, cleanliness, tattoos and body piercing, and other health-related subjects.
They also care for students with colds, minor injuries, nausea and illnesses.
Adequate health care in rural areas was a hot topic during the discussion. Difficulties with funding and communicating between school district and community health clinics were problems expressed by Litak and others present.
All four state representatives said that they are impressed with the SCHC school health centers and with the Cave Junction schools. Roblan commented that they have accomplished much with little financial support. He said that he realized they are faced with the need to do more and do it better.
Everyone present was concerned about rural health care and asked questions of Litak, with interest in how these issues are handled in Cave Junction. The representatives understood the rural health problems and promised to work harder on them in the Legislature.
Mauer has a medically related background, and Cowan also is knowledgeable about medical care and school clinic needs. The meeting ended on a positive note, with mutual promises to work harder for rural health care in Illinois Valley.
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