×

New school-based medical center under construction

ISHPEMING – Construction of a new school-based adolescent health center in the Ishpeming High School is nearing completion.

The Hematite Health Clinic serves students ages 10 to 21 years old within the city’s school district, providing medical care that includes wellness checks, sports physicals and the treatment of acute injuries and illnesses during the school day and throughout summer break, said Jessica Ramlow, family nurse practitioner.

“Our goal is to keep kids in school so they can learn and not miss large gaps of the day to go to medical appointments,” she said

Oftentimes, barriers such as lack of transportation or the inability for students’ parents to get time off from work result in many children missing out on annual exams, she said.

The clinic opened in a temporary space this spring, and is slated to move down the hall to its permanent home in a renovated classroom before school starts in September.

Ramlow said the new facility will house two exam rooms, a lab, a bathroom and a reception area, and will accept students through both appointments and walk-ins.

It is funded through a $195,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, with additional funding of about $50,000 from the Marquette County Health Department, said Jerry Messana, health officer for the county department.

“The healthier they are, the better they can learn,” he said.

With five school-based health care programs in the Upper Peninsula and more than 100 throughout Michigan, he said the state funding serves eligible schools with a certain percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunch.

“It’s serving a population that we feel is an in-need population in terms of access to health care,” Messana said.

Ramlow echoed that need, saying that Marquette County is a medically under-served area.

In addition to providing health care, staff at the clinic will also help uninsured families apply for Medicaid, she said.

Along with Ramlow, the clinic is staffed with a registered nurse and health educator, a social worker and a secretary. It is overseen by a medical director.

Kelsie Thompson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today