What is MY Health-e-Schools?

MY Health-e-Schools is improving access to healthcare for students in Mitchell and Yancey counties in western North Carolina through telemedicine. The technology is based on high-definition videoconferencing using specially equipped stethoscopes and cameras so that a centrally located health care provider can examine students at multiple schools without traveling. We collaborate with primary care physicians to provide many services, including addressing acute issues such as the common ear ache or stomach ache, chronic disease management, medication management, well-child check-ups, sports physical, adolescent medicine consultations, and telepsychology / telebehavioral health.

What purpose does this serve?

Using telemedicine to connect patients to quality health care providers is a proven way to increase access to health services, especially in rural areas; however, the idea of a school-based telemedicine program is unique. MY Health-e-Schools allows school nurses to connect ill students with health care providers. School-based health centers have been shown to improve attendance and reduce barriers to learning. MY Health-e-Schools increases classroom attendance for students and decrease time spent away from work for the parent or care giver of the student.

Here is an example of how Telemedicine technology can be applied:

Are there other ways this equipment supports the schools?

We are partnering with a program at East Tennessee State University’s Southern Appalachian Children’s Telebehavioral Health Clinic that focuses on brief interventions and collaborating with local providers to help students with behavioral health issues ranging from grief about a loved one’s death to classroom behavior issues. The services are available immediately at all participating schools through desktop video conferencing.

Since Fall 2011, the MY Health-e-Schools program has purchased and installed approximately $100,000 worth of videoconferencing hardware on the Mitchell County Schools network. We are working with both school districts to help them use this for video conferencing, continuing education for faculty, and staff and community organizations, and virtual field trips for the student body.