Telemedicine services coming to Alamosa students, families through school system

 

ALAMOSA — Alamosa School District is in the process of making on-site telehealth services available through Hazel Health, a telemedicine provider staffed with Colorado licensed pediatric doctors that specializes in delivering health care services to students and their families through the school system. After the school district signs an MOU with the company, the service should become available in roughly one to two months and will be offered on a trial basis for the remainder of the school year.  It will also only be available to students and their families; Alamosa School District staff and employees are not eligible to participate.

Once the program is in place, a student who goes to the school nurse complaining of symptoms that warrant being seen by a health care provider can do so via a digital connection facilitated by the school nurse.  Following a phone call to the parent, the licensed health care provider will then examine the student and, depending upon the circumstances, either refer to the student’s health care provider or, if necessary, order a prescription for the student which can be filled from a medication cart located in the nurse’s office.

Following the visit, Hazel Health will bill the insurance company for the visit.  If the family does not have health insurance, Hazel Health will bill the family. Parents will also receive a discharge summary from the company.

Prior to the health services being offered through the school system, information from Hazel Health will be sent to the parents of all students which will explain the program in more detail.  At that time, parents can opt in for services.  have the option of enrolling or declining the school district that provides them to opt in for their child.

Krista Hillis, the Alamosa School District nurse who has been instrumental in getting the program going, describes a typical situation under current circumstances. “A student comes to the office, and, if they’re sick enough to be seen by a doctor, they have to sit there for as long as it takes for us to call mom or dad to come get them,” she says.  “Then, the parent has to make an appointment to take the student to a doctor. All of that can take at least another couple of hours.  This way, we can get the student seen by a doctor as soon as they come to our office.” 

Hillis emphasizes that this service is not for “everyday illnesses” but is, instead, for conditions like strep, ear infections, dislocations or broken bones and anticipates it will be used the most frequently by students in elementary school. She also expects the program to be especially helpful to working parents who may not be able to leave work quickly or easily to take their child to the doctor.

Hazel Health has informed the school district that, due to the economic uncertainties and hardship many families are suffering due to the pandemic, they will not be accepting co-payments for services for this school year.   They also have individuals on staff who are fluent in Spanish and several other languages. 

Doctors will be available for seeing patients from 6am to 6pm for the remainder of the school year.