School's health center open to community

VERMILION — A health center located inside Vermilion High School is not just for students, and residents do not have to live in Vermilion or Erie County to use it. Representatives from the Erie County Community Health Center, which is operated by the Erie County Health Department, recently informed Vermilion city council that the school-based health center is open to students, staff, families and the broader community. Troy Chaffin, chief executive officer of the Erie County Community Health Center, said many people may assume the Vermilion site only serves students. While students are a major part of the patient base, he said the center is open to the public. "It is open to the whole community," Chaffin said. He said people from outside Vermilion — including Lorain, Elyria and Norwalk — may also use the site. The Vermilion location is one of many Erie County Community Health Center sites, including one that recently debuted in Castalia in partnership with Margaretta Schools. Representatives said the organization operates nine sites overall. The health center is located at Vermilion High School, 1250 Sanford St., and is designed to improve access to care. For students, Chaffin said the center can reduce the time they miss from school and limit the need for parents or guardians to leave work to pick them up for routine health needs. He said a student can walk down the hall, receive care and return to class when appropriate. Services offered at the site Representatives said the Vermilion location offers more than basic care for sore throats or upset stomachs. According to information provided by the Erie County Health Department, the school-based health center offers sick visits, preventative health care, chronic condition management, immunizations, travel vaccines, school and work physicals and other services. The center serves all ages: from birth through senior years. Appointments are appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome. Services discussed during the council meeting also included women, infant and children services, behavioral health support, primary care services and medication management for mental health diagnoses. Women, infants and children services are offered on Wednesdays for eligible women, infants and children. The program provides breastfeeding support, nutrition education, food benefits and referrals when needed. A licensed independent social worker is available from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays to help with concerns, such as depression, anxiety, behavioral issues and other mental health needs. Beginning this month, a psychiatric nurse practitioner is expected to be available twice a month on Wednesdays. The provider offers primary care services and can also prescribe medications for mental health diagnoses. Representatives said the center is working with high school counselors on a referral process for students who may need medication management, with parent consent. The health center also provides help for people who do not have insurance. Representatives said certified application counselors can review eligibility for Medicaid, Medicare or marketplace plans and can travel to off-site locations when needed. Information provided by the health department underscores how all insurances are accepted, including uninsured patients, with reduced out-of-pocket costs for those who qualify. Open to all ages Council members asked whether the center serves a specific age range. Health center representatives said patients may range from infants and newborns to older adults. They said the center uses an electronic health record system and can request records from a patient's previous primary care provider when someone transfers care. The center is primarily operating on Mondays and Wednesdays, depending on the type of service being offered. Representatives said hours could expand in the future if more people use the location. Security, access Because the health center is located inside a school building, council members also asked about security. Representatives said the center uses a separate entrance behind the high school. Visitors do not go through the main school entrance. Staff members must let people inside, and representatives said no staff member is left alone at the site. Nicole Ziegler, chief health services officer for the Erie County Health Department and Erie County Community Health Center, said construction equipment is currently located near the standard entrance. She said the center is using a temporary entrance during the work. Ziegler said the construction area is marked in red on a map provided by Vermilion Schools superintendent Wes Weaver. A green and yellow arrow, meanwhile, marks the temporary entrance currently being used. Council members also raised questions about signage, saying the location may not be easy for residents to find. Health center representatives said they have discussed possible signs with the school district, including signs near Ohio 60 directing people to the proper entrance. Representatives said public awareness remains one of the biggest needs for the site. They said the more residents know about the center and use its services, the more successful the program can become for the community. The school-based health center at Vermilion High School can be reached at 567-867-5174. More information about the Erie County Community Health Center is available at eriecohealthohio.org.