Palmetto Health partnering with Sumter schools for telehealth program

Manchester Elementary to kick off link with demonstration

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Palmetto Health is joining MUSC Health, Sumter School District and the SC Telehealth Alliance to offer education and clinical telehealth services to Sumter County students in select schools.

To kick off the partnership, Manchester Elementary School will host a demonstration and news conference from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15. The partners will demonstrate equipment, and a family will talk about how school-based telehealth has already benefited their health. The community is invited.

The clinical service will be available for six elementary schools in the Sumter School District. Students with non-emergent health needs will be instantly connected to a Palmetto Health or MUSC Health nurse practitioner or pediatrician and have prescriptions sent to the pharmacy of their choice following the visit.

"Palmetto Health is committed to improving the lives of our children and communities beyond our hospital walls," Chief Community Health Services Officer Vince Ford said. "This partnership extends our reach to more communities through remote access to health care education. It starts early. Healthy children create healthier communities."

The clinical telehealth program is aimed toward:

- Helping students feel better quickly;

- Reducing missed time from school;

- Reducing parents' missed work days;

- Eliminating transportation barriers to health care; and

- Reducing unnecessary emergency room visits.

This service does not replace the student's primary care provider. To participate, parents/guardians are required to complete enrollment forms and will be contacted before any telehealth visit occurs with students.

Palmetto Health's telehealth program also includes after-school education for the participating schools. Students are able to engage in interactive sessions that teach them about healthy eating, meal planning and making healthy relationships with family and friends.

Manchester Elementary is located at 220 W. Clark St., Pinewood.

For more information about Palmetto Health, visit https://www.PalmettoHealth.org.