A Tool for Equity: Electronic Health Records 

No matter the make up of your district, you likely have students with diverse backgrounds and health needs. No matter the make up of your district, you likely have students with diverse backgrounds and health needs. You might have a high percentage of students with a chronic illness, or students who rely on the school nurse for most of their health care. As the health needs seen at school evolve, the tools that school nurses require evolve, too.  

A 2022 survey from NASN showed that only 42% of school nurse respondents reported billing Medicaid. With Free Care expanding, districts have an opportunity to tap into a funding source that can make a tangible difference on the bottom line. 

It boils down to this simple truth: if school nurses are expected to offer the kinds of care that is normally offered in a private practice or hospital setting, they should have the same tools that those settings offer.  

Every School Campus Is Unique 

Each campus in your district has its own landscape of economic statuses, chronic illnesses, and acute needs. What works for one school may not fit another. While we often look at districts as a whole, it’s essential to recognize the nuanced situations within each campus. And it’s critical that the tools you use allow you to serve individual students while also providing insight into what’s happening across campuses at the district level.  

Diversity of Needs 

An EHR can benefit different communities in different ways.  

For example, in rural areas, school nurses play a multi-faceted role in staff and students’ lives. They might even help with oral health and education which, for students who don’t have regular dental check-ups (and about half of school-aged kids don’t). In general, children in rural areas are statistically more likely to miss check-ups with health providers outside of school. An EHR in these communities is crucial in maintaining accurate health records. 

But that’s not to say EHRs are any less needed in urban or suburban communities. 

Over half of school based health centers are located in urban areas, and for school based clinics, it’s critical to have a purpose-built tool due to the level of care offered in these settings. We talk a lot about purpose-built tools, but what does that mean for health professionals working in school environments? It could be workflows that make regular office visits or daily medication administration easier. In other cases, it might be the ways that you track students’ immunization statuses. 

It’s a bit like trying on a pair of pants that are the wrong size. You might initially think why can’t I fit in these? They fit perfectly a couple years ago. The problem isn’t you. It’s the pants…or, in this metaphor: it’s the tool.  

With evolving student needs, you might want to pull new kinds of reports, or start to bill Medicaid for health services. If you’re still using your SIS for health documentation, you might wonder why it’s so hard to accomplish these goals. But it’s not you. It’s the tool. 

Students with Medicaid may require additional services—think dental care, mental health support, or immunizations. An EHR can help track these needs efficiently, ensuring that no child slips through the cracks. By reporting on vaccination delinquency rates, for example, you can pinpoint areas within your district that need extra support and mobilize resources accordingly. 

Data-Driven Insights 

In any community, being able to spot trends can be critical. If you have students with diverse backgrounds and health needs, data might feel even more important. It allows you to target the specific needs of your students more effectively.  

For instance, let’s say you notice a spike in absenteeism. With EHR data, you can identify patterns—maybe a significant number of those absences are related to health issues. This insight enables you to implement tailored interventions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. 

Or perhaps your district has a health clinic and want to dig into which communities need more encouragement to get their immunizations. Data can help you pinpoint what kinds of health education might be most beneficial to your community.  

Healthy Kids Stay in School 

Let’s not forget: healthy kids are more likely to stay in school. According to Attendance Works, there’s a strong correlation between health and attendance.  

When we can track health data effectively through EHR, we can create a more supportive environment for our students. This is especially crucial in low-income areas, where a child’s ability to learn can often hinge on their health. According to a study from the CDC, “as family income increased, the percentage of children with chronic school absenteeism for health-related reasons decreased.”  

And according to Attendance Works, “children living in poverty are two to three times more likely to be chronically absent—and face the most harm because their community lacks the resources to make up for the lost learning in school. Students from communities of color as well as those with disabilities are disproportionately affected.” 

Mobilizing Your Health Clinic 

57% of school health clinics are based in urban areas, so those communities may be especially interested in how an EHR can help. One of the best parts of having an EHR is that it empowers your school-based health clinic. Because the kinds of care offered at school-based health clinics is more robust than the traditional office visit, it’s paramount for providers to have a tool that’s built for them.  

Imagine being able to pull up data that tells you exactly which families need outreach, whether for immunizations or other health services. This isn’t just about providing care; it’s about meeting families where they are. For instance, some clinics even provide immunizations on-site, making it easier for students to receive essential health services without missing school. 

The Medicaid Opportunity 

Billing Medicaid for health services is a crucial strategy that can significantly benefit all districts, especially those who serve as the main source of healthcare to their students. With many students relying on school nurses for their healthcare needs, the ability to bill Medicaid not only enhances the financial sustainability of school health programs but also improves access to essential services for underserved populations. 

Medicaid reimbursement allows schools to offset the costs associated with providing health services, which is especially beneficial in districts where funding may be limited. By billing Medicaid for services such as mental health support, immunizations, and routine health screenings, schools can secure additional financial resources. This funding not only supports the health needs of students but also contributes to the overall financial stability of the school health program. 

Conclusion: A Tool for Equity 

The importance of an EHR in all communities cannot be overstated. It’s more than just a record-keeping tool; it’s a means to ensure equity in healthcare access for our students. By leveraging data, we can address the unique challenges each campus faces and ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive both in and out of the classroom.