ABOVE: Danielle Bryant, Bryan Ferrell, and Tarayia Clark await student patients while behind the welcome desk at the SIHF Clinic at Danville High School.
Danville District 118’s Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in the lower level of Danville High School is continuing to get the word out to district students and families that they are available for them. One of the most important facts is that students from all schools and their immediate families may use this Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation (SIHF) clinic. And in following FQHC guidelines, no one can be turned away, and payments are made on a sliding fee scale based upon ability to pay.
Another very important factor is that once a student’s consent form to go to the clinic has been signed, students can attend their appointments during the school day without a parent or guardian having to miss work. District Director of Operations Seth Oldfield points out that a District 118 school’s home liaison can bring the student to the high school, with parking spots reserved in the circle drive at the north end of the building just off Jackson Street. There will soon be some new signage on that doorway as well. Oldfield says it’s been a learning process having a health clinic within the district and at the high school, but they’ve been development and growing.
AUDIO: One of the things that we were concerned about is ease of access into the building. Especially for our home liaisons who transport students from other buildings that need to be seen at the clinic; how do we get them into the building quickly and easily, and to their appointment, and back into class. Because that’s one of the benefits of having a clinic in the school; that we get students back into class as soon as possible.
(1st Picture) Family Nurse Practitioner Ken’Neisha Hoskins in her Danville High School health clinic office, (2nd and 3rd pictures) DHS’ SIHF Clinic examination rooms, (4th picture) District Director of Operations Seth Oldfield and Ken’Neisha Hoskins next to the bulletin board by the clinic’s front desk.
Family Nurse Practitioner Ken’Neisha Hoskins took over at the clinic last October. She says it’s been a matter of building stronger relationships with all of the schools and school nurses within the district, and making sure everyone knows that the SIHF clinic is available for primary health care services for the students and their immediate families, as well as sports physicals. She says one of the strengths the clinic can offer district families is convenience.
AUDIO: The parents are very supportive of this clinic, because we can most definitely get them in the same day; most of the time we get them in the same day. And then we fax their paperwork over to the (school) nurses, so that helps. When the students come here, they like to come in and see what we’ve got going on, especially when they leave and we give them snacks on the way out. They love our snacks that we have here.
Consent forms are offered at the time of registration but a student can turn in a consent form at any time. Families can call the clinic for information at 217-920-0168.
