Students Will Gain Access to Health, Mental Health, and Preventive Dental Services
Carthage Area Hospital is pleased to announce a partnership with LaFargeville Central School District to open a School-based Health Clinic at the Sunrise Avenue campus.
Hospital and school officials have worked through the summer to bring a comprehensive range of school-based care to LaFargeville students and anticipate a fully operational clinic by the end of September. It is conveniently located adjacent to the school nurse’s office and will serve students of all ages on scheduled school days from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Students who enroll in the school-based health program can access all primary care health services and receive treatment and diagnosis of acute illness and injury, sick care, age-appropriate well-child exams, sports and camp physicals, allergy injections, immunizations, mental health care and clinical nutrition counseling. Clinic staff can also help manage and monitor chronic health conditions, dispense select over-the-counter medications, and provide referrals for lab and PPD testing and specialty care.
The school-based clinic team includes a full-time Physician Assistant, a Licensed Practical Nurse and a Licensed Therapist. A Registered Dietician is regularly scheduled to provide on-site nutrition health services. Board-Certified Pediatrician Dr. Dionne Donald is the supervising physician for Carthage Hospital’s four School-Based Health Clinics.
LaFargeville students may also elect to participate in a preventive dental care program that includes a dental screening, fluoride treatment, dental sealants and an annual cleaning by a Registered Dental Hygienist who works under the supervision of a hospital-affiliated dentist.
District Superintendent Travis Hoover said opening a clinic at the school has long been a priority because “it clearly makes a difference in the lives of our children, personally and academically.”
“A school-based clinic with such a great range of care means our students can stay in school without missing instruction for off-campus medical appointments, and better attendance leads to improved academic performance and student success,” Hoover said. “It also means that students in our community will have easy, access to services that are not available in our community including medical and dental care, mental health services, and nutrition counseling.”
“We’re excited to partner with Carthage Hospital to make a positive change in the lives of our students,” Hoover added.
Carthage Area Hospital Physician Assistant Michelle Boulton, RPA-C, will lead clinical efforts in LaFargeville. Boulton is an experienced health provider who previously served at the hospital’s Carthage High School clinic.
Therapist Katie Halaburka, LMSW-P, will join Boulton to provide behavioral health services, while Dawn DeGroat, LPN, will serve as clinic nurse. She presently works at the hospital’s Philadelphia Medical Center. Registered Dental Hygienist Donna Farney, who manages the hospital’s Dental Sealant Program, will lead the clinic’s preventive dental program.
Carthage Area Hospital CEO Rich Duvall said he appreciates the positive reception from school officials as they welcome the clinical team “to care for students when they need it most.”
“LaFargeville is a wonderful community for Carthage Area Hospital’s model of school-based care,” Duvall said. “We have forged a valuable partnership with the school district that will benefit our children and help keep our younger population healthy.”
Students enrolled in school-based health care may receive services any time during the school day without payment. When available, insurances are billed to help cover costs, but there is no out-of-pocket expense. Referred services, such as lab, X-rays or specialty care, completed at outside facilities are subject to a charge. A grant from New York State helps to underwrite program costs.
Parents or guardians may pick up an enrollment packet for children at the school nurse’s office. Carthage Area Hospital also operates School-Based Health Clinics in Carthage Middle School, Carthage High School and Beaver River Central School. To learn more, contact Melanie Saber, LMSW, program director, 315-519-5958, or msaber@cahny.org or Mark DeCilles, director of outpatient clinics, 315-519-5903, or mdecilles@cahny.org.
About Carthage Area Hospital
Carthage Area Hospital was established as a not-for-profit rural community hospital in 1965. It operates today as a fully accredited 25-bed Critical Access Hospital, serving approximately 83,000 residents in Jefferson, northern Lewis and southern St. Lawrence counties. The hospital formed a clinical affiliation with Crouse Health, Syracuse, in 2017.
The hospital also operates a network of community-based clinics, including its Philadelphia Medical Center, Family Health Center, Pediatric Clinic and Women’s Way to Wellness and provides a range of specialty care, including general surgery, orthopedics, podiatry, urology, neurosurgical care, physical and occupational therapy and behavioral health.