Oklahoma City Public Schools Partnership

Oklahoma City Public Schools serves approximately 33,000 students and employs more than 4,600 administrators, teachers and support personal. As a multi-cultural school district, about half of the students are bilingual in English and Spanish with 12,500 of the group being English language learners.

OU Health is committed to improving the health and well-being of students at Oklahoma City Public Schools and beyond. As the state’s flagship academic healthcare system, it is part of OU Health’s mission to provide healthcare that is accessible, timely, high-quality and affordable.

Telehealth

In order to improve healthcare access to Oklahoma City children, OU Health is partnering with Oklahoma City Public Schools to provide school-based telehealth and integrated health education programs. During the school year, 2022-2023, six Oklahoma City Public schools were supported in this pilot program. Beginning with the 2023 school year, school-based telehealth was made available to all schools in the Oklahoma City district.

“In some cases, our school nurses are the only health care provider our students see regularly. The relationships they build with students and their families play a vital role in maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for our students,” said OKCPS Superintendent Dr. Sean McDaniel. “To add the component of telehealth from our partners at OU Health is a game changer. It will allow our families to receive enhanced health services without having to take time off work to go to an outside clinic. We are thankful to OU Health for this critical partnership.”

Each school has been equipped with telehealth software and associated diagnostic devices that are necessary to perform comprehensive virtual health examinations on site. OU Health pediatricians can examine students using real-time audio visual telemedicine equipment. With the use of digital tools the doctor can perform virtual examinations of the heart, lungs, ears, mouth, throat and skin and perform diagnostic testing if indicated. Following a school-based telehealth virtual visit, doctors can provide prescriptions, recommendations and coordinate follow up and specialty care if needed.

The program aims to increase access to primary care and disease management, to improve health outcomes and literacy, and to decrease student absenteeism and trips to the emergency department. Parents will benefit by having reduced healthcare costs and having lower incidences of lost time from work and the associated loss of pay. Telehealth visits are provided regardless of insurance status.

“When students have untreated health issues it can lead to them missing school and experiencing academic struggles,” said Kathleen Combs, M.D., OU Health pediatrician and medical director of OU Health’s School-Based Telehealth program. “Additionally, many parents in under-resourced areas are not easily able to leave work to take their child to the doctor during the day. The opportunity to ensure these young patients are able to receive healthcare services in a timely manner is really exciting to us.”

To learn more and ensure your student is able to participate in school based telehealth visits, visit the OU Health portal on the Oklahoma City Public Schools website.

The program is receiving support from the Hearst Foundations, philanthropic entities which are independent of the Hearst Corporation.

Medicaid Information

More than 91% of students in Oklahoma City Public Schools are economically disadvantaged and may also be enrolled in Soonercare, the state’s Medicaid agency. With critical and time sensitive changes coming out regularly about Medicaid, make sure your Soonercare information is up-to-date and learn more about your coverage here.