Hawai’i Island Community Health Center (HICHC) has launched School Based Health Centers at Honaunau Elementary, and Kealakehe Elementary and Intermediate Schools (SBHCs)
These centers will provide primary care services including well child exams, vaccinations, sports physicals, acute care visits (sick visits, injuries etc.) and chronic care visits (asthma, ADHD, allergy shots etc.). Each Center is staffed with a medical team including a primary care provider. In addition to primary care, campus health centers have access to behavioral health psychologists, and pediatric dental teams. Operating hours vary by each school location and the needs of the students there.
Any student with a signed consent form may be seen in the School Based Health Center at the school that they attend. In the next phase of operation, school staff including teachers, counselors, bus drivers, janitorial and kitchen staff will also be eligible to receive primary health care services. Signing up for school based health care at Kealakehe and Honaunau is optional and not mandatory.
Hawai’i Island Community Health Center is exploring options with the Department of Education in hopes of expanding School Based Health Centers to other Hawai’i Island school locations in 2023 and beyond.
“Our School Based Health Centers should not replace routine care. Our goal is to provide care that is in addition to the care received at a child’s primary doctor’s office. This is also a chance for children who don’t otherwise have access to health care to receive it easily in a school setting,” said Hawai’i Island Community Health Center CEO Richard Taaffe in a press release.
For more information visit www.HICommunityHealthCenter.org or call 808-333-3600 for East Hawaiʻi and 808-326-5629 for West Hawaiʻi.
