Keeping Kids Healthy

Imagine being a kid again and sitting in class feeling sick. Now imagine having parents that have no access to healthcare with limited financial resources. And, not knowing where to take their child for the medical care they need.

Thanks to Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., children enrolled in the Marion and Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School Districts can receive the care they need, despite not having health insurance.

Whether it’s a cold, toothache, ear infection, sports physical or making sure kids get their annual immunizations, Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ School Based Health Center teams can address those needs by providing high quality pediatric primary health care to evaluate students, as well as their siblings up to age 22.

Alicia Herrera, front desk supervisor for Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ two School Based Health Centers, said seeing her organization’s mission: “Serving Humanity to Honor God” in action by providing healthcare to the least served in these communities, has been incredibly rewarding.

“I’ve been working in the school based health centers for 17 years and I love it. To see children and their siblings get the care they need, when they need it, has been wonderful,” said Herrera.

She said students visit the School Based Health Centers during school hours, which are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The two School Based Health Centers are conveniently located on the campuses of Schertz Elementary School (757 Curtiss Avenue), and Krueger Elementary School (217 West Otto Street). Services are available to children from across the two school districts and open year-round.

“We see kids of all ages — newborn to 22 — from the schools in the area. These children do not have access to healthcare and are in need of seeing a medical professional,” said Herrera. “We are here for them and always happy to get these kids to feeling better so they can get back to learning in the classroom. The families know us and trust us.”

She said the two Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ School Based Health Centers provide the following programs and services:

• Diagnosis and treatment of simple illness or injury
• Immunizations
• Well-child exams
• Physical exams
• Sports physicals
• Health promotion and education
• Prescription assistance
• Primary dental care, including exams, x-rays, cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants
• Dental treatment, including fillings, extractions and endontic treatment available
• Sports mouth guards (in school colors)
• Individual and family counseling, as well as case management services
• Assistance with Medicaid, CHIP and SNAP application
• Referrals to healthcare providers, specialists and other community resources

Herrera said clinical services provided to children at Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ two School Based Health Centers are charged on a sliding fee scale, based on annual household income. The School Based Health Centers do not offer urgent care services and insured patients must file claims on their own.

To learn more about the services offered at Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ School Based Health Centers, contact the Schertz center at 210-658-4875, or the Marion center at 830-420-2291, or visit online at mhm.org.