EUGENE, Ore. – PeaceHealth Medical Group (PHMG) and Eugene School District 4J are partnering to sponsor two school-based health centers at Churchill and North Eugene high school. The school district will provide the clinic space and support staffing, while PHMG will provide medical staffing, medical oversight and facilitation of the billing of medical services.
The new partnership will allow the district to continue providing easily accessible and much needed primary care and medical services to its students.
“Expanding and increasing accessibility of safe, compassionate care is part of our mission at PeaceHealth,” said David Duffey, Vice President of PHMG Oregon. “The district has done an excellent job providing services through these centers, and we are eager to continue meeting the community’s health needs through this successful partnership.”
4J’s school-based health centers have been available to students and their siblings at the schools since 1986, providing physicals and immunizations and treating illnesses, injuries and ongoing health problems. The centers also provide mental health counseling through community partnerships including Lane County Mental Health. Recent state changes to health center requirements induced the district to partner with an outside medical provider for medical services and billing. The new partnership with PeaceHealth makes it possible for 4J students to continue accessing healthcare services in a school-based setting.
“Many students rely on our school-based health centers to provide their basic healthcare needs,” said Gustavo Balderas, Superintendent of Eugene School District 4J. “We value the partnership with PeaceHealth to continue providing healthcare to our students with PeaceHealth’s proven track record of high-quality medical services.”
Moving forward, the centers will be staffed by PHMG nurse practitioner Tricia Schroffner, who will spend 15 hours a week at each center, and a health assistant and health clerk from the district. Schroffner has been providing healthcare services to the district for the past several years and has recently joined PHMG as a PeaceHealth caregiver.
The centers opened under the new partnership on August 29. The centers take insurance and the Oregon Health Plan, and will not turn away any student needing treatment.
About PeaceHealth: Based in Vancouver, Wash., PeaceHealth is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. PeaceHealth Medical Group (PHMG) is a multi-specialty group practice with more than 130 physicians and 600 staff members at clinic locations in western Oregon. PHMG is part of PeaceHealth Oregon Network, a non-profit, locally governed, mission-based healthcare system based in the Springfield/Eugene, Ore. region. Visit us online at PeaceHealth.org.
About Eugene School District 4J: Eugene School District 4J is a public school district that spans 155 square miles in and around the city of Eugene in Oregon's southern Willamette Valley. More than 16,000 students in grades K–12 attend 4J schools in 20 elementary school programs, eight middle schools, four high schools, and alternative high school programs. Visit us online at 4J.lane.edu.
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