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BROOKSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A northeastern Kentucky school district is launching a virtual health program that will allow doctors to diagnose sick students while they are at school.
Bracken County School Superintendent Jeff Aulick told The Ledger-Independent (http://bit.ly/1rP0at7) that the district expects to launch the Tele Health program next week.
Health department Director Tony Cox says a high definition camera and monitor has been installed in the nurse's office at Taylor Elementary School and Primary Plus health facility near Augusta has a similar set up, allowing a physician to examine a student at the school.
"I am not an educator, but studies have shown that sick children do not learn," Cox said.
The program could help students by getting them diagnosed quicker and parents because they might not need to take off work to take their child to the doctor.
"It is a win-win situation, for parents and children," Cox said.
He said the availability of affordable high definition camera equipment allowed the equipment to be used for schools.
"We simply cannot afford to have a nurse practitioner at every school and this helps a lot," Cox said. "... and this way a physician can look down a throat or in ears, or at a rash," Cox said. "If a follow-up is necessary, an appointment time can be set up and the child can come to the nurses station and have the physician check on their progress."
The service also will be open to other students in the district to use as needed.
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Information from: The Ledger Independent, http://www.maysville-online.com
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