Atrium Health Levine Children’s – bringing healthcare into your child’s schools with the help of Kohl’s Cares®.
Thanks to a generous $150,000 commitment made by Kohl’s in 2020, Atrium Health Levine Children’s will expand its School-Based Virtual Care program to additional schools in Lincoln County during the 2020-21 school year. This program embeds virtual care clinics in local public schools and improves access to pediatric care.
An initial grant from Kohl’s Cares launched the popular program in two Lincoln County schools during the 2019-2020 school year, enabling Atrium Health pediatricians to conduct 168 at G.E. Massey and Battleground Elementary Schools in the first year of the program. With a renewed commitment from Kohl’s, the program was recently able to expand to five additional schools: Pumpkin Center Primary, Pumpkin Center Intermediate, Love Memorial Elementary, West Lincoln Middle and West Lincoln High.
Lincoln County struggles with access to medical care due to limited physician availability. This creates a shortage of care for many Lincoln County children. Now, with support from Kohl’s, virtual care visits make it possible for students to be seen by a provider for minor illnesses without leaving school. Utilizing innovative technology, students are evaluated by a pediatrician located remotely at Shelby Children’s Clinic with parental consent. Parents are invited to join the visit via audio, video or attend in-person.
Local Impact:
The concept of the virtual program was developed through a partnership between Atrium Health Levine Children’s Shelby Children’s Clinic, Atrium Health’s Community Health division, Cleveland County Public Health Center and Cleveland County Schools. With the addition of the two new clinics supported by Kohl’s, the program is now offered in six elementary schools.
Within its first year alone, the virtual clinic has reduced unnecessary emergency department visits, reduced early dismissal from school, and improved access and establishment of a medical home for children who had no primary care provider or established medical home prior to visit.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is the school-based virtual clinic? Atrium Health Levine Children’s clinics are bringing healthcare into your child’s school using new technologies. A virtual visit makes it possible for your child to be seen by a provider for minor illnesses without leaving school.
- Who can use the school-based virtual clinic? Any student can use the school-based virtual clinic if their parent or guardian signs the enrollment and consent form. With your permission, notes from the virtual visit will be sent to your child’s primary care doctor.
Kohl’s Cares for our Community
Since 2001, Kohl’s has donated more than $3.5 million to Atrium Health in support of community programs designed to promote fitness, safety, injury prevention, and overall health and wellness for local families and children. Most recently, Kohl’s Cares® funded Atrium Health’s Community Cares program, which brought health screenings to undeserved and rural areas in North Carolina via a mobile unit.
Kohl’s commitment to Atrium Health’s Levine Children’s Hospital is made possible through the Kohl’s Cares cause merchandise program. Through this initiative, Kohl’s sells $5 books and soft toys, with 100 percent of net profit benefits children’s health initiatives nationwide, including hospital partnerships like this one.