Miami-Dade County Public Schools, The Children’s Trust and Nicklaus Children's Hospital Launch Pilot Program to Provide Telehealth Consults to Students

Published on: 04/14/2016
MIAMI - Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, part of Miami Children’s Health System, has partnered with Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) in a pilot program that provides telehealth consultations to support assessment of children who exhibit health issues while at school. 
The pilot program, offered at four M-DCPS schools, connects school-based nurses and their patients with advanced care providers at Nicklaus Children’s using a secure audiovisual connection. Using audio visual tools, the hospital-based providers are able to assess certain conditions of the skin, ears, eyes, throat and lungs to help determine if the child is well enough to stay in school. When appropriate, a prescription can be submitted to the pharmacy of choice, supporting families in obtaining treatment at the earliest opportunity. 

“Innovative, cutting-edge technology is essential not only to classroom instruction, but is also fundamental to the health and well-being of our children,” said Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho. “Our partnership with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to provide students with telehealth consults will enhance their health care and give them access to hospital-based medical professionals who can provide immediate health assessments.” 

“We are delighted to partner with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to utilize our advanced telemedicine program to increase access to care for students in Miami-Dade County. This pilot program is part of our ongoing vision to bring quality healthcare to children wherever they are, whenever they need it, and we hope to continue our relationship with the school system,” said Narendra Kini, CEO of Miami Children’s Health System.


This program is an enhancement to the clinical services provided at the schools through the School Health Program, which provides comprehensive health services and improves health outcomes at high-risk schools through a partnership between Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and The Children’s Trust. There is no cost to the families who participate. 
The schools participating in the pilot program are: W.R Thomas Middle School, Southwest Miami Senior High School, Richmond Heights Middle School, and Airbase K-8 Center for International Education. For more information on this program and to enroll in the pilot, parents should contact their school nurse. More information is also available at www.nicklauschildrens.org/schooltelehealth.
 
About The Children’s Trust
The Children’s Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County by making strategic investments in their futures. The Trust is guided by principles and values that include targeting early intervention and prevention services to our most vulnerable children, families and neighborhoods, while advocating for and supporting the increased availability of needed services for all children and their families. Additional information about The Children’s Trust can be found at www.thechildrenstrust.org.
About Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Miami-Dade County Public Schools is America’s fourth-largest school system. With a diverse enrollment of over 350,000 students from over 100 countries, M-DCPS offers innovative educational programs at its more than 460 schools, including elementary, K-8 centers, middle, senior high schools and alternative, specialized and vocational centers. Students and their families have an active voice in choosing learning opportunities that foster academic excellence, school-to-career pathways and real-world learning.
About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Where Children Matter Most (2024)

Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with approximately 850 attending physicians, including more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 307-bed hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with many specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.

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