In the past, patients were content to visit their physician at a local hospital or doctor’s office – but COVID-19 triggered the need for a different approach. Even now, years after the onset of the pandemic, most people are reluctant to orient their schedules around in-person healthcare visits.

There are many reasons that the classic, facility-centric approach to healthcare is becoming outdated. People find it time-consuming, uncomfortable, and expensive – and all of these are issues the modern patient doesn’t want to deal with. This is especially true for families with young children.

So, what does the future of healthcare look like – and how are we moving beyond patient care that’s primarily based in offices and hospitals?

Why Facility-Centric Models Are Outdated 

Healthcare utilization declined drastically at the onset of COVID-19. With many patients fearing exposure, thousands of outpatient visits and elective procedures were either delayed, avoided, or canceled.

By 2021, 1 in 5 adults had reportedly missed or delayed healthcare due to the pandemic. As a result, medical facilities were forced to rethink how they could effectively provide care to patients outside of their normal circumstances.

The Impact on Children

The impact of COVID-19 was felt strongly on school campuses. With many students learning virtually and parents being concerned about illness outbreaks, high numbers of children received less frequent (and thorough) care during the pandemic. 

Research from the spring of 2021 indicates that there were psychosocial impacts on children, but also that their access to primary care was significantly disrupted. This leaves us with a question: isn’t it time we moved toward healthcare solutions that aren’t so easily lost or disrupted?

The days of healthcare being relegated to school clinics or doctor’s offices are behind us. Now, healthcare providers and families alike are looking toward more innovative ways to care for patients.

Benefits of Increased School Healthcare Access 

One of the primary changes we expect to see is a shift toward more modern, convenient healthcare clinics on school campuses. When students have easier access to medical resources at their schools, rather than off-campus, they are more likely to get the care they need.

Additionally, studies show that campuses with accessible school clinics are typically safer, healthier, and more productive than schools without. These student populations also receive… 

✓ Better Primary Care

With the move to school-based care instead of facility-centric, many obstacles are removed from students and staff. Most schools are now offering telehealth services  as well, which dramatically improves the accessibility for parents and their children – as well as the school staff.

Parents can even attend appointments virtually through a video and speak with the medical provider, all within the comfort of their home or office. True “high-quality” healthcare is care that is always accessible, even if the student isn’t physically present on campus.

✓ Increased Mental Wellness Support

With the rise of anxiety and depression in students, mental health should be as high of a priority as physical health. Children are battling mental issues at much younger ages and at higher rates than ever before – and our clinics need to adapt to this pressing need. 

Taking a child to a facility (in-person) for mental healthcare can be challenging and time-consuming. By moving away from traditional models and offering more innovative clinic solutions, we may be able to offer more care to more children.

✓ More Efficient Outbreak Prevention

Bringing a child to the doctor is no easy task for a busy parent. When your child starts to show signs of a cold or flu, it’s easy to delay bringing them to the doctor for a confirmed diagnosis. Unfortunately, this can also increase the spread of the unnamed illness at school, resulting in more COVID-19, flu, strep throat, and RSV outbreaks.

With a school clinic available to you, you can have your child seen by a healthcare professional to diagnose any illnesses quickly and efficiently. This information is then reported back to the school to assist with outbreak control and prevention, keeping more students and staff safe.

What Makes On-Campus Care Possible? 

Many solutions are making the transition to better school clinics possible. Providing access to healthcare, Campus Clinic is leading the charge to make it easier for schools to implement updated, accessible healthcare solutions. 

Here’s how we’re making campus care more possible with the help of modern technology.

Connecting Schools to Better Care

Many schools simply don’t know where to begin finding better healthcare resources in our country’s fragmented system. If improved on-campus care is to be possible, K-12 schools need help connecting with the right technology and resource providers. 

Engaging People Where They Are

The beauty of on-campus and virtual healthcare engagement is that it offers unparalleled insight into where a school (and its student body) currently is. This isn’t about jumping in and making dramatic changes – it’s about delivering the healthcare solutions each school needs to adequately protect and care for its students.

Improving Outcomes Via Analytics 

At Campus Clinic, we use robust analytics to focus resources where and when they’re needed. If schools are going to see a difference in their level of clinic care, they need the data to measure success – and to make adjustments when necessary.

What Does Obstacle-Free Healthcare Look Like? 

Low or No-Cost Services 

We believe that truly obstacle-free healthcare should come at little to no cost to the family – so every student can utilize it. That’s why we promote annual wellness visits, including vision and hearing screenings, scoliosis tests, and more, all  with no out of pocket costs. 

High-Quality Care 

We cannot move beyond facility-centric care with subpar patient services. Families and students need to know that their healthcare is still just as trusted and effective outside of a facility as it is inside.

Easily Accessible for All 

Healthcare must be readily available or convenient. Otherwise, it’s simply not going to be used as it should. That’s why Campus Clinic is such an advocate for Telehealth services with no out of pocket costs, which can be accessed from anywhere at any time.

Safe and Secure 

As technology plays a greater role in our campus healthcare, patients and their families need to feel that their systems and processes can be trusted. If they don’t, they’ll likely skip seeking healthcare or return to less efficient, facility-based care.

Ready to Join the Movement? Contact Campus Clinic

The days of waiting for offices at crowded pediatrician offices are in our rearview mirror. Thanks to innovation, spurred by COVID-19, and the modern technology of today, we are moving beyond facility-centric care – especially for children.

Campus Clinic wants to help your school. We know many schools, both public and private, are facing major healthcare issues – including budget problems. That’s why we’ve designed a system that is both affordable and comprehensive. 

With us in your corner, create a safer school environment, increase attendance, and ensure all of your students have the support they need. To learn more about Campus Clinic and what we can do for your school, contact us today.