Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) has opened five new Employee and Family Health Centers to provide prompt, quality care for everything from acute illness to chronic disease management.
The clinics, which opened in May, are the result of a new partnership with Insurance Trust and University Community Health Services (UCHS). Each site is run by board-certified family nurse practitioners from the Vanderbilt School of Nursing. The clinics provide convenient, quality health care for about 16,000 teachers, retired teachers, employees and their families.
“Our teachers and Metro employees provide great services to our city, and it is a privilege to manage these clinics for them,” says Patti McCarver, registered nurse and clinics manager for MNPS. The clinics are distinct yellow and gray portables, each equipped with four exam rooms to help patients with illnesses, injuries, women’s health care, annual physicals, sports physicals, immunizations, management of chronic illness, and health-risk assessments. Same-day appointments are available for acute illnesses.
In addition to at least one nurse practitioner at each site, the project includes a population health manager who works closely with program administrators, the school system and community health groups to help prevent secondary health issues. Clinics are located at MNPS headquarters and at four other locations around the city.
The clinics are expected to help cut down on the number of health care-related absences for employees and their dependents. No public monies are involved in the clinics, which are funded by the Teachers Health Plan.