For many families, accessing timely health care isn’t as simple as making an appointment. Working parents may struggle to take time off, transportation challenges can make doctor visits difficult and long wait times for appointments can mean kids may go without the care they need. These barriers are especially tough on families with school-age children, where even a minor illness can disrupt both learning and daily life. To address these challenges, two Virginia school systems have partnered with Sentara Health to pilot a school-based telehealth program that aims to provide students with faster access to acute primary care for common illnesses.
During the fall of 2024, pilot school telehealth clinics launched at George P. Phenix PreK-8 School in Hampton and Smithland Elementary School in Harrisonburg.
This school-based telehealth initiative connects students with high-quality medical care through a hybrid team of on-site nurses and virtual providers. Using advanced technology, remote providers can conduct real-time exams and make timely medical decisions for students without them ever leaving school.
“The elementary school that is currently housing this pilot program is on a campus model, where we have an elementary school, preschool center and a middle school all connected on one site,” said April Howard, chief officer for student support in Harrisonburg City Public Schools. “Ultimately, our goal with this new program is to keep kids healthy and in school. Having a telehealth clinic lets many of our students get immediate access to the medical care that they otherwise may not get as quickly due to numerous barriers.”
The school-based telehealth clinics utilize The Pro Smart Clinic, a medical device that allows providers to check vitals like blood oxygen levels and weight as well as listen to the heart and lung sounds, look into the ear canal, and perform other services remotely. This technology is being used in school-based telehealth clinics in over 2,500 schools across the country.
In 2023, Sentara began its partnership with Harrisonburg City Public Schools when they launched the Community Care Clinic, a health clinic that provides entrance physicals, immunizations, and other required services to students who are uninsured or receive Medicaid. With this fully equipped clinic on the same campus as the school district’s welcome center, Harrisonburg City Public Schools has been successful in reducing the wait list for students to be enrolled and registered in school.
“Our partnerships with the Hampton and Harrisonburg school systems allow us to provide timely access to care, reducing student absenteeism and minimizing parents’ time away from work. This makes it easier for families to seek the care they need when they need it,” Heather Strock, executive director, Sentara Community Care said in a release.
Sentara Health has plans to expand this program to more than 25 Title 1 schools across the Commonwealth over the next two years. Title 1 is a federal initiative that provides funding assistance to schools who serve low-income households to better support their students.
During the 2025 Virginia General Assembly, the Senate passed legislation that encourages school boards to develop policies granting students access to telehealth services on school grounds. Policies may cover areas such as mental health counseling, chronic condition management, and more. Learn more about legislation in progress that impacts school-based telehealth in VTN’s bill tracker.
Feature image source: Sentara