The School-Based Wellness Center at your school is a partnership between the Howard County Health Department and HCPSS. Please complete and return the enrollment forms for each of your children. The forms are available on the school websites or a paper copy can be sent home with your child. The School-Based Wellness Center is an option for a variety of health care needs for your child while they are at school. Completing the forms does not require that you ever use the Wellness Center services, but it gives you options. In addition to medical health care provided by a pediatric nurse practitioner, both centers also provide on-site mental health care services by a licensed mental health provider.

If your child comes to the health room during the school day because they are sick or injured, you will be called to see if you would like them to be seen in the Wellness Center by the nurse practitioner. You always have the option to pick up your child to go to your regular community health care provider. You can also call to schedule appointments directly. Children can be seen for sick visits, chronic illness management, or preventive health care, depending on your needs. When a child is seen in the Wellness Center the nurse practitioner communicates with you by phone, or you can come to the school for the visit. If indicated, lab tests such as strep throat tests, hemoglobin and urinalysis can be done at the Wellness Center; other tests such as throat cultures or blood tests can be sent to outside labs; prescriptions can be called or faxed to your pharmacy; medication orders can be written for daily or PRN medications that your child may need at school; and some treatments, medications and immunizations can be given in the Wellness Center.

Information from the visit at the Wellness Center is communicated to you via a phone call and written information/handouts are sent home with your child. The visit information is faxed to your child's primary provider. Follow up care, if needed can be done at the Wellness Center or at your primary provider. Unless the diagnosis and symptoms indicate that the child should go home, your child can return to class after the visit. Students miss less school time and parents miss less work hours when School-Based Wellness Centers are available.

You will not be charged by the Health Department or your insurance company. There is no co-pay, deductible or self-pay sliding fee scale for Wellness Center visits. If your child has medical assistance health insurance, the insurance company is billed directly. If you need the Wellness Center forms, have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, please call 301-490-1655 or 301-490-1660. The Wellness Centers are open during school hours. The nurse practitioner covers both the middle and elementary schools. If you have emergency medical needs for your child, do not leave a message on the Wellness Center voice mail, call 911 or seek emergency services.