A SCHOOL-BASED CLINIC FOR ELEMENTARY-SCHOOLS IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA

A community hospital, a school district, and a private pediatrician's office collaborated to ensure all children enrolled in five elementary schools had access to health care services. The school nurse at each school identified children needing health care services and obtained p arental consent. The school nurse referred children to a nurse practit ioner who visited one school each day. School nurses and space in the nurse's office were provided by the school district. The hospital prov ided a nurse practitioner as well as pharmacy, radiology, laboratory, and emergency department services. The pediatrician as medical directo r for the program provided vision, training, and community connections and served as collaborating physician for the nurse practitioner.