THE SCHOOL-HEALTH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS - INTEGRATING SCHOOL-HEALTH ANDMANAGED CARE IN SAN-DIEGO

Managed care organizations (MCOs) are being recruited to support schoo l health services delivered in school clinics. Schools without clinics already provide numerous health services and could provide more if th ey had support from managed care organizations. This article describes the first two years of a San Diego-based collaborative consisting of MCOs, school districts, and other health care agencies. By establishin g trust, developing overriding principles, and creating an interagency communication infrastructure, this collaborative has encouraged share d management of many student health issues. Because the agreements app ly to all schools, programs can reduce high rates of absenteeism distr ict-wide and avoid unnecessary doctor appointments for common health p roblems. These collaborative agreements are designed to be financially self-sustaining However, data collection, tile logistics of obtaining parental consent, and getting health professionals to communicate wit h each other in new ways remain to be significant challenges.