Prairie City School Based Health Clinic
Prairie City School-Based Community Clinic
In 2024, the Grant County Health Department opened a School-Based Community Clinic at Prairie City High School. The Community Clinic is open to all Prairie students and faculty, as well as the general public.
The Community Clinic can provide many primary care services, including sports physicals, immunizations, early treatment of illness or injury, routine lab tests, and more. If the clinic is unable to provide a service, staff can assist with referring patients. Patients with private insurance, Medicaid, or those without health insurance are accepted.
The Community Clinic is open year-round, located in the Bates Building, 740 Overholt Ave, Prairie City, Oregon. Appointments are available and walk-ins are welcome. To make an appointment, please call 844-823-4414.
What is a School-Based Health Center?
The Prairie City Community Clinic is a School-Based Health Center (SBHC) that is also open to the community.
School-Based Health Centers are primary care clinics that are located on school grounds. They provide healthcare, education, outreach, and referrals to school-age youth – the same health services you would find at a doctor’s office.
These Health Centers help to reduce barriers to healthcare by being conveniently located in schools and by offering a safe environment regardless of insurance coverage and ability to pay.
Since 1986, School-Based Health Centers in Oregon have succeeded through partnerships between school districts, local public health authorities, health care providers, parents, students, and community members.
What Services are provided at a SBHC?
- Routine physical exams, including sports physicals
- Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of illness and injury
- Vision, dental, and blood pressure screenings
- Immunizations
- Mental Health Services
- Routine lab tests
- Prescription medications
- Health education, counseling, and wellness promotion
- Youth health promotion
- Adolescent well child exams
- Fitness and nutrition education
- Referrals for healthcare services not provided by the SBHC
Why is a School-Based Health Center important for Prairie City?
In rural communities, School-Based Health Centers can play a critical role in reducing the stress and planning of traveling long distances for health care by providing healthcare close to home.
School-Based Health Centers use a youth-centered model that supports young people’s health and well-being.
By being comfortable and accessible, they encourage youth to make an appointment or to drop by when they need medical attention or want to learn more about health issues.
With easily accessible health care, school-aged youth have an equal opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.
School-Based Health Centers seek to improve health management for students and their
families by:
Facilitating early identification of health issues to enable timely intervention and treatment.
- Helping to keep students and parents from missing school or work
- Reducing barriers to healthcare by being conveniently located in schools
- Offering confidential care in a safe environment regardless of insurance coverage and ability to pay
- Promoting healthy lifestyle choices
- Empowering youth to take responsibility for their health
Encouraging parent or guardian involvement to support and sustain successful health outcomes
How is a School-Based Health Center funded?
School-Based Health Centers are funded through third-party insurance, Medicaid, grants, and public funds. Services provided are billed to insurance providers for those with insurance coverage, as required by law. This helps reduce the need for public funding. Students and families with no health insurance are welcome and may be referred to see if they qualify for the Oregon Health Plan or other insurance programs.
If insurance doesn’t pay for all or part of the cost of services, neither the student nor family is held liable for any out of pocket expenses for services at the School-Based Health Center.
Who staffs a School-Based Health Center?
The Grant County Health Department provides staffing for the School-Based Health Center. Staff at the Prairie City School-Based Community Clinic may include the following:
- Office Assistant
- Nurse Practitioner
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Community Health Worker (CHW)
- Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) or Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP)
