Community Health
HCS Health Plan
The purpose of the HCS Health Plan is to protect the health and well-being of our students and staff by preventing and reducing the likelihood of exposure to communicable and infectious diseases, while still maximizing opportunities for learning.
The Health Plan is comprised of the following sections:
- Operations
- Prevention Strategies
- General School Health
Health Screening Services
As recommended by the Tennessee Department of Education, each year students in K, 2, 4, 6, 8 & 9th-grade students are screened for vision, hearing, body mass index, and high blood pressure. Parents are notified of any areas of concern for their students. All screenings are conducted by trained Acuity Screeners and all data is protected by Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Health Screening Services include:
Vision:
Vision plays a crucial role in academic success as it directly impacts a student’s ability to read, comprehend, and participate actively in classroom activities, highlighting the importance of early detection and management of vision-related issues. All students have their vision checked, and if a problem is found, parents/guardians will be notified by your school nurse. If you have a concern about your child’s vision, please notify your school nurse.
If your child needs glasses and you meet the eligibility requirements for the Eyes of Hope Vision Voucher Program, please speak with your student’s school nurse and ask for a vision voucher.
Hearing:
Hearing is essential for academic success as it enables students to effectively listen, understand instructions, engage in classroom discussions, and develop language and communication skills, emphasizing the significance of early identification and intervention for hearing-related challenges. All students have their hearing checked, and if a problem is found, you will be notified by your school nurse. If you have a concern about your child’s hearing, please notify your school nurse.
HEAR Chattanooga
Body Mass Index:
Each year, K, 2, 4, 6, 8 & 9th-grade students are measured for their height, weight, and blood pressure. If the student’s blood pressure is found to be high, it will be rechecked. If it is still high, you will be notified by letter.
PACER:
Each year 2,4,6,8,& 9th-grade students also have a Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) test administered in the student’s physical education class. This information is transmitted without the student’s name to the state for data collection purposes.
Other health screenings may be offered, and prior notification will be sent home with your student.
Parents/Guardians who do not want their children screened for any health concerns have the right to decline their screenings for their children by selecting “no” in the Online Student Registration Forms.
Eyes of Hope Vision Voucher
Who’s Eligible?
- Individuals of any age
- Family income up to 200% of Federal Poverty Level guidelines
- No coverage through a private insurer or government program for the eye exam or prescription eyewear to be covered by the certificate
- Haven’t received care through a VSP program during the last 12 months
- Gift certificates provide coverage for a comprehensive eye exam and a complete pair of prescription glasses with single-vision or lined multifocal lenses.
- If you are in need of a vision voucher, please contact your student’s school nurse.
School-Based Health Clinic
In our district Strategic Plan, Opportunity 2030, our community and Board articulated a belief that well-being is essential to student success. This belief was a driver of our district’s commitment to Every Community Served. The purpose of the school-based health clinic is to support making treatment and primary care accessible to all students whether they are insured, underinsured, or uninsured.
Services
- Physical exams
- Sports physicals
- Treatment for illness and injury
- School immunizations
- Mental & behavioral health services
- Routine lab tests
- Prescription medications
- Health education, counseling, and wellness promotion
- Fitness and nutrition education and counseling
- Referrals for healthcare services not provided at the clinics
- Health services are also available at our primary care clinics.
Appointments
In-person, phone, and video appointments are available. Call the center to schedule an appointment. Masks are required during visits.
Cost
There is never an out-of-pocket cost for our services (no copay, no cost for prescriptions). We take all types of insurance and will see you if you’re uninsured.
Insurance
Our centers are funded by insurance, Medicaid, grants, and public funds. Providing your insurance information allows us to bill your insurance so we can serve as many students as possible. If your insurance does not pay for all or part of the cost, you are not responsible for any out-of-pocket costs for services received from us.
If you don’t have health insurance or don’t provide us with this information, we will check to see if you qualify for the Oregon Health Plan or other insurance. This could fully insure your child for medical, dental, and emergency services. We strongly encourage you to apply for this coverage.
New Client Forms
To save time, please complete these forms and bring them with you to your appointment.
If you ask in advance, we can mail them to you. You can also pick them up before your appointment, or come at least a half hour before your appointment to fill them out. You’re welcome to fax them to the clinic where you’ll be seen.