While a new school year always brings changes and excitement, this school year brought something especially exciting for two Tift County Schools.
 
Through a partnership with Tift Regional Health System and the Tift County School System, a Southwell School Clinic opened at both Eighth Street Middle School and Annie Bell Clark Elementary School when the school year started in August.
 
“We are very excited about this partnership,” said Tift County School Superintendent Adam Hathaway. “We believe this will cut down on student, faculty, and staff absences by providing quick access to quality healthcare, which will in turn help our faculty teach and our students learn.”
 
The clinic is operated fully by Tift Regional, with a nurse practitioner and licensed practical nurse at each clinic. Monica Davis, NP and Jackie Parker, LPN will see 6th through 12thgrade students, along with faculty, staff, and retirees, at the Eighth Street Middle School Clinic, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jessica Boyd, NP and Amy Saylor, LPN will see Pre-K through 5th grade students, along with faculty, staff, and retirees, at the Annie Bell Clark Elementary School Clinic, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
 
Each clinic is for patients experiencing non-emergent sickness, and children will not be seen without parental consent. Students are seen at the clinics regardless of their families’ ability to pay.
 
Telemedicine is also offered at other Tift County Schools through Tift Regional Health System, ensuring that Tift County students at other schools will still have access to the nurse practitioners and licensed practical nurses at either the Eighth Street Middle School clinic or the Annie Bell Clark Elementary School clinic without having to leave their campus.
 
“This partnership with the Tift County School System is an important one, as it allows us to provide Tift County students, faculty, and staff with faster access to high quality healthcare,” said Claire Byrnes, TRMC Senior Vice President of Ambulatory Services.  “These clinics are a part of our continued efforts to make Tifton and all areas we serve healthier communities, and we look forward to more partnerships like this in the future.”