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School-based Telehealth

Guilford County Schools, Cone Health and Guilford Education Alliance have worked to develop a common vision through the school-based telehealth program. This vision is built on providing access to healthcare, returning students to classrooms, decreasing student absenteeism, increasing student’s instructional time, and reducing the impact of illness on students, schools, and families. Data were collected and reviewed for students with and without consent for telehealth services specific to the areas of school attendance (chronic absenteeism), progress on reading and math proficiency, and student discipline referrals.

We believe that if we connect students to school-based health services, then we will increase instructional time, decrease the cost of care, decrease guardian’s time away from work, and decrease emergency room visits, which results in improved student wellness, presence in school and ability to fully engage in learning.

Participating Elementary Schools
  • Alderman
  • Bessemer
  • Bluford
  • Brightwood 
  • Cone 
  • Fairview
  • Falkener
  • Frazier
  • Gillespie Park
  • Hunter
  • Joyner
  • Kirkman Park
  • McNair
  • Montlieu
  • Northwood
  • Oak Hill
  • Oak View
  • Parkview Village
  • Peck
  • Rankin
  • Sedgefield
  • Simkins 
  • Sumner 
  • Union Hill
  • Vandalia 
  • Washington
By the numbers summary of telehealth data from 2024

Beginning in March 2021 at Bessemer Elementary School, Guilford County Schools (GCS) partnered with Cone Health and the Guilford Education Alliance (GEA) to launch school-based telehealth services to children in high-poverty elementary schools. With the addition of three schools in 2022 and 2023, the partnership then added 10 more schools by the spring of 2024 for a total of 14 schools offering telehealth services to GCS children and families. With parent consent, students in these schools receive access to a full-time, on-site Certified Medical Assistant who can assess their symptoms to determine the need to access a healthcare provider. If determined necessary, the child’s parent is connected virtually with a physician where a healthcare visit can immediately take place. From this visit, a student may return to class more easily, without the need for a parent to leave or miss work, further supporting the child’s school experience and the parent’s ability to maintain their job.