“Tap Telehealth: How We’re Helping Schools Thrive, One Healthy Student at a Time”
Lets talk about something that’s near and dear to my heart – our schools. We know that strong, healthy, and well performing schools are the foundation of a vibrant community, and as a physician I feel that we all have a responsibility to make sure the schools are taken care of.
The Challenge: Sick Days and Their Impact
Let’s face it, one of the biggest challenges that schools face is when kids get sick. They get sent home with a fever, a rash, a cough, or something else, and they’re stuck at home, missing out on valuable learning time. This not only impacts the student, but also the teacher and the school overall. It’s a ripple effect, and it is so difficult for schools, teachers and students.
Tap Telehealth: A Solution for Students and Staff of our Schools
That’s where Tap Telehealth comes in. We’re not just a healthcare service; we’re a partner in education, working to help make sure both kids and staff are where they should be – in the classroom, ready to learn. We see the impact of this every day! We know that we can make a difference.
Reduced Absences: Keeping Kids in the Classroom
With Tap Telehealth we are able to quickly assess if a child is contagious, and if they aren’t contagious we are able to get them a “return to school” letter much sooner than ever before. We understand that the average wait time to get an appointment with your primary care doctor is around 3 weeks and that is far too long for a parent to wait if the child is ready to go back to school. We all know that when students are in class, they’re learning, growing, and building a brighter future. Tap Telehealth helps to reduce the amount of missed school time and gets kids back in the classroom, where they belong.
Closing the Learning Gap: Maximizing Educational Time
When kids miss school, they also miss out on vital learning opportunities. It can be hard to catch up after you’ve been out sick for several days. But by keeping kids in school, and reducing their absence times, we’re helping them stay on track and close that learning gap. And if a kid does have to miss school for a short time, they are able to get back much sooner because they have quick access to care via Tap Telehealth. With Tap Telehealth, students are learning and growing rather than being stuck at home!
Improved Performance: Setting Students Up for Success
When students are present and engaged in school, they tend to perform better, and when students are healthy they are able to focus on what is important – education! When students have access to quick and reliable healthcare we are setting them up to succeed in the classroom and beyond. Tap Telehealth helps students get to class healthy and ready to learn.
The Financial Impact: Supporting Our Schools
And let’s talk about the financial implications for schools. In states like Texas (and many others), schools receive funding based on weighted daily average attendance. If a child is out sick, schools miss out on funding, which can have a real impact on their resources. When we help to reduce absences we also help the schools get all of the funding they need. In Texas this can be an equivalent of about $25 per day that a school would receive. Tap Telehealth helps to ensure that schools are able to get the funding they deserve.
Supporting the Teachers and Staff: Keeping Them Healthy and On the Job!
Let’s be real – it’s not just the students who get sick. Teachers and staff need to be healthy to keep the schools running as well. And frankly, when teachers are out sick, it can be a mad scramble to find a sub, and let’s be honest, while the kids are happy to have a day watching videos and shooting spit balls with a sub, we all know that no one can teach quite like the actual teacher can. So, in addition to the kids, we also provide fast, convenient care to school staff. We also help to keep the teachers and the other staff healthy and in the classroom. We’re not just keeping the kids healthy; we’re keeping the entire school community healthy!
A Real World Example
I remember a conversation I had with a local school principal who was frustrated about all of the students missing school due to a recent flu outbreak. She said, “If I could just get these kids back in school 2 days faster that would make all the difference! I know they’re missing valuable learning time, and we are losing critical funding, if only there was a way to get them back into the classroom faster!” That’s the beauty of Tap Telehealth. We are here to do just that. We can be that resource to get those kids back in class faster. We are not just helping kids, but also the school systems as well!
Partnering With Schools for a Healthier Future
At Tap Telehealth, we’re committed to being a true partner for school systems, helping them create a healthier, more vibrant learning environment for all. We are not trying to replace the school nurse, but we are here to support them with another tool to keep the students healthy and in the classroom.
When kids are healthy and in school, ready to learn, everyone benefits – students, teachers, families, and the entire community! And that’s what we’re working toward every day, a brighter and healthier future for our schools. With Tap Telehealth we can make that future a reality!
“Ready to see how Tap Telehealth can strengthen our schools? Tap into our services today and let’s create healthier, more successful learning environments for all our students!”
