Mississippi News
Free telehealth services coming to public schools this fall
Free telehealth services coming to Mississippi public schools this fall
Mississippi public schools will have access to mental and health care services for students for free as soon as August, education officials announced Thursday.
The Mississippi Department of Education approved a $17.6 million grant for telehealth and teletherapy services available within schools provided by the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
The Department of Education initially planned to begin with a pilot program, but then decided to launch the program statewide instead.
“The more we started finding out about (telehealth services), we really felt that if there was an organization or entity that could just launch this statewide and get more children access to it, then why not?” said Carey Wright, state superintendent of education.
The program is being funded by the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) and will last from July 2022 through September 2024. The program will start serving its first schools at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year.
The grant will cover laptops for video conferencing and specially equipped stethoscopes and otoscopes that transmit information to the doctors or nurse practitioners on the other end of the call.
Healthcare providers will supply urgent care, mental health care, remote patient monitoring, and specialty consultations to children in any district across the state that has access to a school nurse.
“When you really look at the distribution of doctors in Mississippi, you have plenty in Jackson, Hattiesburg, Tupelo, and Biloxi, but you get out to (those rural counties) and you are really in a health care desert,” said Dr. John Gaudet, a Hattiesburg pediatrician and former president of the state chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Telehealth is a way to keep kids learning, keep kids engaged in school and keep from having to pull them out to drive 40 miles for an appointment that could've been accomplished rapidly and easily by telehealth.”
The pandemic has also caused increasing mental health issues for children, which Wright says this program also aims to address.
“Statewide, we need to do a really good job of training our teachers and leaders on the signs and symptoms of children and adults that are struggling from mental health and social-emotional issues, and this will give them the great platform to gain access (to treatment) through our school nurses,” said Wright.
The grant specifically partners with the UMMC Center for Telehealth, which has been recognized nationally for excellence in telehealth.
“Healthy children learn, and children that aren't healthy don't,” Wright said. “If we could provide a way to make sure that our children are healthy and, if need be, families are healthy or staff are healthy and make the access that much easier…then that's one thing we can cross off the list and don't have to worry about anymore.”
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Warmer temperatures ahead of overnight storms – Home – WCBI TV
SUMMARY: The weather in Columbus, Mississippi is warm and humid with storms expected tonight and into Friday morning. There is a chance of some strong storms with heavy rain, gusty winds, and possibly hail. Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 80s. Showers will continue into Saturday morning before clearing out for the weekend. The SPC has NE Mississippi under a level 1 and 2 risk for severe weather. Overall, expect warm and muggy conditions with scattered showers and storms throughout Friday. Saturday will start with showers but clear out in the evening, while Sunday will have pleasant conditions with clear skies and warm temperatures in the upper 80s.
The post Warmer temperatures ahead of overnight storms – Home – WCBI TV appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Storm damage victims work to fix up their property
SUMMARY: Several residents in downtown Columbus, Mississippi, were impacted by severe storm damage, with trees falling on homes and property. Many residents, such as Len Summerville, Shannon Evans, and Emily Mclarty, shared their experiences of the destruction caused by last week's storms. They emphasized the importance of preparedness for future severe weather events. Some residents are still awaiting responses from their insurance companies to move forward with repairs. Overall, the community is coming together to support each other and navigate the aftermath of the disaster.
The post Storm damage victims work to fix up their property appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Brooksville City Hall shuts down after clerks quit
SUMMARY: Brooksville Town Hall in Mississippi has been closed for a week due to the process of hiring new city officials. The mayor explained that the closure is necessary until the new hires are bonded and can handle money. Multiple city clerks have resigned, causing issues with citizens paying water bills. Despite new hires being bonded and told to report for work, the doors remain locked. The mayor clarified that he cannot control everything that happens at city hall. Residents can still pay water bills at a drop box, with late fees being waived. The mayor emphasized his commitment to upholding his oath to the town.
The post Brooksville City Hall shuts down after clerks quit appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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