HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — Sentara Health and Hampton City Schools have partnered to launch school telehealth clinics, which will deliver acute primary care services directly to students and faculty in their own schools.

The school clinics allow students to receive high-quality Sentara medical care within the school. There will be a hybrid care team that includes an on-site licensed practical nurse and a virtual advanced practice provider. Virtual providers are able to look in the student’s throat, listen to their heart, examine their ears and make clinical decisions in real-time with advanced technology that facilitates remote physical exams.

“This school telehealth initiative is just one more way Sentara is getting creative to address the needs of our community members by meeting them where they are,” said Heather Strock, executive director, Sentara Community Care. “Our partnership with Hampton City Schools allows us to provide timely access to care, reducing student absenteeism and minimizing parents’ time away from work. This makes it easier for families to seek the care they need when they need it.”

Sentara’s school telehealth clinics are providing care to students at George P. Phenix PreK-8 School in Hampton, Virginia with expansion to additional schools coming in the near future.

“Hampton City Schools is excited to expand our partnership with Sentara by launching this unique pilot program that offers access to a Sentara clinic during the school day,” said Dr. Raymond Haynes, superintendent of Hampton City Schools. “We believe that this daily interaction with our community partner will not only strengthen our relationship, but also increase access and awareness to medical resources as we work together to maintain and improve the health, attendance, and academic success of our students,” he added.

Sentara aims to expand to more than 25 Title I schools across the Commonwealth of Virginia over the next two years.