Joplin Schools is partnering with Freeman Health System to offer in-school telemedicine appointments to students and staff. Here’s how it works:

• In a telemedicine appointment and with a parent’s permission, a student can receive medical treatment at school while their parent participates from work or home using their cell phone. First, the parent will be sent a text message with a link to accept and register for the appointment. Then, the parent will receive a phone call from Freeman Health System to update their student’s medical history. Finally, the telemedicine visit will begin in the school nurse’s office while the parent participates on a mobile phone voice or video call.
• The school nurse will use medical-grade equipment to enable the Freeman Health System provider and the parent to view the child’s ears, nose and throat.
• Payment options include billing the parent’s insurance company, billing Medicaid, or paying an affordable $35 flat-rate fee over the phone.
• There is no need for families to pre-register for telemedicine visits. A parent can simply call the school to request one, or the school nurse may recommend a telemedicine visit while attending to a student’s needs during the course of a school day.
• Families are not required to be already registered as patients of a Freeman Health System doctor or practice. Think of this as a virtual Urgent Care visit: walk-ins are welcome!

The goal of in-school telemedicine visits is to offer a convenient way for families to ensure their student has access to a doctor’s visit without requiring a parent to leave work, and without interrupting the student’s school attendance. If you have questions about telemedicine visits, please contact your school nurse.