Sentara launches school telehealth clinic in North Carolina

Sentara Albemarle Medical Center and Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools (ECPPS) celebrated the opening of a new Telehealth Clinic at Pasquotank County High School with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, May 7.

The Telehealth Clinic will expand access to healthcare services for ECPPS students and staff by offering on-site virtual visits with medical professionals. Students and staff will be able to see a licensed doctor or nurse practitioner during telehealth sessions. 

The clinic will support student and staff wellness while helping reduce barriers to healthcare within the school community.

“One of our commitments as a school system is to bring the things our families need under the roof of the schoolhouse,” said Dr. Keith Parker, ECPPS superintendent. “This partnership is about opening access to healthcare for our students, staff, and families, and making sure young people have the support they need to succeed.”

The event highlighted the partnership between ECPPS and Sentara, who worked together to bring the clinic to Pasquotank County High School as part of a shared commitment to student wellness and access to care.

“This partnership is about making healthcare more accessible for students, staff, and working families,” said Teresa Watson, president of Sentara Albemarle Medical Center. “When care is available right on campus, it removes barriers and creates opportunities for people to get the support they need in real time.”

Pasquotank County High School Principal Delishia Moore said the clinic represents an important resource for the school community.

“For many families, taking time away from work or spending hours waiting for an appointment can be difficult,” said Moore. “Having access to healthcare services right here on campus helps remove some of those barriers while providing support in a way that is convenient and accessible for our students and staff.” 

Executive leaders from Sentara, ECPPS, and Truist Bank join school nurses and student nurses at Pasquotank County High School to celebrate the new clinic.

The event included a telehealth demonstration from a Sentara Community Care team. During the demonstration, attendees watched a volunteer patient receive an exam and have their vital signs checked. 

When students or staff visit the telehealth clinic, a licensed nurse will be in the physical room to facilitate the session. A doctor or nurse practitioner will join the session virtually, make a diagnosis, and recommend treatment or prescribe medication.  

ECPPS and Sentara aim to establish additional clinics in the future.