The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a school-based mobile health clinic, has become the first care mobile in Tennessee to offer telemedicine services.
The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, essentially a doctor’s office on wheels, is staffed by a licensed Tennessee family nurse practitioner employed by Children’s Hospital at Erlanger, and the care mobile driver. The nurse practitioner sees patients under the medical direction of Dr. Melissa Hamp, MD, MPH, FAAP.
Telemedicine allows students to receive expert medical care without having to leave school property.
School nurses can access the nurse practitioner through the telemedicine system to help diagnose minor illnesses. Services are provided at no charge for students without health insurance; Children’s Hospital at Erlanger will file claims for insured students.
The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile currently serves students at 15 schools in Bradley County, Cleveland City, and Polk County. The health clinic provides services for sick visits, such as sore throats, earaches, coughs, colds, and urinary tract infections; prescriptions and over-the counter medications; conditions such as asthma; sports physicals, well-child vaccines; sutures; and referrals.
The mobile school-based health clinic is a partnership between Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chattanooga, Children’s Hospital at Erlanger, Tennessee Coordinated School Health, United Way of Bradley County, and SkyRidge Medical Center.