MCS Superintendent Peter Livshin said the beginning stages of getting a student-based health center for the district have begun, and he jokingly said he wishes it could be up and running as early as tomorrow, but said that is not realistic. He said the goal is to have a center by September 2008. However, Livshin said he is not sure if that timeline is realistic.

``I think it (the center) would be a real benefit to the kids in the district,’’ said Livshin. ``The kids would be able to receive really good physical exams and there would be no delays in health care to the kids.’’

Livshin said the first step when thinking about adding a center was sending a letter to Director of Bassett’s School-Based Health Program Dr. Chris Kjolhede requesting consideration.

MCS was one of five schools selected out of 14 applications, Dr. Kjolhede said during a MCS board of education meeting last Thursday. Dr. Kjolhede said one issue with Milford’s application was its small size, but because ONC BOCES had also applied, he proposed the applications as one site and was granted approval.

Dr. Kjolhede said the Department of Health will allow MCS and BOCES, which are approximately 1.3 miles a part, to share staffing. Staff members will most likely spend half a day at BOCES and half a day at MCS and vice versa, according to Dr. Kjolhede’s presentation to the board of education.

``The goal here is to expand the access to health care to kids,’’ Dr. Kjolhede said.

Lavshin said the next step is to get in touch with BOCES to see how the two institutions will collaborate. Once there is a plan, the plan is to bring Dr. Dr. Kjolhede back to speak to the general public to get their input, said Livshin. Livshin said the final steps would include ``scrounging’’ for money and getting the ball rolling.

The start up costs for the project are estimated to be $120,000 each year, according to Dr. Kjolhede. However, he said the price will decline as reimbursements kick in.

``Start off costs are the single most difficult hurdle,’’ said Dr. Kjolhede.

Dr. Kjolhede said a school-based health center provides comprehensive health care service to students in grades K-12 at the school.

``Nobody is forced to be enrolled,’’ he explained. ``However, typically 85 to 97 percent end up being enrolled in a school’s health center.’’

Dr. Kjolhede said students who do not have insurance will not be charged to use the student-based health center and kids with insurance will be covered by their insurance provider with no co-pays.

According to a pamphlet, there will never be any out-of-pocket costs to a child’s family for services. However, the cost of services not provided on site at the center, such as some lab tests, x-rays, specialty consultations and prescriptions, are the responsibility of the guardians. Dr. Kjolhede said the student-based health centers also provide preventable dental care.

Services Bassett Healthcare school-based health centers provide include complete physical exams, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses, health education, referral services, vision, hearing and scoliosis screening, oral screenings and dental referrals, first aid, immunizations, mental health screenings and referrals, counseling and social work services.

Lavshin said he likes the idea of a student-based health center because it will allow students to get the care they need without pulling them out of school Dr. Kjolhede said that’s one of the positives about having a center, along with the parents not having to leave work to take a child somewhere for health care.

However, Dr. Kjolhede said children do no have to give up their primary caregivers if enrolled in the student-based heath center.

``We will collaborate with other health providers no matter where they are from,’’ said Dr. Kjolhede. ``We just want to make sure kids are getting health care.’’

The goal is not to erase a preexisting heath care relationship, said Dr. Kjolhede. He said the goal is to provide easy access health care.

Dr. Kjolhede encouraged the board members to call and visit other schools that have student-based health centers. He said he believes they would be impressed.

``I’m pretty proud of the program,’’ said Dr. Kjolhede. ``It is one of the best things I do.’’

Cooperstown’s middle/ high school nurse, Mary Jane Hanson, said she loves having a student-based health center. She said the district has had a center since January and it works very well.

``Kids with minor health issues can be seen here and not have to leave school,’’ she said. ``If kids need treatment they can get it quick and easy.’’

Eileen Leach, MCS nurse, said she hopes the district does get a student-based health center.

``I think it would be awesome,’’ she said. ``I would love it. I wish we had one years ago.’’

Leach said there are many kids that do not have health care because of the cost, so she thinks a center at the school would be wonderful. She said the centers seem to work great at other schools and everyone she talks to about them say they are incredible.

Dr. Kjolhede said a realistic timeline for the project would be 12 months. However, space is an issue that will have to be resolved before construction begins. Livshin suggested giving up his and his secretary’s office space for an expansion of the existing health center.

``It makes sense,’’ he said. `` The walls here are moveable and it is right next to the nurse’s office.’’

``Space is never an easy issue,’’ said Dr. Kjolhede, ``but we have done this enough times to be able to make something work out.’’

Dr. Kjolhede said Edmeston’s student-based health center started out in a closet size space and is now the "Cadillac" of health centers.

``We use existing space to the best of our ability,’’ Dr. Kjolhede said.

Another controversy that typically comes up when adding a student-based health center is the hot button issue of reproductive health, according to Dr. Kjolhede.

``Yes, that is part of the job, and parents get very nervous when putting it out there,’’ Kjolhede explained during his presentation.

Approximately 50 percent of students who graduate in Otsego County are sexually active, and to ignore the need for reproductive health would not be practicing good health care, said Dr. Kjolhede. He said about .5 to 1 percent of the care practiced by a Bassett Healthcare student-based health center is reproductive healthcare.

Dr. Kjolhede suggested that the district have a public forum so parents can talk about issues concerning getting a center at the school. Livshin said he plans to do so, but had not set a date.

Dr. Kjolhede reassured the district board members that if the student-based health center does not generate enough business to sustain itself, it will be Bassett’s loss, not the school’s loss.