Glenbrook High School District 225 opens student health center

Students and staff at Glenbrook South High School suffering from sniffles, sprains, broken bones or anxiety can now get free treatment at the school in the recently opened, Glenbrook School Health Center.

“I think it’s a huge step forward to improving student health, notably for low income students,” Glenbrook South senior, Drew Duffy, said at the Jan. 13 opening of the center in the school. “I think through the pandemic we’re learned the importance of having a very direct connection to a health care system whether that be for mental health or physical health or an illness. The opening of this facility will greatly improve students access to health care.”

The health center was opened in partnership with Advocate Health, and provides students and staff with access to quality medical care, supporting their health while keeping them in school, said Sara Jensen, vice president, pediatric operations at Advocate Children’s Hospital. She said the center complements the services of the school nurse by offering students “complex care” and that services are provided at no cost to students and staff.

The clinic is patterned after a 20-year-old highly successful similar partnership between Advocate Children’s Hospital and Maine Township School District 207 in Park Ridge, Jensen said.

“We expect similar outstanding outcomes in reducing student and staff time away from the classroom and other duties,” she said.

The health centers includes several examination rooms, similar to those in most doctor’s office, medical equipment and conference rooms.

School District 225 superintendent, Charles John, said the need for a student health center was made very evident during the 2021/22 school year when 225 students were “excluded from school” because they lacked the proper “physicals,” which he said are “immunizations.”

The center operates from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Students may schedule appointments before, during and after school. The center is staffed by Advocate Health, which maintains all records subject to medical facility privacy laws. All District 225 students under the age of 18 will need to have a parental consent form on file before being seen in the health center.

Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.