Module 1: Managing a Clinic
Operating a clinic
As you manage your school-based clinics, there are a variety of resources that can help staff stay grounded in important operational pieces and ensure that your clinic policies and practices are as up to date as possible.
To start, Youth Healthcare Alliance's welcome packet is a helpful way to onboard new staff at your clinics, or remind existing staff of different aspects of the school-based clinic landscape.
Quality Standards, Menu of Services, & Workforce
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)’s School-Based Health Center program provides exceptional guidance on a menu of service to be provided by school-based clinics and outlines the program's quality standards, both of which can be found in their SBHC Program Master List for Program Documents. The Master List also includes the contract toolkit and telehealth standards for CDPHE SBHC grantees. While only school-based clinics receiving CDPHE funding are required to follow these standards, we encourage all school-based clinic operators to use these resources as a reference point for their school-based services.
​
Workforce is a critical element of successful clinical operations, and maintaining an equitable, inclusive, and person-centered environment at the clinic is imperative for retaining and recruiting high-quality and diverse staff, as well as enabling them to perform at their best. Youth Healthcare Alliance compiled this list of considerations for culture and policy changes to facilitate internal dialogue and changes.
Some additional workforce resources include the following:
-
Colorado Department of Labor apprenticeship information
-
CDPHE's healthcare professional loan repayment page
Patient Privacy & Confidentiality, HIPAA/FERPA
As healthcare providers located on school grounds, it is critical that school-based clinics understand both HIPAA and FERPA requirements and design their operations and workflows with the school accordingly. Having proper releases of information in place, and designing paperwork and workflows that comply with HIPAA and FERPA guidelines is essential for coordinating care and having effective communication with schools, parents, and students while upholding confidentiality. We recommend sharing these resources with your school partners to ensure everyone has a shared understanding of confidentiality laws.
​
HIPAA/FERPA Considerations (Guidance and FAQs)
US Department of Health and Human Services and US Department of Education
These resources contain important considerations in how to set up information-sharing in compliance with both FERPA and HIPAA requirements.
​
HIPAA/FERPA Guidance on Sharing and Protecting Confidentiality
School-Based Health Alliance and National Center for Youth Law
This blog post and links offer guidance on balancing information sharing between school staff and school-based clinics while protecting patient confidentiality. Download the guide.
​
American Academy of Pediatrics
Another tool to explain the main points of difference and intersection between HIPAA and FERPA.
​
Release of Information
Sunrise Community Health & Kids First Health Care
Form used to request permission to exchange patient information between the school-based clinic and other agencies.​​
Promotion & Evaluation of Clinics
Clinic Websites
Mountain Family School-Based Health Centers
An example of a well-designed website for a large organization operating a network of school-based health clinics.
An example of a user-friendly website detailing information about a school-based health clinic.
​
Promotional Flyers
Flyers for Parents (English and Spanish)
Kids First Health Care
This two-page informational flyer shows the types of services offered at a school-based clinic and provides insurance information for parents.
Enrollment Flyer (English and Spanish)
Kids First Health Care
This marketing flyer advertises school-based clinic sites and the adolescent health care services provided.
​
Informational Flyer (English and Spanish)
Kids First Health Care
An informational flyer about the SBHC Kids First Health Care in English and Spanish. Information includes clinic locations, services, the benefits of using an SBHC, hours of operation, cost of services, and the impact on student academic achievement.
School-Based Clinic Annual Reports
An example of an infographic-style annual report detailing impact of clinics.
​
Satisfaction Surveys
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) School-Based Health Center Program
Examples of current patient satisfaction surveys can be found in CDPHE's SBHC Program Master List for Program Documents.
Financing a Clinic
Successful school-based clinic financing is based on multiple factors. This often consists of a diverse portfolio of funding types, including:
​
-
Billing revenue
-
Grant funding
-
Operating organization support