CHERRY VALLEY, N.Y. — Bassett Healthcare Network is ready to soon open its 22nd school-based health center in the Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School District in Otsego County. Bassett’s school-based health program serves students in 18 districts across four counties and has more than 7,000 students enrolled. Services are available to all students in the covered […]
CHERRY VALLEY, N.Y. — Bassett Healthcare Network is ready to soon open its 22nd school-based health center in the Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School District in Otsego County.
Bassett’s school-based health program serves students in 18 districts across four counties and has more than 7,000 students enrolled. Services are available to all students in the covered districts regardless of income with no out-of-pocket costs.
“Expanding the reach of Bassett’s school-based health centers to even more communities helps our young people become healthy adults,” Bassett President/CEO Tommy Ibrahim said in a news release announcing the new location. “Nothing could be more important.”
Bassett will hold a ribbon cutting on Dec. 7 to celebrate the center’s opening in Cherry Valley.
The Cherry Valley-Springfield center provides easy access from both inside and outside the school. It includes a dedicated examination room, a dual-purpose room for dental and primary-care visits, a mental-health clinician’s office, practitioner’s office, conference room, laboratory, utility area, bathroom, and reception area.
The Cherry Valley-Springfield school-based health center “was possible due to Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School’s commitment to the health of their students and their strong collaboration and partnership with Bassett in planning the health center space,” Jane Hamilton, Bassett’s school-based health practice manager, said. “They have been incredible partners from early discussions to now as we eagerly anticipate the opening of this beautiful facility.”
She added that Bassett’s school-based health program exists due to generous donations. “We are deeply grateful to the generosity of the donors, especially Ginny Joslin Hastings, who have made this possible,” Hamilton said.
With almost one in five children in New York state living at or below the poverty level, Bassett works through its school-based clinics to ensure access to health care. Services provided include comprehensive physical exams, sports physicals, vaccinations, acute care with diagnosis and treatment of common childhood illnesses, chronic care for long-term health conditions, preventive and restorative dental services, and mental-health services.
“Bassett’s school-based health model offers a unique opportunity for communities and school districts to meet the health needs of their underserved students by achieving the same vision, that all children will be healthy and ready to learn,” Chris Kjolhede, co-director of the program, said.
Headquartered in Cooperstown, Bassett Healthcare Network provides services to a 5,600-square-mile region through five corporately affiliated hospitals, community-based and school-based health centers, skilled-nursing facilities, and other health partners.