ADDITIONAL SERVICES OFFERED
• BRACE CLINIC
• ORTHOPEDIC CLINIC
• PEDIATRIC CLINIC
• SCHOOL BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
• WHEELCHAIR/ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT CLINIC
BRACE CLINIC
Orthotic (brace) clinic is a service provided through the physical therapy department on a weekly basis in conjunction with outside certified orthotists. Students who have parent permission and signed HIPPA forms are eligible for this service. The physical therapist and orthotist first evaluate the need of appropriate orthoses for our children with physical limitations. The physical therapist then assists in obtaining appropriate paperwork from the physician and family, assists in measuring, checking out of new orthoses, and provides training and education in their use and care of the orthoses to the family, child, and school personnel. Students are seen as needed in the clinic for adjustments to their braces.
By providing this service in school, we are able to assist the family and student with optimal care and lessen the need miss school.
ORTHOPEDIC CLINIC
At Atlantic County Special Services School District, we offer a monthly Orthopedic Clinic with Dr. B. David Horn, a pediatric orthopedist from the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Horn screens students with orthopedic concerns and refers them for further services if necessary. All students must have a signed parent permission and HIPPA form before they are seen, and parents are encouraged to attend whenever possible. Dr. Horn works well in conjunction with the Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Nursing departments and is able to provide prescriptions and advice for the staff and our students that would not otherwise be available.
PEDIATRIC CLINIC
The student Medical Services at Atlantic County Special Services are provided by George Bross, D.O., of Harborview Pediatrics. Dr. Bross is a valuable resource to both students and professional staff.
Dr. Bross performs a comprehensive physical exam for Child Study Team re-evaluations as well as annual physicals for students who have not provided an annual examination from their primary care/family physician. Dr. Bross makes recommendations, referrals and provides guidance to the staff on complex student medical issues.
In addition, Dr. Bross reviews student medication orders, signs and reviews standing orders for the nursing staff, and acts a liaison between school, specialists, and primary care doctors in the community.
SCHOOL BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The Atlantic County Special Services School District, in collaboration with the Center for Family Guidance (CFG), provides a unique opportunity for students with emotional and behavioral problems. Those students who have difficulty accessing mental health services in the community can receive services here as part of their school program.
At this time, there are two licensed clinicians who are available to assess, diagnose and provide a variety of mental health interventions to meet the specifric needs of the students. Therapists offer psycho-therapy and psycho-educaitonal skill development, anger management (where age appropriate), as well as play therapy and behavioral strategies for younger students. Interventions with students are focused on school-based attitudes and behaviors which present an obstacle to the educational process. In an effort to facilitate communication between the home and school, therapists may also involve parents in counseling to increase their understanding of their child's special needs. Members of the CFG staff are available as consultants for crisis intervention at all levels, and provide intervention strategies and alternatives to the teaching staff. Throughout the year, CFG staff are also available to provide in-service training to support staff by targeting specific disorders or problem situations they encounter in the classroom when interacting with challenging students.
WHEELCHAIR/ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT CLINIC
The Wheelchair/Adaptive Equipment Clinic is a free service provided by our school district. Scheduled clinics are held every Wednesday. During a scheduled clinic, students are seen to assess their needs for either a new wheelchair, growth to an existing wheelchair, or modifications to either improve seating posture, function or safety. Students are also seen to assess their needs for varied mobility-based assistive devices. This could include: assessment for a walker, gait trainer, quad cane, etc. Families/caregivers are always encouraged to attend, particularly when a new chair is being assessed or ordered. Given that many parents may be unable to attend (due to issues such as work, younger children at home, transportation issues, etc.) we facilitate their input through the use of a parental questionnaire form.
When requested, or as needed, we assist families with equipment needs for their student at home. This can include things like a car seat, toilet seat, hospital bed, etc. Prior to any child being seen, a parental permission form is sent home. This form includes a section for HIPPA compliance. In addition to scheduled clinics, emergency clinics are held as needed for emergency repairs that fall outside of the minor repairs that we are able to do ourselves.
The process of obtaining a new piece of equipment or obtaining repairs/revisions for existing equipment requires the following: a physician prescription and a detailed letter of medical necessity which defines the medical need, use, and pertinent student information (name, diagnosis, date of birth, potential for success with it, age of equipment being replaced, etc.). This is a fairly involved process for both the primary treating therapist as well as the clinic supervisors, as they often have to assist in writing these letters and mailing them to the appropriate physicians for signature. This also involves working with a number of different equipment vendors, as the choice of vendor is dictated by the child’s medical insurance. Every vendor that we work with has been approved by the Board of Education for our school district and has been screened through our criminal record process. We currently work with 11 vendors.