A public health expert, Stephan Hittmann once oversaw all school medical services for over one million students in the New York City public schools. In an interview, Dr. Hittmann answered questions about school-based medical treatment and student health care.

1. Medical Treatment in
Schools (Part 1 of 2)
By Dr. Stephan Hittmann

2. Medical Treatment in Schools
(Part 1 of 2)
A public health expert, Stephan Hittmann
once oversaw all school medical services
for over one million students in the New
York City public schools. In an interview,
Dr. Hittmann answered questions about
school-based medical treatment and
student health care.

3. Medical Treatment in Schools
(Part 1 of 2)
Question: Are we facing a crisis in school-based health care?
Stephan Hittmann: Indeed we are. Currently, 25 percent of
American school districts have no medical personnel on staff, and
only 45 percent of schools have a registered nurse. School nurses
provide countless essential services, from identifying ill students,
preventing the spread of infection, treating minor illnesses and
injuries, and performing other tasks, the cumulative effect of which
is to enhance public health while increasing instructional time.
In addition, many students today have chronic conditions that
require oversight from a medical professional such as a nurse, or an
occupational or physical therapist.

4. Medical Treatment in Schools
(Part 1 of 2)
Question: How has the field of school nursing changed in the last 20
years? Stephan Hittmann: Today, school nurses routinely cope with
serious illnesses like diabetes, asthma, obesity, and heart disease.
Many schools stock epinephrine injectors for children who
experience hyper-allergic reactions, and school personnel routinely
train on CPR and maintain automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
in their buildings.
To further complicate this situation, with many families in the current
economy having lost jobs, and therefore health insurance, it's the
school nurse who, in many high-needs areas, is the only health
provider that children ever see. That means school medical staff
aren’t just cleaning cuts and calling home when a child has a fever.
They’re also immunizing, diagnosing illnesses, performing nutritional
counseling, and countless other tasks, all of which are essential life-
saving and life-enhancing services.

5. Medical Treatment in Schools
(Part 1 of 2)
In the second part of this article, Dr.
Hittmann will discuss how some schools
are delivering better medical treatment.

6. Medical Treatment in Schools
(Part 1 of 2)
In the second part of this article, Dr.
Hittmann will discuss how some schools
are delivering better medical treatment.