(TNS) — Early this week, Moss Street Elementary in Reidsville became the first school in Rockingham County to use Cone Health’s brand-new School-Based Telehealth service.
The school doesn’t have to pay anything for the new scheme. This technology from the 21st century is meant to accurately diagnose a child while they are at school. It also has many other uses and benefits.
Telehealth makes it easier for people to get medical care, gets kids back to class, and adds more time for learning. The program also cuts down on students missing school and the problems that sickness causes for families, schools, and students.
“Exactly the same thing happens when you go to the doctor’s office.” CEO of Cone Health and School-Based Care Dr. John Jenkins said, “The tele-presenter is like the CNA who rooms you at the doctor’s office. This used to be the job of a certified nurse practitioner in a doctor’s office.”
The Telehealth monitor has sensors, adapters, micro-cameras, and lights that help the tele-presenter and remote CNA diagnose the child and suggest treatment options while the parent watches the meeting on their phone.
The Rockingham County School Board decided unanimously on April 8 to work with Cone Health. As the pilot school in the title I district, Cone Health chose Moss Street Elementary.
“Something good is coming to Rockingham County.” Our goal is to have all 13 of our Title I schools using this program within three or four years, according to Ann Stokes Hunt, Executive Director of Cone Health Philanthropy. Perhaps we can expand the program to two schools next year.
The first year of the program was made possible by a generous $100,000 gift from Reidsville resident Tom Holderby in honor of his brother Trey, who died from effects from cystic fibrosis, and his father John “Buck” Holderby, who died in 2019.
Tom Holderby went on to play football at Western Carolina on a scholarship. He graduated from Reidsville Senior High School in 1984 and was an All-Conference defender. As soon as he graduated, he started the Graham-based THS Development Company, a company that has been building flats for more than 38 years.
“Well, we had no trouble making our choice.” It’s mostly to remember my mother, brother, and father, as well as the kids. He said, “We love helping people, and this is right up our alley.”
Some high-level officials from Cone Health and Rockingham County Schools were at the protest on the morning of August 21. Tom’s mother, Phyllis Buckner Holderby, also came.
Tom also did a lot to help fix up the Community Stadium at Reidsville Senior High School two years ago.
“I grew up here, and now that I’ve made a lot of money building apartments, I feel like I need to give back to the community.” I think it’s great, and it’s for the kids. This medical center is a great place to be. “That’s why we’re here—it was an easy choice,” Holderby said.
A lot of students are less productive when they miss a lot of school, according to studies.
“Thirty percent of your students may be chronically absent, which means they miss more than ten percent of the school year’s lessons.” Jenkins said, “That will really make a difference and let the teacher teach that class and help students stay on track.”
“We promised this community that we would raise money for it, and we are working with another donor to pay for a second year. After that, we will keep going.” There are already people giving money to the fund.
We hope that won’t have to be done all the time. We are making rules for School-Based Telehealth so that most kids will have Medicaid in the future. “The goal is for them to be able to charge for the services so that we don’t have to give them away for free,” said Hunt.
Vicky Alston, Chair of the Rockingham County Board of Education, and Vickie T. McKinney, Vice Chair, went to Greensboro’s Bessemer Elementary School earlier this year to see for themselves how the program has helped that school.
“This lets them do everything they could do in a doctor’s office.” We both looked at each other and said, “This is Moss Street,” when Mrs. Alson and I went to Bessemer Elementary.
I used to be the head at Moss Street, so I know how important it is here… Mrs. Alston stepped in and called them, the Holderbys and Tom. He said, “I’ll do it” in three minutes. The people of Rockingham County are very thankful to them because this is great for the kids, McKinney said.
Chief Philanthropy Officer for Cone Health Michelle Schneider, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Support Services for Rockingham County Schools Dr. Cindy Corcoran, Principal of Moss Street School Dr. Kelly Nelson-Danley, and Cone Health Marketing Communications Specialist Tyler Hickman were also at the event.