Students at five schools in the Keller Independent School District soon will be able to see a doctor without leaving school as part of a new pilot program with Cook Children's Hospital.
The school nurse helps the students establish an online video connection with a doctor. The doctor can diagnose many ailments without seeing the child in person and can prescribe medicine.
"We can fax that right in so the parents … can pick up the child and pick up the script on their way home," said Dr. Justin Smith, who set up the program.
Parents can also participate in the video conferences from work or home.
Medicaid pays for the online visits, but family insurance plans do not.
Some ailments still need to be diagnosed in person.
And it's not for everyone.
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"There will be some families who think that this isn't for them, and that's fine," Smith said. "It should really be considered an option and not something that's required of them."
The first schools participating in the program are Fossil Ridge High School, Fossil Hill Middle School, and North Riverside Parkview and Heritage elementary schools.
If successful, Smith hopes to expand to other schools around North Texas.
