Connect to Care: Information for Parents and Caregivers

What is the Connect to Care: Asthma Telemedicine in Schools program?

Connect to Care is a program where students can receive
quality care from a Children’s Mercy asthma doctor, virtually, at their school.

The doctor will evaluate, discuss and plan the care for your
student’s asthma. The program can help your student stay
healthy and better manage their asthma.

Where is the program being offered and how will it work?

The program is currently offered to students enrolled at:

• Wendell Phillips Elementary School
• Phillis Wheatley Elementary School
• Whittier Elementary School
• Foreign Language Academy

The appointment will be in the school nurse’s office. The school nurse will take your student to and from their classroom for the appointment. Parents/caregivers can participate in person at the school or virtually by phone or computer.

• Appointments will be available on Wednesday mornings.
• This program is not for emergency visits.
  
  

Who is eligible for the program?

• Students who struggle with controlling their asthma despite using inhalers.
• Students who do not have any other significant medical conditions besides asthma or allergies.
  
  

Who runs the clinic?

• A Children’s Mercy nurse will be with your student during the visit.
• An asthma doctor from Children’s Mercy will see your child virtually.
• A virtual interpreter is available to assist with communication during the appointment if your primary language is not English or if any participants are deaf or hard of hearing.
  
  

What will happen during the visit?

The telemedicine visit is a lot like seeing a doctor in person.

• The Children’s Mercy nurse will help your student do a lung function test.
• The doctor will ask questions about your student’s medical history.
• The Children’s Mercy nurse will help the doctor examine your student using a camera and stethoscope so the doctor can see your child and listen to their lungs.
• The doctor will discuss an Asthma Action Plan and manage current medications or prescribe new ones if needed.

How is the information from the visit shared?

• The Asthma Action Plan, forms for school administration of asthma medications, and the visit notes will be available for the parents and caregivers in the Children’s Mercy Patient Portal. If you do not have access, this information can be mailed, through USPS, upon request.
• Parents and caregivers can print or share appointment plans and forms from
  the Children’s Mercy Patient Portal and provide the school nurse with a copy,
  following the school’s guidelines for sharing student documents. A copy of
  the Asthma Action Plan and the school administration of asthma medications
  form can be mailed, through USPS, to the school nurse.
• Children’s Mercy will send the Asthma Action Plan and visit notes to your student’s primary care provider.

How do I sign my child up for the program?

1. Contact the student’s school nurse to initiate a referral to Children’s Mercy or
   call the asthma telemedicine nurse at the phone number below.
2. Children’s Mercy will call you at the phone number provided in the referral to
   schedule the appointment.
3. At the scheduled appointment time, go to the school nurse’s office or connect to
   the appointment virtually. For a virtual appointment, a link to the appointment
   will be texted and emailed to you at the time of scheduling and the day of the visit.

Questions?

For more information, please call the asthma telemedicine nurse at (816) 302-1311.