Healthcare leader Lena Esmail is calling for expanded access to school-based health clinics as student absenteeism and health disparities continue to rise nationwide. Esmail, a nurse practitioner and CEO of QuickMed, emphasizes these clinics are critical for improving attendance, closing health gaps, and supporting students who might otherwise lack access to care.
According to the CDC, over 7 million students miss more than 15 days of school each year, a rate defining chronic absenteeism, with much attributed to preventable or treatable health issues. Simultaneously, one in five children in the U.S. experiences a mental health disorder annually, most without receiving care. School-based clinics provide direct access to address both physical and mental health needs without requiring families to take time off work or navigate complex systems.
"When we opened our first school clinic, students were missing class for untreated asthma and infections. Within a few months, we saw kids staying in school, getting care earlier, and teachers telling us the difference was noticeable," Esmail said. QuickMed currently operates clinics in schools across multiple Ohio cities including Liberty, Akron, Ravenna, and Austintown, using nurse practitioners as frontline providers offering care on-site during school hours.
A recent internal report from one district showed a 30% drop in preventable absences after QuickMed began operating a part-time clinic on campus. "We're not talking about luxury care," Esmail noted. "We're talking about keeping kids in school with basic medical access—strep tests, asthma checks, mental health screenings, and follow-up support."
Despite clear benefits, Esmail identifies major barriers preventing widespread adoption. Funding limitations prevent many schools from starting or sustaining clinics, while staffing shortages and policy restrictions in some states that limit nurse practitioners' independent practice further complicate expansion. Additionally, awareness gaps mean parents and school boards often don't understand available services or their impact.
"Sometimes, we get calls from superintendents who say, 'We just found out 40% of our students have no regular access to healthcare.' That's the kind of realization that leads to real change," Esmail observed. She recommends parents ask schools about on-site clinics, teachers discuss health's impact on learning, local leaders consider using funds like ARPA or ESSER for pilot programs, healthcare providers explore district partnerships, and policymakers support full-practice authority for nurse practitioners.
School-based clinics represent a proven strategy for keeping students healthy and academically engaged, with communities able to initiate change through incremental steps rather than waiting for major policy shifts. "You don't have to build a big clinic to make a difference," Esmail concluded. "Start with a room. Start with a nurse. That alone changes lives."
