May 25, 2007

State Rep. DeLeo recognized for role in keeping teens healthy

Employees from the MGH Chelsea and Revere HealthCare Centers recently joined members of the Massachusetts Coalition of School-Based Health Centers and Revere High School student Anthony Enrique to present State Rep. Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, with the 2007 Key to Student Success Award at a May 8 ceremony at the Revere High School school-based health center (SBHC). The group presented DeLeo with the award for his continuing dedication to keeping young people in Massachusetts healthy through his support of SBHCs.

From left, Roger Pasinski, MD, medical director of MGH Revere; Debbie Jacobson, administrative director of MGH Revere; DeLeo; Amy Oh, MD, medical director of Adolescent Programming for MGH Revere; Anna Berrian, NP, of the MGH Revere School-Based Health Center and Adolescent Health Center; and Erica Hughes, executive director of the Massachusetts Coalition of School-Based Health Centers.

Last year, approximately 18,000 elementary, middle and high school students received health care through 56 SBHCs located in schools throughout Massachusetts. Two of these are licensed and operated by the MGH Ð the MGH Revere School-Based Health Center at Revere High School, which had 715 student visits last year, and the MGH Student Health Center at Chelsea High School, which had 1,351 visits.

For many young people, especially teenagers, SBHCs are their only access to health care. SBHC services go beyond what school nurses traditionally provide and include comprehensive physical exams, immunizations, treatment and prevention of communicable and chronic diseases, and nutritional counseling. They also address two of the leading causes of death among teenagers Ð drug overdose and suicide Ð and provide counseling for students who experience depression, drug and alcohol abuse, dating violence and sexual abuse.