School-Based Health Care
Healthy Kids Learn Better
When health care access challenges keep kids from being their healthiest, our St. Luke's brings care to where they are: school. Whether that includes preventive care, treating a sore throat or earache, a sports injury, concussion, or a mental or behavioral health concern, our team is ready to care for our communities' kids.
As Idaho’s only children’s hospital, St. Luke’s is home to experts in pediatric care. Our team includes a wide array of pediatric health care professionals who collaborate with school partners to provide care where most needed. School-based care could limit the amount of time a child misses class, or help reduce worry for a parent who may have had to miss work. The power of school-based care is that it offers connection to comprehensive services tailored just for students.
NOTE: The St. Luke’s care team partners closely with families to ensure clear, ongoing communication about treatment and progress.
We stay connected through secure electronic messaging and phone calls with parents and authorized caregivers, making care seamless and collaborative. Care is only provided with express consent from a parent or guardian, who is also expected to attend the first session.
Contact Us
To learn more, or find out how you or your child can access St. Luke's school-based care, please send us an email.
Primary Care Services
With parental consent, we offer both on-location and virtual primary care services to students within their schools. This includes visits for illnesses, minor injuries, sports physicals, wellness exams, and mental/behavioral health consultations.
- St. Luke's Children's Mobile Care - children up to age 18 with minor illnesses and injuries can be evaluated and treated with minimal interruption to their school day or their parent’s workday. This service brings essential medical services directly to children and families who may face barriers to care, such as lack of transportation, financial constraints, or scheduling challenges.
- On-Demand Virtual Care - St. Luke's partners with school districts to offer on-demand virtual care access to students and their parents. This is a convenient access option when an in-person visit is not possible.
Mental and Behavioral Health Services/Counseling
St. Luke’s collaborates with numerous area school districts to provide on-campus therapy appointments, reducing barriers such as transportation for students while enhancing access to care and maximizing students’ time in the classroom.
Sports Medicine
- Athletic Training Community Outreach - St. Luke's Sports Medicine athletic trainers support middle school and high school teams, offering on-site care and education including injury prevention techniques; immediate triage, first aid and wound care for injuries; taping; and bracing. Athletic trainers may also facilitate referrals to St. Luke's Sports Medicine physicians, as needed.
- Sports physicals - in partnership with school districts, our St Luke’s Sports Medicine and Mobile Care teams help support on-site sports physical events. This makes it convenient for student-athletes to obtain required physicals for sports participation.
Specialty Services
- St. Luke's Care Coordination - our team offers educational support for children with special health care needs. Care coordinators can attend school meetings, coordinate communication between the school and medical team, as well as assist with writing health care plans to ensure a child’s health care needs are being met.
- St. Luke's Children's Hospital School - when a child is hospitalized, our teachers work with students so they can keep pace with their classmates and ultimately return to their community schools and teachers.
- Children at Risk Evaluation Services (CARES) - When concerns for abuse or neglect arise, it is vital that children get the opportunity to talk about what may have happened to them and receive appropriate interventions, such as medical evaluation and treatment, counseling, and other community support services. Report any concerns to Child Protective Services (CPS) or law enforcement agencies, who will make referrals to St. Luke's CARES, as appropriate.
- St. Luke's Sports Medicine Concussion Clinic - our team works closely with athletic directors, administrators, teachers, coaches, parents, and athletes to educate on concussion prevention, signs and symptoms, and care protocols. Our team is available to support patients and families through concussion evaluation and management, symptom treatment, and safe return to play.
Child Abuse Prevention
The team from St. Luke's CARES (Children at Risk Evaluation Services) offers a school-based puppet show, Puppets for Prevention, highlighting the importance of telling a trusted adult if an interaction with a stranger or friend starts to feel inappropriate and/or unsafe. During the show, characters share their experiences of child abuse. Students are able to ask the characters questions regarding their stories. The show is intended for 2nd and 3rd graders, and parents are welcomed and encouraged to attend.
To schedule a performance, please contact call (208) 577-4483 or send us an email. Shows are free of charge and offered throughout the school year.
Additional Resources
For Parents
- Financial assistance is available. Please call (208) 706-2147.
- Suicide Prevention, Emotional and Mental Health Support
- St. Luke’s Children's Safety and Injury Prevention Programs
