Novant Health Launches Its First School-based Telehealth Program with TytoCare
Through the use of TytoCare’s TytoClinic devices, Novant Health will now be able to serve nearly 900 students plus staff at the Charlotte Lab School with telehealth and remote physical exams. Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Foundation funded three TytoClinic devices, one for each Charlotte Lab School campus. The program is powered by Novant Health’s digital health and engagement team.
Founded in 2015, Charlotte Lab School is a tuition-free public charter school with three campuses, primary (grades K-1), lower (grades 2-5) and upper (middle: grades 6-8; high: 9-12) schools. The Charlotte Lab School is diverse by design, serving a student population that is representative of the city of Charlotte, which includes about 30% of children from low-income families and/or McKinney-Vento families, who are housing insecure.
“Deploying TytoClinics at the Charlotte Lab School is another step for Novant Health in its journey to increase the access to care, removing barriers our community has to receive the care they need and deserve,” said Amber Fencl, Novant Health senior vice president of digital health and engagement. “Meeting and treating patients where there are, in this case, children who may not otherwise receive care, is how we see health care evolving through the use of digital devices. We look forward to partnering with the Charlotte Lab School and serving their students and staff.”
Novant Health partnered with TytoCare in 2019 to expand access to care. TytoCare is the creator of the health care industry’s first all-in-one modular device and telehealth platform for on-demand, remote medical exams. TytoClinic allows any location to be transformed into a remote telehealth clinic.
“The response we’ve seen to the availability of virtual care visits in the past two years and the technology developments have been tremendous,” said Denise Leone, a pediatric nurse practitioner with Novant Health digital care group. “While not meant to replace a child’s primary care pediatrician, through TytoClinic, we’ll be able to help reduce time spent out of the classroom by being able to see students on-demand from the Charlotte Lab School. We look forward to helping their nurse and staff and ultimately the students have a healthier school year.”
As of October 2022, TytoClinic devices at the Charlotte Lab School allow its nurse to use the devices, communicating with an on-demand Novant Health provider. Unlike standard video visits, with TytoClinic, Novant Health providers can virtually examine the heart, lungs, skin, ears, throat and abdomen of patients – potentially decreasing time away from school with visits to the emergency room, urgent care or the doctor’s office. Using TytoClinic, providers can diagnose common conditions like ear infections, sore throats, fever, cold and flu, allergies, stomachaches, upper respiratory infections, coughs, rashes and more. The device also measures body temperature and heart rate. Using the examination data, the Novant Health provider can offer patients a diagnosis, treatment plan and prescription if needed.
“The support we have received from Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Foundation and Novant Health is tremendous,” said Mary Moss, Charlotte Lab School founder and executive director. “Especially as we enter flu season and with the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, having TytoClinic devices available at all three of our campuses for not only our students, but our staff to use will give our nurses the added support and collaboration needed to ensure our students and staff stay healthy and are able to focus on their class time. We hope to see increased class time, better attendance, less stress for our parents and teachers, improved care and overall healthier students and staff.”
“At Charlotte Lab School, we are focused on innovation to meet the changing needs of our students. We’ve seen how disruptive it can be for students who don’t receive the health care they need in a timely manner – it can set them behind by shifting their focus from learning and ultimately succeeding in school. We are thankful for this partnership with Novant Health and the quick access to care it will bring our students,” said Derick Buggs, Charlotte Lab School social worker.
For more information about bringing TytoClinic to your school or workplace, please email nhdigitalhealthandengagement@novanthealth.org.
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