Virtual Health Care comes to Superior and Maple schools

The Superior and Maple School Districts now have a new way to access health care without having to leave school.

Through a partnership with Essentia Health, the districts have set up virtual health clinics where students and staff can hold confidential online appointments. Each clinic is located in a private room near the school health office, equipped for telehealth visits.

In Superior, the Spartan Clinic serves students in grades six through twelve, while Maple’s Tiger Clinic is open to high school students.

“Instead of students having to leave school to go to appointments, they can join in that confidential space with their provider via computer, and have their appointment right on site,” says Brynn Larrabee.

That’s Brynn Larrabee, she is the Coordinator of Health Services for the district. She says that the virtual clinics will help families by reducing the burden of parents having to leave work and students having to miss class for appointments.

The virtual clinic can be used for a wide range of virtual appointments, including routine checkups, minor illnesses and injuries, behavioral health care, and even urgent care, all done online with a provider through Essentia’s MyChart system.

Bradley Larrabee, who is married to Brynn Larrabee, is Maple’s Elementary Principal and leader of the district’s Mental Health team. He says the initiative builds on services the district already offered. 

“In prior practice we also had that facility utilized for virtual mental health appointments, so we’re able to continue those services but now utilizing it for physical health as well,” says Bradley Larrabee.

Deer River High School in Minnesota was the first school in the region to have an Essentia Health telecare access site. Maple and Superior will be the first sites in Wisconsin.

More information and scheduling for the Tiger Clinic can be found on the Maple School District website, and for the Spartan Clinic on the Superior School District website.