Wednesday, July 19, 2017
You would never guess 18-year-old Tabi Edgerton and 17-year-old Ladell Watson were anything but happy, healthy high school students.
To them, the Beaumont Teen Health Center located inside River Rouge High School is like having “another family.”
Ladell was recently accepted to Michigan State University, where he will study secondary education in the fall. He received $366,000 in scholarship money - and was accepted at 19 of the 20 colleges to which he applied.
Not bad, considering he achieved all of that while being treated for a serious medical condition at the center.
“My asthma, allergies and sinuses are really bad. My eyes swell, areas of my face are really inflamed and I get hives. For me, it’s a double-combo. My allergies kick-in, then my asthma goes into high gear. I get to the point where I just can’t breathe and my chest tightens. Ms. Maureen checks me out and gets me to the hospital as soon as possible,” he said, referring to Maureen Murphy, the health center’s nurse practitioner. She’s fondly referred to as “Ms. Maureen” by the students.
Tabi Edgerton also thought she had asthma like so many other kids in her school, when she went to the clinic for the first time. She was having difficulty breathing.
Her physician prescribed an inhaler, which she said made her feel worse.
Upon further evaluation, Murphy noticed Tabi’s heart rate had increased exponentially – to more than 200 beats per minute. The average resting heartbeat for a female is anywhere from 60-100 beats per minute.
Murphy immediately called EMS.
It was later found Tabi had Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, where an extra electrical pathway between the heart’s upper and lower chambers causes a rapid heartbeat. It’s present at birth and, though fairly rare, it requires constant monitoring and management with a cardiologist.
“It hurts and I can’t really do too much about it. I didn’t know what it was, but now I do, and Ms. Murphy helps me with scheduling cardiology appointments, explaining when and how often I should take my medicine and having all of my important information on hand.”
Tabi and Ladell may have started off as patients, but they became advocates and student volunteers for the health center.
Tabi believes it’s important for her to volunteer at the center, to make time in her school schedule to speak on behalf of the center’s services to other students in the school or at community events.
This is just one way they’ve been able to give back for the care received from Murphy and social worker Justin Follebout both of whom they credit for saving their lives.
Impacts of poor air quality
Asthma symptoms at the school are common, according to Murphy.
The River Rouge School District is highly regarded, but located in an area that contains more than 40 factories within a three-mile radius.
The students understand pollution is high and the air quality is poor. In fact, the level of pollution in the air has become part of everyday life in River Rouge and is believed to have contributed to numerous cases of asthma and breathing-related medical concerns.
According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Wayne County has an asthma hospitalization rate two times higher than the entire state. In addition, the American Lung Association in Michigan also says that as of 2014, Wayne County had the highest number of pediatric asthma cases in Michigan.
Murphy said services at the clinic have helped manage asthma-related concerns in the school, reducing the number of ambulance calls and hospitalizations throughout the school year. In the clinic’s population of nearly 500 students, she says an estimated 20 percent of students who have visited the clinic have asthma.
In one instance, the quick response from the staff is believed to have helped save a student’s life. The student was gasping for air from a severe asthma attack. Teen center staff responded quickly and was able to provide oxygen, medication and supportive care until EMS could arrive.
Services provided
Medical director and family practice physician Huma Khan, M.D. said every medical or mental health visit to the Teen Health Center incorporates prevention measures.
“Our medical and social work staff help students and offer guidance and suggestions to maintain good health, establish healthy habits and highlight prevention techniques with every visit.”
Other primary services provided by the clinic include health navigation and follow-up services for young adults, including primary health care; school, sports and work physicals; diagnosis and treatment of routine illnesses and injuries; immunizations; testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, HIV testing, mental health counseling; and information on the Michigan Health Insurance Marketplace.
“We teach them how to make a doctor’s appointment, how to find transportation and how to set up primary care visits,” said Murphy. “Signing up for Medicaid is just another service we help our students learn how to do.”
The clinic obtains parent consent forms ahead of time and sees anywhere from eight to 13 patients per day. Each patient receives a complete workup, which often lasts about 45 minutes. Murphy said psycho-social evaluations are also performed on each patient, allowing for an integrative approach to care between the nurse practitioner and the on-site social worker. She explained, “Sometimes they’ll come in for an earache and we end up identifying other well-being concerns during the visit requiring intervention from a counselor. We see everything and try to use all of the right resources to do what’s best for the patient and their family.”
In addition to asthma, many patients also visit daily for help with lacerations, bumps, bruises, headaches, sprains, strains and sinusitis.
Support for centers
River Rouge High School is a school of choice for many kids in the surrounding area, including Detroit. Oftentimes, bus rides to and from school can last from two to four hours, depending on location.
Community support from Beaumont’s community health department and private donors through the Beaumont Foundation, along with a state-funded grant by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Department of Education all provide the necessary financial support to keep the center open and to provide the staff, equipment and services needed by the schools and its students.
“Through the help and assistance of many generous donors, we have been able to do some really great things for the students, schools and communities. We look forward to being able to do even more in the future,” said Jeff Cook, director of school-based health, Beaumont Health.
A two-year grant from the Jewish Fund increased the availability of a social worker at the Beaumont Teen Health Center in River Rouge.
“The ability for Justin to be here full-time has enhanced care at the center and allowed for a 60 percent increase in the number of patient visits,” said Cook. “It has also helped reduce wait times and engage more teens in following-up on their health care needs.
He added, “These programs are supported largely by grant funding, so anything we can obtain will go toward better serving the physical and mental well-being of the children in some of our lower-income communities. We are proud of all of the grant funding we’ve been able to obtain, including the most recent grant from the Dykema national law firm to support the improvement and enhancement of mental health services for our students.”
“We are beyond grateful for any support we are able to receive.”
For more information about the Beaumont Teen Health Center in River Rouge High School, call 313-843-1639.
Beaumont Teen Center locations include Inkster, Redford Township, River Rouge, Romulus, Taylor and Westland.