Bassett school-base health program gets grant
A $4,000 grant has been issued to Bassett Healthcare’s School-Based Health Program, according to a media release.
The grant is from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and will go toward the purchase of electronic scales. Those will help determine children’s body mass index, which can be an indicator of obesity.
Funds will also be used to purchase a pulse-oximeter, which is used to measure oxygen levels in patients’ blood and is used with asthma patients, and a tympanometer, an instrument that measures the pressure inside an ear and can diagnose and treat patients with recurring ear infections.
Bassett’s Department of Pediatrics operates 13 school-based health centers in nine school districts, the release said. Comprehensive primary care, mental health care, preventive oral health care and health education are available to children and adolescents in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 at most participating schools.
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Community Health Awards are grants of up to $4,000 to nonprofit groups for programs that improve the health and wellness of the community, the release said.
Awards are made twice yearly and are based on the scope of need, number of people who will benefit and how an applicant will help improve the health status of participants.