photo by: Joselyn King

Ohio County Board of Education member Andy Garber takes a look at the X-ray machine on site during a celebration of the new health clinic for students at Madison Elementary School on Thursday.

WHEELING — The new health clinic at Madison Elementary School isn’t ready for students yet, but it will be “soon,” according to Ohio County Schools Superintendent Kim Miller.

School officials, representatives from WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital and other community members gathered Thursday at the school for the ribbon cutting of the new clinic.

Miller hopes the clinic will provide extra assistance to families on Wheeling Island who don’t have access to regular pediatric care.

Health care for children will be available once the paperwork and needed permits are approved, she said. For now, the clinic will only be open to students at Madison Elementary.

If a child is sick there or has a fever they will first be directed to the school’s main office. The office staff will then work with the school nurse, and if it is determined the student needs further care, a parent will be contacted. They will be asked if they want their child to see the physician’s assistant, and if they want to come in with them for an appointment.

Ohio County Schools and WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital have agreed to a memorandum of understanding that the hospital will oversee the clinic and provide a nurse practitioner, who would be present at Madison School for a total of eight hours per week.

The clinic will be open for four hours on two days each week. The exact hours have yet to be established, according to Miller.

Leah Thieman will serve as nurse practitioner at the new health clinic, and it is a school she knows well. She served as a student nurse there just two years ago, and noted many of the students already know and feel comfortable with her.

“Many of the kids still remember me,” she said. “It’s just good to be back in the building.”

Ohio County Board of Education member Bernie Albertini is a former hospital administrator. He noted health care for children is important for their learning, but many aren’t getting the treatment they need.

“Somebody can be treated with an antibiotic and sent back to school in 48 hours or less,” Albertini said. “Then they don’t miss as much academic time in class. If it goes untreated, they may be sitting in the classroom but not feeling well enough to learn. We’re bringing health care to kids who really, really need to be seen by a practitioner. This definitely fills a need for the student population.”

The opening of the clinic represents a milestone for WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, added Douglass Harrison, president and CEO.

“This is another example of our commitment to community — especially our children, who are probably our most vulnerable population,” he said. “We know that kids have healthier outcomes if they receive quality health care at an earlier age. Hopefully, they grow up to be healthy adults.

“We’re extremely honored and humbled to be a partner with Ohio County Schools on this project, and we look forward to other projects,” Harrison added.

The new clinic is located adjacent to the dental clinic already in operation at Madison Elementary.