Capstone Health awarded grant to expand school-based clinic

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Capstone Health awarded grant to expand school-based clinic

Beginning in January 2024, Capstone Health, in partnership with the Walker County Board of Education, opened a school-based health center on the campus of Carbon Hill Schools.

The goal of the location, called Hilltop Health, is to reduce disparities and improve access to care by increasing the number of young people receiving essential health care, including mental health services. Hilltop Health staff prioritize swift and efficient treatment to students and employees to get well quickly so they may return to school or work.

“We look at our student demographics. We look at socioeconomic factors. We also look at proximity to health clinics and health care within our school communities and Carbon Hill checked the most boxes this time around,” said Walker County Schools Superintendent Dr. Dennis Willingham.

Capstone received multi-year funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to expand access to care for students at Hilltop Health. Across the U.S. nearly 2,000 school-based health centers serve about 2 million children. However, there are fewer than 10 school-based health centers in Alabama. Capstone, along with its funding partner, are proud to be a part of expanding this essential resource in Alabama.

Hilltop Health is available to all students and employees of Carbon Hill Schools, and accepts all insured, underinsured, and uninsured patients. Hilltop Health is staffed by a board-certified nurse practitioner, Tandy Hoover, DNP, CRNP, in collaborative practice with a physician. The nurse practitioner can diagnose, treat, prescribe, and if needed, administer medication for most all common illnesses. Hilltop Health also has a laboratory where common in-house tests can be administered. There is a licensed counselor onsite for behavioral health services. Capstone also provides community and patient outreach, health education, and translation support.

Hilltop Health is open each school day from 7:30am – 4:00pm. Appointments may be scheduled by calling 205-724-9041. However, appointments are not required to be seen.