School Health Services

Data describing the utilization of school health services in a small rural elementary school were examined in terms of the costs of these services and the contributions of these to the school's educational mission. In the absence of health service personnel, teacher time needed to care for routine and emergency health services would equal almost one half of a teacher's time. When costs of health services wer compared to the value of the services provided by a health aide and part-time nurse, it was clear that health service costs were minimal compared to the contributions made to the school's educational mission.