A healthy start to the school year

By Eric Parker

Backtoschool Web
 
Life is hectic for parents in demanding, low-wage jobs. Peace of mind depends on easily accessible, free health services like those provided by the UNT Health Science Center at Thursday’s Back to School Roundup.

One such parent is Erica Salinas. Her son, 8-year-old Luis, will start school with confidence that he has excellent eyesight and is fully prepared to engage in sports. The eye exam and sports physical, provided by UNTHSC, were “quick, easy, and everyone here was really nice and very helpful,” Salinas said. The efficiency of services in one place enabled her to take care of Luis’ health and still get to work on time.

Salinas and Luis were one among dozens of families whose school-age children received UNTHSC’s free health services at the annual event at Will Rogers Memorial Center. Parents also received free services such as checks for lead poisoning and measurement of blood pressure and blood glucose.

It was UNTHSC Health Advocate Clara Ramirez’s first year volunteering at Roundup, an opportunity she says she couldn’t pass up. “A lot of times, parents are so worried about their kids that they can forget to think about themselves,” she said, “so it’s nice we’re offering some services to them as well.”

Several Fort Worth city officials also visited the UNTHSC booth. Among the hundreds of individuals who stopped by for health counseling were Mayor of Fort Worth Betsy Price, Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks, and several Fort Worth police officers who sought advice on low-back pain apparently caused by wearing bullet-proof vests.

By the end of the day, UNTHSC gave physicals to more than 80 kids, and hundreds more came for other services. Stats from some of the services provided:

  • 88 physicals administered
  • 15 lead tests
  • 30 asthma consults
  • 17 asthma control tests
  • 8 asthma risk surveys

UNTHSC’s mission to create a healthier community also serves as a catalyst for bonds between patients and health care providers. Ramirez said one of the kids at Roundup had visited the UNTHSC Pediatric Mobile Clinic earlier this month. “She remembered me, and she’s so sweet she gave me some stickers. Things like that really stand out to me and help to emphasize just how much of an impact we can have on these kids.” After the screenings, kids had a chance to get active and show off their hula hoop skills, an opportunity few were willing to pass up.

Backtoschool Web2

Recent News

Kari Northeim
  • Our People
|Sep 28, 2023

HSC’s Dr. Kari Northeim and Parker County collaborators awarded SAMHSA grant for rural EMS training and education

  Dr. Kari Northeim, School of Public Health assistant professor of population and community health at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, has been awarded the SAMHSA Rural EMS Training and Education grant in conjunction with HSC community partners, Parke...
Graci Finco
  • Research
|Sep 28, 2023

SBS researchers publish innovative study in Nature Scientific Reports 

People with leg amputations, including those with diabetes, run the risk of overuse injuries like osteoarthritis, muscle atrophy or bone breaks in their intact limbs.   Now, new research is quantifying the impacts of amputations and diabetes, a leading cause of amputation, on those overuse ...
Frank Filipetto Cropped For Social
  • On Campus
|Sep 28, 2023

HSC’s Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine to host symposium on ‘Creating Change in Health Care Delivery’

Americans have soured on the U.S. health care system, according to a Gallup poll taken earlier this year. Most of those surveyed rate health care quality as subpar, including 31% saying it is “only fair” and 21% — a new high — calling it “poor.” The U.S. ranked nearly last compared w...
Tarri Wyre
  • On Campus
|Sep 26, 2023

SaferCare Texas empowers Community Health Workers to complete HSC Mental Wellness microcredential

Tarri Wyre saw the growing need to expand her mental health education. The community health worker and ambulatory care manager for Memorial Hermann Health in Houston turned to the Mental Wellness microcredential, offered by The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth’s SaferC...