A decision on the fate of the St. John outreach clinics may come as soon as May 22, when the system's finance committee approves the 2001 budget. At the Detroit Medical Center, administrators have stepped in to keep the DMC's two school-based clinics running. The DMC's Campbell Elementary School clinic ran out of grant money more than a year ago. Dr. Arthur Porter, DMC chief executive officer, decided to use DMC funds to continue operating Campbell this year. About 50 percent had been exposed to lead in the home.
Campbell clinic dispenses toothbrushes and teaches anger management to keep children out of gangs.
School clinics are not under threat. It's clear that to parents and educators, school-based clinics are critical to the health of students and their success in school. A 1997 Henry Ford Health System study found that schools with clinics had a 23-percent increase in state test scores. We have a number of children who take care of themselves because mother or dad are high all of the time. This is the only place they can go for health care.