School based health centers are considered one of the most effective strategies for delivering preventive care, including mental health services, to adolescents – a population long considered difficult to reach (North Carolina School Community Health Alliance). The focus is on prevention, so that health problems and risky behaviors can be caught early or prevented altogether. Students are treated quickly and problems caught early so that they spend more time in class (National Assembly on School Based Health Care). School based health centers provide a comprehensive range of services that specifically meet the needs of young people, while providing general medical care.
Top Dog Clinic is a school based health center located at the Ashe County Middle School. It is one of only 52 school based clinics in the state. All Ashe County Middle School students are eligible to enroll for services, regardless of their ability to pay. Parental consent is necessary for a student to receive medical services through Top Dog Clinic.
Staffing includes a physician’s assistant, registered nurse (with advanced pediatric assessment skills), medical office assistant, registered dietitian, licensed professional counselor and health educator. Top Dog Clinic works cooperatively with school nurses, coaches, counselors, teachers and principals to ensure that the clinic is an integral part of the life at the school. Our staff has been recognized with the “Child Health Team Award” from the North Carolina Public Health Association, Women’s and Children’s Unit.
What are the benefits of a school-based health center?
- Attends to healthcare needs by placing healthcare where the kids are and when they need it
- Supports students by providing a safe place to talk about sensitive issues such as depression, family problems, relationships and substance abuse
- Supports the school environment by helping children stay in school and by indentifying and addressing health problems that may interfere in the learning process
- Supports families by allowing parents to stay at work while attending to their child’s routine health care needs
- Saves money by keeping children out of hospitals and emergency rooms
- Teaches students to be better health care consumers
- Strengthens the connection between the community and the school
Top Dog Clinic offers:
- Complete physical assessments, such as well-child check-ups and sports physicals
- Care of minor acute illnesses
- Monitoring of chronic diseases, such as asthma and diabetes
- Nutritional education and counseling
- Immunizations
- Dental referrals
- Family and individual counseling
- Limited laboratory services such as:
- Hemoglobin
- Strep tests
- Blood sugar
- Blood pressure checks
- Urine testing
- Vision and hearing screens
- Height, weight and BMI (body mass index) calculation
- Group education is offered to students during Encore classes.
- Topics may include:
- Weight control and nutrition
- Tobacco, alcohol and drug awareness
- Self-esteem and relationships
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
[box style=”note”]The Health Center is open August – May and closed for the summer (June & July).
Top Dog Clinic also offers “after hours” for uninsured or under-insured school employees and their spouses. Those days are Tuesday and Thursday, 3:00 – 6:00 pm.[/box]
Top Dog Clinic
Ashe County Middle School
255 Northwest Lane / PO Box 178
Warrensville, NC 28693
Phone: (336) 384-1625 / Fax: (336) 384-1626
E-mail: topdogclinic@ashe.k12.nc.us