FAIRFIELD — HealthReach Community Health Centers is partnering with MSAD #49 to open a health center at Lawrence High School beginning in September 2021. Health services will be offered to students in grades 9 to 12 throughout the school year.

The health center will offer primary care services including checkups, sports physicals, diagnosis and treatment of minor illness, management of chronic conditions and immunizations. The goal of establishing a health center within the school is to bring accessibility coupled with convenience to teens who otherwise may not have access to care.

Katie Gillihan, Family Nurse Practitioner, will be providing services to students and faculty. Katie recently completed a Master of Science in Nursing (FNP) degree at Chamberlain College of Nursing, IL after completing her undergraduate nursing degree at Chamberlain in 2012. Katie brings nine years of nursing experience in medical, behavioral health, school, and home settings. Her areas of expertise include pediatrics, adolescent health, and substance use disorder.

Katie recently shared, “I am eager to aid in establishing a school-based health center in Lawrence High School where students will have direct access to health care services. My goal as a Family Nurse Practitioner is to break down any and all barriers to care by making healthcare accessible and affordable. HealthReach is known for providing quality healthcare and I am privileged to become a part of this organization.”

HealthReach Community Health Centers is comprised of eleven Federally Qualified Health Centers in Central and Western Maine. Dedicated providers deliver high quality medical and behavioral health care to citizens in over 80 rural communities. To ensure access to everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare, and major insurances. In addition, an Affordable Care Program is available to uninsured and underinsured residents as well as assistance with applications for programs that help with the cost of health care and medications including the Health Insurance Marketplace.

A private non-profit established in 1975, HealthReach is funded by patient fees, grants and by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $4,815,606 with 82.2 percent financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor are an endorsement by, the HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

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