Before his students can play team sports at Rosemead High School in El Monte, physical education teacher and coach Richard Gabriel must have proof that they've had a physical in the past year. It means students who lack access to affordable health care probably won't be participating.
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| With so many layoffs of school nurses, Joseph Irwin in Fresno fears serious health problems could go undetected. |
"In the process of making sure that they are physically able to compete and get involved in sports, I find that some don't have any coverage," says Gabriel, a member of the El Monte Union Educators Association.
Uninsured and underinsured children are not uncommon in California. Without medical coverage, they rarely see a doctor, and minor problems are allowed to grow into major ones. Nationwide, only half of uninsured children visited a physician during 2001, compared to three-quarters of insured children.
When children are sick, their learning capacity diminishes, say teachers. If too many children are ill on a standardized testing day, the school can be labeled as "failing."
When students are ill and have no health benefits, school staff may refer them to the Healthy Families Program, which offers low cost insurance for children up to age 19. The program provides health, dental and vision coverage to children who meet the program rules and do not qualify for free Medi-Cal. The low monthly premium covers most doctors' visits.
In the meantime, families may depend on schools to provide diagnosis and referral services. Unfortunately, school nurses - often the first line of defense - are falling victim to budget crises in large numbers.
Joseph Irwin, the first male nurse to be hired in Fresno Unified, was one of 28 nurses to receive a pink slip at the end of last year. That leaves 38 nurses to cover 100 schools.
The Fresno Teachers Association member's job included examining children newly arrived from Thailand camps to make sure they didn't require immediate vision or dental care. He often diagnosed dangerous conditions including asthma and diabetes. With the number of nurses being reduced, he fears such serious health problems may go undetected.
"The old stereotype of school nurses giving Band-Aids and hugs is gone," says Irwin. "Nurses rarely have time to do that anymore."