Your Donor Impact

February 2025

Your giving can bridge so many gaps in child health. In this instance, your gifts are connecting children directly to the care that they need.

In Alaska, children have limited access to pediatric providers. Geographic, socioeconomic and cultural barriers prevent many young people in the state from getting evaluation and treatment of acute illnesses and injuries. Alaska school nurses, especially in rural communities, have limited access to pediatric providers when treating sick or injured children during the school day. This leads to children going home with their parent or guardian, then returning to school the next day with no care plan or resolution of their symptoms. Alaska's geography and weather often inhibit families from making a trip to the doctor. Risk factors associated with poverty, racial and ethnic disparities, and education only exacerbate the issue.

Jennifer Austin, APRN, CPNP, and Sheryl Cohen, MD received a CATCH (Community Access to Child Health) grant to address these specific health access barriers. With your donations, they sought to increase rural Alaskan children's ability to succeed in school and decrease missing school days.

The project goal was to create a platform for school nurses, parents, families, and students to connect virtually with a pediatric provider via telemedicine. School nurses felt better supported by these pediatrician consultations. Providing convenient access to pediatricians allowed for students getting back to class more quickly, effectively decreased illness durations with more efficient treatment, and gave parents a direct line of communication with pediatric providers.

The project was initially designed just for the Ketchikan school district. The district had only one nurse and multiple health aides. From there, Ms. Austin approached the Kenai Peninsula School District, who expressed great interest in a partnership. Each district had unique student health goals and cultural influences that required individual attention.

“Because of the success of connecting with providers, pediatric practices, schools, professional organizations, community hospitals, and trusts during the project, I have incredible community support to continue expanding virtual resources throughout Alaska.” Ms. Austin stated. As one health organization has discontinued operations completely in Alaska, Ms. Austin established a new entity, Alaska Children's Urgent Care and Outreach. Beginning March 2025, they will initiate their pediatric outreach program to establish contracts with additional school districts across the state offering virtual consultation to students in the school setting and will continue to offer direct pediatric
telehealth consultation to children and families from their homes.

This CATCH project has already made an incredible difference. In one case, a 10-year-old girl was sent to the school nurse after lunch for a cough and sore throat. The school nurse connected with the pediatric provider for a video consultation. The pediatric provider noted that the child was coughing, clearing her throat constantly and began to develop hives. Upon questioning, the student talked about her allergy to peaches and tasting a fruit cup from her friend's lunchbox. The provider immediately recognized early anaphylaxis and coached the school nurse through administering an EpiPen immediately. Following up the next day, the father expressed his deep gratitude to the provider and school nurse. Through the exchange, the father reported there are no pediatric primary care providers for over 100 miles.

It is clear that this program, funded by gifts to the AAP, is not only highly beneficial, but essential. I so appreciate what you and your fellow donors are doing for children in so many places. What will be the next story that your generous donations help create?

Best,

Susan J. Kressly, MD, FAAP
President