On March 28, the Hancock County Schools-based Health Clinic held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its reopening after extensive renovations. The clinic, which has served the community for nearly three decades, provides essential healthcare services to students, faculty and community members.
“ETSU Health is a combination of a passion,” said Dr. Roslyn Robinson, associate dean for practice and community partnerships and chief nursing officer at ETSU Health. “We are nestled in the community where we want to provide the best healthcare we can, from inpatient to outpatient facilities.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony showcased the newly renovated facility and recognized those who contributed to the project.
“This ribbon cutting is our opportunity to show the facility with a before-and-after look while also allowing us to thank all the people who have participated,” Robinson said. “This was an undertaking when you look from 2023 to now—just the design of the facility, the construction, the project scope and then the donors that have been there to support us and give us additional funding to do even more.”
Additional donor contributions helped furnish the updated space, furthering the clinic’s ability to serve the community.
Hancock County Schools operates two school-based health centers: one at the middle and high school and another at the elementary school. The middle and high school clinic opened in 1995, and the elementary clinic followed five years later in 2000.
The elementary clinic recently underwent renovations due to roofing issues and outdated facilities.
“Everything was falling apart,” Robinson said.
The renovation project was funded through a Health Center Construction and Capital grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These grants support health centers in providing primary care and health services to medically underserved communities, including funding for construction, expansion and facility improvements.
In 1995, Hancock County conducted a community health assessment to determine local medical needs, ranging from general healthcare to mental health services.
“They basically decided that they needed to have a way where students could be provided care,” Robinson said. “It was designed to take care of the needs assessment in the community for the development of children and adolescents.”
The clinic serves students, faculty and the community. With assistance from the HRSA grant, it offers a sliding fee scale, providing affordable healthcare access for uninsured patients. Clinic visits range from $10 to $25, with costs based on income—substantially lower than typical medical visits.
Unlike traditional school nurse offices, which typically provide first aid, immunizations and medications, the Hancock County Elementary Clinic functions as a fully operational healthcare center.
“It’s a very small rural community, and without that service being provided, those students don’t have the opportunity to develop like those in a local community that has healthcare at their access,” Robinson said.
The celebration marked a new chapter for the clinic, ensuring continued access to vital healthcare services for the Hancock County community.
