University Health opens new school-based health center at Judson ISD’s Wagner High School
Expanding health care access to a large underserved population on the East Side, University Health has opened a new school-based health center in Judson Independent School District. The Judson Health Center at Wagner High School, 3000 N Foster Rd., is open to students, their families, school staff and the community.
“We’re providing health care close to where you live,” University Health President and CEO Ed Banos told the group.
The event marks a significant milestone in community health and education collaboration. It will be our 7th school-based health center and we're excited to be partnering with Judson ISD and to be colocated with their wraparound services facility, a vision that aligns with our own to improve the overall good health of the community. The center is also not far from the new University Health Wheatley, slated to open later this year and providing the community with primary and multi-specialty care, as well as a pharmacy, health education and preventive health services. These two health centers will greatly improve health care services and opportunities for the East Side.
“We’re proud to be able to provide health services on the East Side,” Banos said.
And anyone can use our health centers to access primary care, said School-Based Health Center Medical Director Dr. Leo Lopez.
“It’s a unique aspect of these health centers that they serve students, staff, families and the surrounding communities,” Dr. Lopez said. “So we not only treat coughs, colds, well child checkups and sports physicals, but when a parent comes in with unchecked diabetes we can address that, when a woman needs a breast exam, we can connect her to that screening within our system. We have addressed the loneliness epidemic, instituting social isolation screening and connecting those patients to resources they need. We believe that healthier parents, schools and homes equal healthy communities and better places to learn and grow.”
These centers not only improve health outcomes for students, they have also been shown to boost academic achievement, reduce absenteeism and promote graduation rates nationally. Our own team, led by Dr. Lopez and Director of Health Care Services Valerie Maldonado, has been nationally recognized for their groundbreaking work and has presented our strategies, lessons and accomplishments to other school-based clinic groups at a national forum in Washington D.C.
Most insurance plans are accepted at our health centers. Services include physical exams, immunizations, sports physicals, chronic illness management, prescription medications, nutrition counseling, telehealth and mobile health visits. The Judson Wraparound Service Center, in which Judson is collaborating with the San Antonio Mobile Mental Wellness Collaborative, provides a school-based mental wellness program that addresses mental health, grief, and substance abuse and serves students, their families and school personnel.
Together, these centers mark a significant step forward in providing accessible, comprehensive care and support services to the community.
