Ducketts Lane is the sixth telemedicine center sponsored by the Howard County Health Department in partnership with the Howard County Public School System. Centers opened last school year at Bryant Woods, Phelps Luck, Running Brook, Stevens Forest, and Talbott Springs Elementary Schools. The program has quickly become popular with parents and school staff.

Children who are ill with eye, ear, nose, throat, skin, lung, and headache complaints can be seen during the school day in the health room. Either their own health care provider, if they are part of the community telemedicine network, or a pediatrician from the Howard County General Hospital Pediatric Emergency Room will do the assessment. Your school nurse uses a special hand-held camera with attachments to transmit images of your child's eyes, ears, throat, and exposed skin and his or her lung sounds to the medical provider by secure, web-based transmissions that are HIPAA compliant. Another camera allows the provider to see and talk with your child and school nurse. Throat cultures for strep throat can be done on-site and if a prescription is required, it will be sent electronically to the pharmacy of your choice. The majority of children are able to remain in school and their parents at work or home. You are always contacted before the telemedicine visit to confirm you wish your child to be seen. Parents are invited to participate in the visit either by phone or coming to the health suite itself. If the provider is from the hospital, parents can view the visit on their Smart phone or computer.

If your child's own medical provider sees your child for the telemedicine visit, they will bill you just like it was an office visit. At this time, the hospital is not billing for telemedicine visits. If they do decide to bill in the future, the charge will not be at the emergency room rate. We will notify you if the hospital changes its billing policy. The following community providers are part of the Health Department's School-Based Wellness Telemedicine Program: Dr. Agwuna, Dr. Ambush, Bethany Pediatrics (Dr. Undie), Dr. Beams, Columbia Medical Practice, Dr. Donkor, Ellicott City Primary Care Physicians (Dr. Hashmi), Klebanow and Associates, and The Pediatric Center.

Please contact the health room at 410-313-1739 for more information. You may also call Sharon Hobson, the program's administrator, at 410-313-7238.

English packet PDF.pdf

Chin packet PDF.pdf

Spanish packet PDF.pdf