FOUKE, Ark. - The Fouke Health and Wellness Center on the campus of Fouke School is up and running after a delay because of COVID-19.
"We originally wanted to open in mid-September, but didn't open until December 1 because of COVID," said Amanda Whitehead, director of student services.
The clinic is a partnership between the school district and the University of Arkansas for Medical Services.
Services include well child visits, acute care services, sports physicals and Medicare wellness, according to UAMS. The clinic will also serve adults in the community.
"We are a fully functioning clinic and are here for anyone who needs medical care," Whitehead said.
The clinic also offers mental health services. A licensed counselor and mental health nurse practitioner is available.
The clinic has a steady influx of patients since it opened, Whitehead said. Word of mouth has brought in a number of patients.
Doctors are at the clinic from 8 a.m. to noon Mondays and 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursdays. The schedule is subject to change based on school and community needs.
Dr. Matthew Nix and Dr. Ellen Hudson are the clinic's primary doctors.
Patients interested in seeing either physician at this location may call the UAMS Southwest main number at 870-779-6000 and inform the receptionist they would like to be seen at the Fouke Health and Wellness Center.
In 2019, Fouke School received a $500,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Education to start the clinic.
Four other schools in Arkansas were awarded grants for clinics at the same time. There are 31 others schools in the state that have school-based health centers, according to information from the Arkansas Department of Education.