From the desk of Shawn Rhoads, Director of Residence Life:

You’re thousands of miles away from your child.  You can’t get to them in a moment’s notice.  You need to know that when they get sick they will be cared for in the way they would be at home.  It is very important for you as a parent to know what the Brook Hill Boarding School health procedures and practices are as it pertains to our boarding students so that you have peace of mind.  Let’s start at the beginning of any given day.

House Parents begin their day by checking in with each and every one of the students in their house.  If a student is not feeling well the House Parent does a basic health screening to learn what the symptoms are.  If the symptoms are something minor, like a headache or nausea, the House Parent will give the child over-the-counter medicine to treat those symptoms.  But let’s say it is something more serious, like a chronic cough or a migraine.  That is when the school nurse, Mrs. Suzan Chadwell, gets involved.  The student will be seen at the on-campus clinic, unless they are too ill, in which case the nurse will come to the house.  After Nurse Chadwell does a more extensive screening of the child’s condition she will either treat the student on campus and tell the House Parents what to monitor, or she might recommend that the student go and visit one of the East Texas Medical Center clinics or emergency rooms.  Whenever a student goes to Nurse Chadwell an email from the Nurse goes out to the House Parents, to the biological parents as well as to me, the Director of Residence Life.  If a student is to be taken to the clinic or ER either the daytime Res Life Assistant, Ms. Cadise Wise or the Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Regenea White, will drive the student.  In some cases the House Parent or I will drive the patient to the hospital, ER or clinic.  After a visit with the doctor, medical reports are handed over to the House Parent, along with any prescriptions that may be necessary so that they can be dispensed by the House Parent upon schedule.  In cases of injuries a student can have an appointment with one of the local physicians for treatment spanning from a brace and crutches to surgery and rehabilitation treatment following the surgery.  You as parents are kept informed and consulted along the way when a student is facing a serious or prolonged treatment for an injury or illness.  You will also find it reassuring to know that the health care institutions, facilities and physicians in East Texas are among some of the best around, with patients flying in literally from all over the world to seek the level of care they can find here in Tyler.

I hope you find comfort in the fact that we take your child’s health and well-being very seriously as we attempt to match the level of care they would receive from you at home.  Pray for us and our boarding community that we would be injury and illness free.  God bless you as you do so.