A model outreach program for health care screening.

The outreach program described here provides health care screening in an inner-city clinic to children and adolescents who attend any organized program in the community. The objectives are (a) to provide low-cost, accessible health care screening and (b) to provide health education. The program is supervised by a pediatric nurse practitioner who works closely with an administrative assistant, an office associate, and other clinical staff members. In the academic years 1986-1988, 668 children and adolescents were screened. Abnormal patient findings identified by the outreach program were similar to those reported from other studies. The conclusions from this program's efforts are that outreach health care screening programs are effective in evaluating the health status of children and adolescents in communities.