School health services and managed care: a unique partnership for child health.

The inevitable merging of the world of managed care and school health services, particularly nursing services, will allow both to benefit from the resulting collaboration. The inclusion of the school nurse in the continuum of health care delivery promotes effective, timely, accessible, cost-effective services for children. Managed care offers an opportunity to bring to prominence the role of the school nurse and to increase school-based health services. School health services staff must begin credentialing, data gathering, and quality improvement activities prior to entering negotiations with managed care organizations. Success of this partnership could result in improved access to health care for millions of underserved school-aged children, greater attention to preventive services, and an optimal setting for health promotion activities leading to improved health for all children.