The Sevier County School System, through a partnership with Cherokee Health Systems, is pleased to provide the Sevier County Student Medical Assistance Response Team (S.M.A.R.T.). A key component of the S.M.A.R.T. program is telemedicine. Telemedicine utilizes state of the art technology to assist the school system in attending to the physical needs of students. The telemedicine connection is a secure, two-way video link with the child and the school nurse on one end, and a medical provider on the other.

During a telemedicine visit, a child can be screened, examined, diagnosed, treated, and monitored. Special equipment gives the medical provider the ability to examine the child's ears, eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, etc. Assisted by a Sevier County School System registered nurse, a child can be seen through telemedicine for the following concerns:

• cuts/abrasions,
• rashes,
• pink eye,
• coughs/colds,
• strep,
• earaches,
• flu-like symptoms.

A Cherokee Health Systems pediatric or family nurse practitioner is available via telemedicine. Once the required paperwork is completed by parents, all students enrolled at the school sites are eligible to be seen at our clinics. For students with TennCare, CoverKids, or other insurance coverage, Cherokee Health Systems will submit claims to the insurance provider. Standard co-pays will apply. For students without insurance coverage, services will be provided on a sliding scale based on income information.