PHC’s School-Based Health Clinics
Medical Care Available to all Des Moines Public Schools Students
Locations
Services
FAQ's
Welcome to PHC School-Based Health Clinics! Our caring and compassionate health care team is here to care for students of all ages. Clinics are housed at Hoover High School, Kurtz Opportunity Center &Â East High School.
We care for kids who need sick care, immunizations, and other healthcare services.
All students are welcome, whether they have insurance or not. Health benefits specialists can help with insurance eligibility questions or other benefits enrollment. A sliding fee scale, based on income and household size, is available for eligible patient families.
To schedule an appointment at a PHC
school based health clinic, call (515) 248-1500.
Locations & Hours
East High School
815 E 13th Street
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 248-1500
HOURS (school year)
Tuesdays & Thursdays
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Hoover High School
4800 NW Aurora Ave
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 248-1500
HOURS (school year)
Mondays, Tuesdays, & Fridays
8:40 am – 12:00 pm
Kurtz Opportunity Center
1000 Porter Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 248-1500
HOURS (school year)
Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays
8:40 am – 12:00 pm
Services
Immunizations
Stay protected against diseases with our immunization services. Our clinic provides a range of vaccines to keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy.
Birth Control & Family Planning
We understand the importance of family planning. Our expert healthcare providers offer confidential consultations and a variety of birth control options to suit your individual needs.
Sports Physicals
Get ready to hit the field with our thorough sports physicals. Our healthcare professionals ensure that you’re physically fit and ready to participate in sports activities.
Well Child Visits
We provide comprehensive well child visits to monitor your child’s growth and development. Our team focuses on preventive care to promote a healthy lifestyle from an early age.
STI Testing & Treatment
Your sexual health matters to us. Our clinics offer confidential and professional STI testing and treatment services to ensure your well-being.
Integrated Behavioral Health
We believe that mental health is an essential part of overall wellness. Our integrated behavioral health services provide support and guidance for mental health concerns in a compassionate and understanding environment.
Interpreters
To ensure effective communication, we have interpreters available to assist non-English speaking patients. We strive to provide inclusive and accessible care to all individuals.
Health Benefits Specialists
Our dedicated health benefits specialists are here to guide you through the insurance enrollment process. They can also help determine a sliding fee scale based on your income and family size through our financial assistance program.
FAQs Frequently Asked Questions
Getting a Physical
Physicals aren’t just for athletes!
- Plan for the appointment to last from 30 to 60 minutes (including registration, waiting room time, exam).
- If you are due for an immunization required to attend school, you can choose to receive it.
Your healthcare provider may ask these questions to make sure they have an accurate picture of your health and advise you on behaviors that could improve your health:
- Do you have allergies to any foods or medicines?
- What medications are you currently taking?
- Do you have stress, anxiety, depression or other brain health issues you want to talk about?
- Do you drink alcohol or use drugs?
- Do you smoke or vape tobacco, or other substances?
The provider’s nurse will:
- Measure your height and weight.
- Take your vitals, including blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and/or pain level if there for an injury or other ailment.
- Ask general questions about your health.
Find required immunizations, by age and grade on this webpage managed by Iowa’s Department of Education.
Other Questions About Your Visit
How do I schedule an appointment?
Students can call PHC at (515) 248-1500 to schedule an appointment. The receptionist will ask you a few questions as well as the reason for your visit. If you have insurance, be prepared to share information from your insurance card. If you do not have insurance, you can still schedule an appointment. A conversation may start something like this,
“Hello, my name is Janedoe Student and I’m calling to schedule an appointment for a physical at PHC’s Super Duper High School Clinic.”
From there, the receptionist will ask your name, address, phone number and birth date. If you have insurance, they will ask for your policy or group number, sometimes also called a member ID. If you do not have insurance, you can still schedule your appointment. A PHC health benefits specialist can meet with you or your parent/guardian to help with enrolling in eligible programs (sliding fee scale, Medicaid or others).Â
Do I need to be a US citizen to receive care?
No. PHC sees all people regardless of immigration status, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity or religion. Any person is welcome, whether they have insurance or not.
Do I need my parent or guardian’s permission to be seen at the PHC school clinics?
With a few exceptions, the answer is yes. Most visits require a parent or guardian’s permission. This means a parent/guardian must attend the visit (not necessarily in the exam room, but present in the clinic) with you ORÂ you must bring a consent form, signed by your parent/guardian, allowing our healthcare providers to provide care.
I don’t know if I have insurance. Can I still see a healthcare provider?
Yes. Health benefits specialists can help patients with insurance enrollment, sliding fee scale or other programs they may be eligible to receive. To learn about potential options for insurance, see healthcare.gov for more information.
