Health and Wellness

List of 9 items.

• Athletic Training Services

  The certified athletic trainer works closely with athletes, coaches, and the Health Center to provide the best care for the students. Athletes may be seen for new or existing injuries, rehabilitation, and concussion management during or after the school day. The athletic trainer will be present at all home games and practices. Gould has relationships with orthopedics and physical therapists in the area and can arrange additional care as needed.

• Blood Drive

  Gould Academy hosts an American Red Cross blood drive in the fall. Students who are 17 and older (16 with signed parent consent) are eligible to donate. There are volunteer opportunities for students who are not eligible to donate but would like to participate.

• Concussion Protocol

  Gould follows standards outlined by Maine Concussion Management Initiative to provide evidenced-based care related to concussions. All students take a baseline IMPACT test within their first few weeks at Gould. The concussion program is supervised by a contracted physician specializing in sports medicine and guides care of the injured student.

• Counseling/Mental Health Care

  In most instances, a student’s advisor is the usual source for the advice and guidance that an adolescent needs. A student who is having a hard time, struggling with a personal issue, worried about another student, or just needs someone to talk to has several adult support options to choose from: advisor, dorm parent, teacher or coach. Also, our Health Center is a comfortable, safe and confidential place for students to seek support and guidance.
  
  

  When concerns arise that may require greater expertise than the faculty can offer, students may opt to schedule time with one of the Health Center’s counselors for additional support. Open Times are free, private, and confidential. Students may be referred to ongoing professional counseling, psychiatric/mental health services, and psychological/educational testing.

  Gould works with a variety of local counselors, psychologists and a psychiatrist for mental health needs.
  
  These providers are independent of Gould Academy. Providers will either see students in the counseling room at the Gould Health Center, or in their own local offices.

• Doctor’s Appointments

  Gould Academy Health Center works closely with the Bethel Family Health Center (BFHC). The BFHC is ½ mile from campus and staffed with doctors and physician assistants. The BFHC is a family medicine practice that offers sick visits, immunizations, physical exams, contraception management (including confidential appointments), and lab/x-ray services.
  
  

  For needs beyond the BFHC, we utilize specialists including sports medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, orthopedics and more. The Gould Health Center also has relationships with local dentists, orthodontists, and optometrists.
  
  

  In the event of an emergency, there are several local hospitals and urgent care centers within 30 minutes.  

• Health Education

  Health education is ongoing at Gould through various assemblies, group discussions, speakers and films, classroom curriculum, and multiple impromptu opportunities through adult modeling and health care delivery. Designed to provide the school community with useful current information and to better equip students and faculty with strategies for healthful living, the areas addressed include nutrition, fitness, sexuality issues and human relations, tobacco, alcohol and other drug education, and stress management.

• Influenza Vaccine

  Each fall the health center runs an on-campus influenza vaccine clinic. We strongly recommend that all students receive the flu shot.

• Medication Administration

  If a boarding student takes prescription medications, a medication form must be completed and signed by the prescribing physician. On Student Registration Day, the nurses will review the medication schedule with each student and parents along with our policies and procedures. Any controlled, stimulant, narcotic, or psychotropic medications, as well as isotretinoin (Accutane), are required to be kept at the Health Center and administered by the nurses. The Gould Health Center stocks most over-the-counter medications for acute needs. Certain types of medications (antibiotics, asthma medications, birth control pills) may be allowed in a student’s room on a case by case basis.
  
  

  It is the students’ responsibility to report to the Gould Health Center for their scheduled medication. Gould works with the pharmacy, SchoolMed, to provide regularly scheduled medicines in pre-packaged individual doses for safety. All prescription medications must be filled via SchoolMed, unless for acute conditions such as when an antibiotic may be needed.

• Nursing Care

  Gould Academy employs four full-time, professional school nurses, a certified athletic trainer, and an administrative assistant to meet student health care needs. Nurses focus on the prevention of illness and disability, and the early detection and correction of health problems. The school nurse is uniquely qualified in preventive health, health assessment, and referral procedures.  
  
  

  Students who are ill or injured and unable to attend classes or activities must come to the Health Center for evaluation. Sick or injured students will be cared for in the health center during the class day and during afternoon activity time, at the discretion of the nurses.