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New technology connects school nurses to doctors without leaving campus

ORLANDO, Fla. — New technology is allowing school nurses to contact a doctor for students in need without ever leaving campus.

The telemedicine technology, powered by a Nemours CareConnect Cart, connects the nurses to doctors via video chat at a moment's notice.

The carts are slowly being integrated into Central Florida schools.

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But now this cart is now rolling into schools. Morning Star School in Orlando was the first to have the cart.

Nurse Peggy McGrath said the cart helped in a pinch when two students were showing symptoms of scabies.

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"We had the diagnosis, the treatment, the education, and the solution all done packaged up and done in one day," McGrath said.

McGrath connected with a doctor on the spot, which eliminated the need for the parent to schedule a doctor's appointment.

The doctor via video chat wrote up a prescription, which was sent directly to the pharmacy.

Nemours recently received funding to work on a pilot program with Orange County Public Schools for the 2019-2020 school year.

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The pilot program will help figure out if these carts will be feasible in the public-school setting.

The telemedicine cart is already in a few other Orlando schools as well as a Catholic school in Titusville and a nursery school in Winter Park.

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