Pediatric patient stays out of ER thanks to Legacy’s school-based clinic

By India Ogazi

Three years ago, emergency room visits were a frequent occurrence for eight-year-old Casey and her mom, Diana. Casey’s asthma was out of control and she was constantly sick.

Although Diana had moved from Katy to Southwest Houston, she was still commuting to the outlying suburb for her daughter’s doctor’s appointments — adding inconvenience to an already troubling health issue. Once her daughter entered the neighboring KIPP SHARP elementary school, however, everything changed.

Casey began seeing nurse practitioner Ashley Pineda at Legacy’s clinic in the school and gained control of her asthma. Diana’s other daughter, 11-year-old Leslie, also began seeing Pineda for severe allergies and improved.

“Having the clinic at the school was such a blessing for me,” says Diana, a divorced, single mom of two. “My daughters love them. It makes me happy to know there’s someone there at the school with them, so I don’t have to leave work when they’re sick.” Diana’s been so impressed with her daughter’s improvements that she’s made Legacy their medical home.

For parents like Diana who operate on a tight budget, the health services are, literally, a life saver. “Because of Legacy, we haven’t been to an emergency room in a long time,” she says. “There’s nothing more important than having a healthy child.”