Some Scranton School District students may soon receive medical care in school that will treat illnesses, prevent sickness and encourage wellness.

The Scranton School Board is expected to pass a resolution this week that will allow the Wright Center to open school-based health centers in newly renovated medical rooms in the districts three intermediate schools.

The project, funded by a grant obtained by the Wright Center, aims to improve health, wellness and academic performance and could be a model across the region.

The Wright Center fully believes in bringing health care to where kids are, said Kellen Kraky, the centers manager of youth services. We hope to benefit the community at large. ... Its only the beginning.

On Friday, a contractor installed medical equipment in a former science lab at Northeast Intermediate School. The lab now includes a cot area, restroom and two exam rooms. The Wright Center has already updated the medical rooms at the three intermediate schools free of charge to the district, using a $500,000 grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. The medical rooms received renovations and new equipment for student care.

Pending school board approval, the center will use a $300,000 grant from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Inc., to staff the centers with a nurse practitioner. Sandra Federo, who holds a doctorate of nursing practice, will split her time between Scrantons three intermediate schools, with the possibility of expanding and offering care to the districts elementary and high school students. She expects to collaborate with school nurses and see students who do not have a primary care physician, and will work with other students physicians.

The Wright Center, a Scranton-based primary care and medical residency training provider, will bill the students health insurance, or work on finding the student access to insurance. Parental consent will be necessary for treatment.

The center also used $500,000 grants to update medical rooms in the North Pocono, Lakeland and Valley View school districts in the last two years. There will not be a nurse practitioner at those schools, but officials say they hope what is being tried in Scranton can be a model across the region. Scranton showed the greatest need, Ms. Kraky said. About 70 percent of Scranton students come from low-income families.

The grant will fund the program for two years, and the Wright Center will fund a matching $80,000 portion of the grant. Eventually, with payments from insurance, the program should be self-sustaining.

Along with comprehensive primary care services, students will have access to mental health, preventive well visits, sick visits, behavioral health screenings, vaccinations and dental services. Officials also plan to engage students and parents on wellness and healthy lifestyles, Ms. Kraky said.

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Medical care, well visits to be offered to Scranton students