Shepherd’s Hope extends date for free school physicals

Shepherd’s Hope has added another date for it free back‐to‐school and sports physicals for local uninsured and underinsured children at the Shepherd’s Hope Health Centers in Winter Garden.  The free back‐to‐school physicals include general health assessments and sports physicals with a specialist, as well as dental, vision and hearing screenings.

New for this year will be ECG screenings for student athletes, which is now required in Orange, Osceola and Volusia counties. For the ninth year, Nemours Children’s Health System clinician volunteers are helping provide these medical services.

“Before the pandemic, nearly 30,000 children were without health insurance in Central Florida. We know with over 300,000 people on unemployment in May that there is an escalated need for free back‐ to‐school physicals this year,” said Pam Gould, Shepherd’s Hope President and CEO.

“With school districts requiring heart screenings for high school athletes starting this fall, Nemours Children’s Health System is glad to help provide these screenings as well as school physicals for our community’s neediest children, in partnership with Shepherd’s Hope,” said Dr. Gul Dadlani, chief of cardiology at Nemours Children’s Hospital.  “Our goal is to create the healthiest generations of children, and this is a step in that direction.”

To qualify, children up to age 18 must be uninsured or underinsured. Appointments are necessary. Following the completion of their physical exam, they will receive the required Florida Department of Health form (DOH 3040) which meets the state requirement for enrollment in public or private school.

Physicals will be conducted at several Shepherd's Hope Health Centers, including the one at 455 Ninth St., Winter Garden, Wednesday, Aug 18.

For eligibility assessment and appointments, call (407) 876‐6699, Ext. 246. For more information, please visit shepherdshope.org/schoolphysicals/.