Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center

Forest Grove High School

We opened our second school-based health center at Forest Grove High School in 2009. The health center is open to school district students of all ages and serves the communities of Forest Grove, Cornelius, Banks and Gaston during the school year.

1715 Bonnie Lane
Forest Grove, Oregon 97116
Map

Primary Care

Phone: (503) 359-4057

Hours:
Monday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Thursday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

 

News from Forest Grove School-Based Health Center

The Forest Grove School-Based Health Center (SBHC), which opened in the spring of 2009, already averages about five patients each day.  The Forest Grove School District has approximately 6,000 students in 11 schools.

(PIctured at right, Sue Bisgyer and patient.)

The health center, located at Forest Grove High School, also serves students and families from Banks and Gaston where there is no locally based health care provider.  The SBHC was especially busy in the fall with H1N1 vaccinations.

“We are seeing students who come in for physicals and well-child exams who haven’t been to a doctor in a long time because they don't have health insurance,” said Larissa Whalen, physician assistant with Forest Grove SBHC. 

Recently, a freshman on the Forest Grove High School football team fainted and after being referred by the SBHC to a cardiologist, was found to have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.  He has been successfully treated and is able to resume football.

“This is why it’s good to have a health center right on campus,” said clinic manager, Sue Bisgyer. This winter and spring practitioners from the health center are offering a health education series free and open to the public on different topics of particular concern to youth and young adults.  “We want to educate faculty, students and their families about things to look out for and to let them know we are here,” said Bisgyer.  

As part of a Healthy Kids Outreach grant, the health center is partnering with the school district in an effort to let families know about the new, more inclusive guidelines for the Oregon Health Plan.  They are also partnering with LifeWorks NW this year to offer pre-natal and parenting classes for teens.

Last fall, the Forest Grove SBHC Youth Advisory Council received the Governor’s Volunteer Award for their student generated “Viking Health Center … Got Health?” campaign. Congratulations!