Das Gesundheitswesen
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Das Gesundheitswesen · Nov 2001
[Towards a new line in public school health service; the medical profession in the fields of social pediatrics, occupational health and multiprofessional health promotion].
The circumstances of life and the health status of children and adolescents in Germany have undergone fundamental changes. Public institutions, such as schools or kindergartens more often are not only support but a substitute for family structures. Individual medical care being guaranteed, seeking for prevention and treatment and health status differ widely according to sociological patterns. ⋯ School health services will have to engage in occupational health and will have to be present mostly in the school buildings proper. School health services will have to report and publish epidemiological data for use by school, community and medical professionals. In case of continued compulsory medical examination of schoolbeginners wide use should be made of qualified assistant personnel, so that physicians can focus on true medical problems in school and moreover will be enabled to deliver medical expertise and treatment within the community to people and population groups in need.