Northern Inyo Healthcare District (NIHD) and Bishop Unified School District (BUSD) celebrated the grand opening of the Panther Clinic at Palisades Glacier High School on Friday, Oct. 2. The clinic began serving students that day, marking an expansion of the districts’ partnership to provide healthcare directly on school campuses. This initiative aims to provide students with easier access to care, reducing time away from class and minimizing trips for families, building on the existing Bronco Clinic at Bishop Union High School.
The Panther Clinic operates from 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on the first Friday of each month. Students can either make an appointment or drop by for care. The clinic team plans to review student needs regularly to determine if schedule adjustments are necessary. Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Colleen McEvoy oversees the Panther Clinic, as well as the Bronco Clinic, with additional support from NIHD primary care and pediatric providers as needed.
A range of services is available at the clinic. These include care for minor illnesses and injuries, initial treatment for asthma attacks, and treatment for acne. Mental health support is also offered, covering depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Reproductive healthcare services, such as birth control and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, are provided. At the request of Palisades Glacier students, the Panther Clinic also offers TB testing for employment purposes. Other available services include over-the-counter medications for pain and allergies, health education, and referrals to community agencies. The clinics do not currently offer vaccines.
Most services require parental consent, though parents are not required to attend every visit. Some services are subject to separate consent and privacy rules under state law. The clinics collect insurance and billing information and do bill for some services. However, no student is turned away from receiving care due to a lack of insurance or inability to pay.
The Panther Clinic project began in May, with initial plans to open at the start of the school year. Preparatory delays moved the opening to October. Bishop Unified School District contributed $50,000 toward the startup costs and remodeling of the clinic space. An additional $9,000 grant from the Foster Youth Coordinating Program supported the clinic's setup and programming.
The concept for school-based clinics was first brought to Bishop Unified more than 10 years ago by Colleen McEvoy, who had prior experience with similar clinics in the Bay Area. Barry Simpson, current Superintendent of the Inyo County Office of Education and former leader of Bishop Unified when the program started, recalled those early conversations. Simpson stated he "believed in Colleen when she told me it would be successful," highlighting the journey that led to the Bronco Clinic and now its expansion.
Allison Partridge, NIHD’s Chief Operations Officer and Chief Nursing Officer, acknowledged the collaborative effort, stating, “Working together, we took what was once a vision and made it a reality.” Simpson further described the Panther Clinic as an exciting expansion, demonstrating what can happen when two agencies come together to serve the community. McEvoy also recognized the boards and staff from both districts for their role in establishing and supporting the clinic, emphasizing that it took many people working together to make these clinics possible. Looking ahead, McEvoy expressed a desire to continue this work, with a possibility for students from Big Pine High School to use the Panther Clinic once transportation and other details are resolved. She also stated, “In the future, I’d love to see us continue this work in Lone Pine.”
