Health Information

Our schools are staffed with registered nurses who provide medication administration, nursing assessment and care, physician referral, community resource information, and health counseling services to all students and staff in our school community.

Health Records

Upon entering the Hopkinton School District, a health record is established by the nurses for each student. The health record contains information regarding the students’ individual health needs, immunizations and allergies. Records indicating the need for accommodations for the student are also maintained. Please make sure the school nurse is aware of any conditions/situations, which may prohibit your child from participating in normal school activities. Also included in the health record are the results of routine screenings done by the nursing staff. This includes hearing, vision, scoliosis, height, weight and, in some cases, blood pressure screenings. Any abnormal screenings are reported to parents/guardians so follow-up can be planned with the student’s health care provider.

The health record is maintained until the student graduates, is projected to graduate or leaves the district. If the student leaves the district, upon request, health records can be forwarded to the new school.

Immunizations

New Hampshire State Law requires each student to be immunized against certain diseases prior to school attendance. Each school nurse communicates with parents/guardians regarding missing immunizations. It is very important that parents follow up on letters and messages from the school. Students must be fully immunized within 30 days of the first day of school. By state law, students who are not fully immunized by the deadline may be excluded from school by the district administrators. Note: Because Hepatitis B is given in a series, students will not be initially excluded if the series has been started. Parents are required to complete the series as scheduled. The only exception to this law is for parents who have received a medical or religious exemption from the State Department of Health. See your school nurse for the forms. Start this process before the deadline occurs.

Confidentiality

The information contained in each student’s health record is considered confidential and is treated as such. However, if your child needs accommodations for conditions such as asthma (inhaler use), diabetes, (frequent trips to the nurse) certain chronic illnesses, or severe allergies your child will benefit if the teachers and selected staff know of the student’s condition. In such cases, the school nurse will use her judgment to provide the essential information to appropriate staff “as needed”. It is important that parents communicate any specific wishes regarding this to the school nurse. Accordingly, it is up to the parent to complete the medical information portion of the “Field Trip Permission” form, as this is the only means by which a teacher may know non-essential information about our child’s medical needs while under the teacher’s care away from school.

Contrary to common perception, there is no automatic link in medical information or records between healthcare providers and schools. The school nurse is not allowed to exchange information with any other healthcare professional, including the child’s personal physician, without written release from the parent. Any required medication orders, immunization records, or treatment plans must be obtained by the parent and released to the school nurse.

Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect

By New Hampshire State Law, any school employee who has reasonable cause to witness the results of or suspect that a student has been subject to abuse or neglect, is required to immediately inform the building administrator. The administrator will work with the staff member to make a report to the New Hampshire Department of Children, Youth, and Family Services (DCYF) or to the appropriate law enforcement agency, if necessary. Once the report has been made, these agencies assume the responsibility for the investigation.

Students with Special Health Care Needs

Every year students come to school after being in the hospital, having surgery, or with casts and crutches. Notify your school nurse if this happens with your child. The school nurse will work with you and your student to make the necessary accommodations such as wheelchair use, excuses from P.E., transportation plan, etc.

Medication

In order to provide safe and therapeutic care for those students requiring medications during the school day, the following protocols must be followed:

1. The parent or guardian must deliver all medications to the school. Medications are to be hand-delivered to the school nurse, principal, or principal's designee. Students are not to carry any medications to or from school at any time.
2. All medications are to be delivered in the original pharmacist or manufacturer labeled container. Any medication not delivered in these appropriate containers cannot be administered and will be returned to the parent/guardian.
3. All medication brought to school will be held in the nurse’s office. Self-administration of medication shall not be allowed in school. The only exception to this is an inhaler for the asthmatic student in grades 6-12. (See "Administration of Prescription Medications" for details.)
4. No medication shall be administered during school hours if it is possible to achieve the desired effects by administration at home during non-school hours.
5. Unused medication must be picked up by the parent/guardian at the end of the school year or it will be discarded.
6. If at anytime it is the professional opinion of the registered nurse that administration of a medication will be harmful to a student, the nurse may refuse to administer said medication and will notify the parent/guardian.

Administration of Prescription Medications

Prescription medication will be administered only after the following three items have been provided to the school nurse:

1. A written doctor's order.

2. Signed parent or guardian consent.

3. Medication in appropriate container as above.

These must be provided at the beginning of each school year and anytime there is a prescription change.

A "FORM FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION IN SCHOOL" is provided in this wiki. This form must be completed for all prescription medications, including short-term medications such as antibiotics. Students grades 6 and beyond will be allowed to carry their own asthma "rescue" inhalers after parent consultation with the school nurse, signed parent authorization, and indication on the "FORM FOR ADMINISTRATION OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION IN SCHOOL" bearing physician signature.

Administration of Non-Prescription Medication

After thorough assessment of the student, the school nurse will administer over the counter (OTC) medications with written parent/guardian permission. The medications that can be administered are listed on the "Emergency Contact Sheet" completed by the parent/guardian at the beginning of the school year. Permission for administration may be given on this sheet. This list is limited to those medications which can be administered reasonably safely in a school setting and is determined by current medical knowledge in collaboration between the school nurses and school physician. Parents will need to provide certain medications for administration to their child. If the nurse feels that a student is requiring too frequent OTC medication administration, the parent will be consulted.

Pediculosis (Head Lice)

A staff member who suspects a student has head lice will file a report with the school nurse. The school nurse will notify the parent/guardian by telephone or other available means if their child is found to have live head lice and will be sent home to begin treatment. Verbal and written instructions for treatment will be given to the family of each identified student. Instructions will include recommendations for treatment that are consistent with New Hampshire Department of Health and HumanServices. District employees will act to ensure that student confidentiality is maintained. Based upon the school nurse’s recommendation, other children who are most likely to have had direct head-to-head contact with the assessed child may be checked or screened for head lice. At the elementary level, a letter will be sent home from the school nurse to inform parents of a case of lice in their child’s classroom with information for checking and the treatment of lice. At the middle/high school level, parents/guardians of close contacts will be notified by the school nurse and be given information for checking and the treatment of lice. Students will be allowed to return to school after proper treatment as recommended by the school nurse. The student may be readmitted by the school nurse after a head check examination is done and no live lice are found.

Self-Administration of Asthma Medication

New Hampshire Law provides that districts permit a student to possess and self-administer asthma medication within any school of the district if a written statement is submitted to the district containing: Parental verification that the student is responsible for and capable of self-administration and parental authorization for self-administration of asthma medication; Health care provider identification of the prescribed or authorized asthma medication and verification of the appropriateness of the student’s possession and self-administration of the asthma medication. Contact your school nurse for the form that needs to be completed by the student’s health care provider. Return the completed form to the school nurse.

Illness

Please note that a student must be free of fever (a temperature greater or equal to 100 F) for 24 hours prior to a return from school. (Absences due to an extended fever will be excused.)

If a student feels ill during the school day

If a student feels ill, they should ask their teacher for permission to go to the nurse's office. If the nurse is not there, they are to go directly to the main office. If the student is too ill to remain in school, the parent or guardian will be notified. Students must be dismissed and transportation home provided by the parent/guardian if the student has: possible bacterial conjunctivitis, possible strep throat, signs of chicken pox, a fever greater than or equal to 100 F, or vomiting. The school nurse will provide basic first aid in case of injury. Parents/guardians are always contacted if the injury is considered serious. In case of emergency, the school must be able to contact parents/guardians or their designee. Therefore, please keep the school informed of any phone number or address changes throughout the school year.

Physical Examinations and School Sports

Any student who participates in middle school interscholastic sports must have a physical for that school year. Physicals must be dated after June 1 prior to the new school year. Physical forms are available in the office.