Health Services
HEALTH SERVICES
The school nurse serves as a liaison between the school, home, and community agencies to advance the well-being, academic success, and lifelong achievement of students. Our school nurses are registered nurses licensed by DESE. Medfield has a district physician that oversees the health program and writes standing orders for over the counter medications.
School nurses treat minor injuries and illnesses with an emphasis on keeping students in the classroom as much as possible. They administer medications both prescribed and over the counter. They provided education and resources for physical and mental health needs of students. All health information is kept confidential with the exception of emergencies or as required by law.
Each student who enters Medfield High School from another school system, and every eleventh grade student, must have a report of a current physical examination in his/her school health record. A student must have all of their required immunizations for MA public school entry, or a plan in place to meet the requirements. Exemption from the physical examination and immunization requirements, which is based on Massachusetts state law, shall be only on the basis of religious objection, and must be submitted in writing by the parents to the school nurse at the start of every school year.
MHS school nurses conduct health screenings in both ninth and tenth grade. All ninth graders will have a postural screening and a substance abuse conversation called SBIRT. SBIRT or, Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment is a MA state law that mandates school districts conduct verbal substance use screenings in middle and high school. The goal of the program is to provide early identification and prevention of harm from substance use. The interview style screening will be conducted confidentially, in private one-on-one sessions using the CRAFFT screening tool. This program focuses on prevention, and students’ responses will not lead to any disciplinary action. The results of the screening will not be included in students’ academic or health records. In keeping with M.G.L. Chapter 71, Section 97, information disclosed by students during verbal substance use screening is confidential, and unless a student is in immediate medical danger, parents will not be notified about the results of this screening. Parents/Guardians may request the information discussed with their student during the interview.
All tenth graders will have a vision, hearing, height and weight screening done. There is an opportunity to opt your student out of these screenings. If the screening results are outside of the normal limits, parents/guardians will be notified by a referral to a physician and follow up is required.
The school health record includes the data obtained from all the testing listed above, as well as any information submitted by the parents or physician. This record goes with the student when he or she graduates or leaves the school system.
Immunization clinics may be held periodically in school when they are supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. No school physician or nurse administering an immunization shall be liable in a civil suit for damages as a result of any act or omission on his or her part in carrying out his or her duties.
When to Keep Your Student Home from School
A Temperature of 100 degrees F or higher is an indication that your child could be contagious. Giving a child Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) will bring the temperature down and make them more comfortable, but will not prevent them from passing their illness on to others. Your child may return to school when he/she has been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.
Severe sore throat or non-stop coughing, especially when accompanied by swollen glands in the neck, headache or fever.
Vomiting within the past 24 hours. Your child may return to school after resuming a normal diet.
If your child was treated with antibiotics for an illness, he/she may return to school after 24 hours of treatment. Please notify the nurse of any illness that may have been contagious.
Illness, Injury, and Hospitalizations
If your student suffers an injury such as a broken bone, has a communicable disease such as strep throat, has any surgery, or has a chronic illness, please provide a letter from a health care provider with the details of the illness injury and any accommodations they recommend for your student to be in school. Any student that is hospitalized for a physical or mental health diagnosis will need a clearance letter from a health care provider to return to school.
Social-Emotional Services
In addition to the counseling that is provided by the Health Office and Counseling Department, Medfield High School provides social and emotional counseling through a School Psychologist, School Adjustment Counselor, and Director of Social-Emotional Learning. These staff members conduct individual counseling, group counseling, crisis intervention, family consultation, and team consultation. They are also a valuable resource for community-based services.
Head Injuries and Concussions
Protocols have been developed to provide standardized procedures for studentsdiagnosed with head injuries and concussions, including the assessment of each student, medical referral, classroom accommodations, and authorization to resume athletic participation. These protocols are in accordance with MA 105 CMR201.000. Per DPH guidelines, all students diagnosed with a concussion must submit a clearance letter from their doctor when they have recovered, or be cleared by the Athletic Trainer.
Communicable Diseases
A student who has been diagnosed as having a communicable disease or who has been absent from school for five or more consecutive days shall not be readmitted to school until he or she provides a letter from a health care provider clearing them to return to school. If a student presents him or herself for admission without the needed letter, the school may require that he or she be examined before being readmitted.
School Committee Policy on Medication
Students may not bring any medications, including all over-the-counter medications , into school or to a school-sponsored activity without documentation from a licensed health care provider which states that the medication is needed during school or extracurricular activities. Written parent/guardian consent must be submitted as well. All medications, with the possible exception of inhalers, EpiPens, and other approved medications, must be kept in the Health Office and dispensed by the school nurse. All prescription medicines must be brought to school in the original pharmacy container with the label intact. Pharmacies will provide an extra labeled bottle for school upon request. Over-the-counter medicines must be brought to school in the original unopened containers.
Epipen orders need to be updated annually at the beginning of each school year. Allergy Action Plan forms may be found on the MHS website under District Offices, School Health Services and Health Forms. Students who require EpiPens for treatment of anaphylaxis should carry a set and/or keep one in the Health Office.
Permission to attend field trips (including Senior activities) may be withheld if the student does not have up-to-date doctor’s orders (Allergy Action Plan) and EpiPen at time of outing.
Under no circumstances may students share medicine or dispense medication of any kind to other students; this policy exists for the protection of all students.