Students who require medication as part of their daily school routine must attend--along with their parents/guardians--a special medication intake session at their local schools starting Tuesday, Aug. 5.

Tangipahoa Parish School Superintendent Mark Kolwe said the medication intake sessions are one of a number of back-to-school programs designed to help students prepare for the new school year and make the start of classes as smooth a process as possible.

Louisiana State Law requires school nurses to meet one on one with both the parent and the child--preferably before the start of school--to document physician orders, properly store individual medications, and conference on any special needs the child may have in reference to taking said medication, according to Tangipahoa Parish School System Head Nurse Leigh Smith, R.N., BSN.

Smith, said students and their individual medication needs can only be assessed by the child's school nurse. She noted that the intake schedule, which is typically held a day or two before the start of school, insures that all students have the items they need to start the academic year successfully.

Parents are responsible for alerting their child's school nurse of any medical problems which may impact the child from functioning in a school environment.

Students who require medication or health procedures during the course of the school day must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian for the intake meeting.

The School System has 14 school nurses assigned to serve as intake specialists during this three-day program leading up to the start of school. Smith serves as supervisor for the nursing team.

Smith said parents will need to bring a physician-signed order (Please see new state mandated health forms.  Forms have changed and the correct forms must be used.) with all medication in properly pharmacy labeled containers to the intake meeting. This includes over-the-counter medication, as well as prescription medication, Smith said. All physician orders must be dated after June 1, 2008, and orders for special medical procedures will also be accepted as part of the intake schedule.

Smith said parents, along with the child who requires medication/procedures, must attend the intake session prior to the start of school on Friday, August 8. No medication will be accepted on the first two days of school. If a child is unable to register his/her medications during the intake program, parents will need to make an appointment to see the school nurse at a later date. No new medication or orders can be accepted by anyone other than the school nurse, Smith said.  Once the order has been reviewed by the school nurse, refills can be received by trained unlicensed personnel.  If a dosage or any part of the order changes, the parent will have to meet with their child’s school nurse.

Click here for the medication intake schedule for 2008-09.

The School Health Form Advisory Board was established by Act 685 (R.S.40:5.12) in the 2004 Regular Legislative Session to develop standardized school health forms. The goal of the forms is to eliminate the duplication of information submitted to schools and school nurses relative to health information and screenings, allergies, illnesses, sports physicals, medication administration, and prescribed procedures.

The Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Hospitals, jointly promulgated rules and regulations for the use and distribution of the standardized school health forms. (See Bulletin 741, the Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, also known as Title 28 of the Louisiana Administrative Code.) Effective August 2007, R.S. 40:5.12. requires all local educational agencies to implement the use of the standardized school health forms.

Seven forms have been developed.  The most current versions of the school health forms (below) replace all other forms used to obtain health information, including previously piloted versions of these forms. These forms shall not be changed or altered in any manner. 

1. School Entrance & General Health Exam Form/Sports Physical Form – This form can be used for sports physicals* and/or other health evaluations provided to school nurses and school systems. This form includes detailed instructions for the medical provider, including a list of suggested screens to be done if medically indicated based on history or clinical findings. This form can also be used to meet the requirements of the KIDMED periodic and interperiodic assessments if the required reproductive health information is included. 

2. Physician’s Authorization for Special Health Care – For any procedure orders, i.e., blood glucose monitoring, catheterization, etc., prescribed by a licensed provider that a student must receive during the school day.

3. Medication Order For Louisiana Public Schools – For medication orders prescribed by a licensed provider that a student must receive during the school day.

4. Medication and Treatment Administration Plan The physician has a section to complete and the form must be presented with the Medication Order before the nurse can accept the medication at school. 

5. Request for Administering Medication at School and Release from Liability - The parent/guardian must meet with the school nurse and present this form along with the Medication Order and Medication and Treatment Administration Plan before medications can be administered at school.

6. Health Information Form – For pertinent health and emergency contact information provided by parents/legal guardians to the school district.  

7. Authorization for Release of Confidential Information – Required to be signed by parent/legal guardian before health information can be shared between the school system and health care providers, i.e., hospital, physician, service agency, school RN, and/or other health provider.

Questions or comments may be directed to Maureen Daly, MD, MPH, Office of Public Health, mdaly@dhh.la.gov. To download copies of the school health forms please click on the desired form above.

*This form or the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) form is acceptable by the LHSAA for sports physicals.