Health Services are provided to the Bloomington campus at no charge by the Bloomington Independent School District #271. They are responsible for maintaining health records, reviewing student immunization status, conducting vision and hearing health screening and identifying the health needs of the school. Questions or concerns about health problems or needs of any child may be addressed to the health service provider or teacher. The health service provider is at the school two days per week.
Health Services are provided to the Living Hope campus at no charge by the Shakopee Independent School District #720. They are responsible for maintaining health records, reviewing student immunization status, conducting health screening, measuring vision and hearing, identifying the health needs of the school, and designing a school health program. Questions or concerns about health problems or needs of any child may be addressed to the health service provider or teacher. The health service provider is available by phone; she maintains no working hours at the school.
IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
In order to attend school, students must show they are in compliance with Minnesota State Immunization Requirements. A copy of the student’s current immunization record must be on file with the school.
Students may receive legal exemption from the immunization law for medical reasons, please provide a signed medical provider’s order. For conscientiously held beliefs, families must provide a notarized exemption form to the health office in order to fulfill state requirements. Exemption documentation can be submitted on the immunization record as noted above. A new exemption form may be required when immunization requirements change.
Scheduling Immunizations
Parents can schedule immunization appointments with their children’s physicians. For those families without a personal physician, you may contact one of the following:
- Bloomington Public Health offers low-cost immunization clinics. Dates and times of community immunization clinics are available by calling 952-563-8900.
- Health Commons at Pond offers health and wellness care to Bloomington Schools students and families at no cost. Free immunizations are provided to students and families with public insurance or no insurance. Open Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:00 pm-6:00 pm. 952-681-6277
- Park Nicollet Clinic offers immunizations through the No Shots, No School program.
- MinuteClinics are located in Target stores and Cub Foods stores.
- The Neighborhood Health Care Network offers low-cost medical and dental resources and health insurance information. Call 651-489-2273 (CARE).
SHOULD MY CHILD STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL?
Please keep your child home from school if they have experienced…
- an oral temperature of 100.0 degrees or higher in the past 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication)
- vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours
- a new, undiagnosed rash
- symptoms of illness such as fatigue, cough, and difficulty breathing
- any symptoms of COVID-19:
- Fever (100.4 or higher): OR
- New onset and/or worsening cough; OR
- Difficulty breathing; OR
- New loss of taste or smell
- Chills
- Sore throat
- Excessive fatigue
- Gastrointestinal symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting, or nausea
- New onset of severe headache
- New onset of nasal congestion or runny nose
- Feeling ill enough that they would not benefit from being at school
CONTACTING PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
If your child becomes ill at school and needs to go home, Health Services staff will attempt to contact the parent or guardian in the student’s Infinite Campus file.
- The emergency contact will be contacted if we feel your child needs to go home and we are unable to reach a parent or guardian.
- Your child will not be allowed to leave the school with anyone not listed in the student’s file, or without contacting and verifying with an adult.
- In the event of a medical emergency, 911 will be called. The school will then attempt to make contact with the parent or guardian listed. Your child will be transported to a hospital if deemed necessary.
COMMUNICABLE CONDITIONS
If your child has been diagnosed with a contagious health condition, please contact the school’s health office to discuss when your child will be able to return to school.
Please refer to Infectious Diseases in Childcare Settings and Schools – Section 6 for more information on specific health conditions and exclusion guidelines for specific communicable conditions such as…
- strep throat
- pertussis
- ringworm
- chickenpox
- fifth disease
- lice
- COVID-19
MEDICATIONS IN SCHOOL
Parents/guardians and health care providers are responsible for prescribing student’s drugs, medications or home remedies. Medications should be administered at home under the supervision of the parent or guardian when possible. However, when students require administration of medications during the regular school day, the following procedures will be followed.
- Parent or Guardian Must Bring the Medication to School
- If the parent or guardian is unable to bring the medication to school, they should contact the school health office prior to sending the medication and also note the quantity of the medication being sent.
Health Care Provider Order for Medication or Medical Treatment and Parent/Guardian Authorization
Over-the-Counter Medicine Administration Request
EMERGENCY ACTION PLANS
Before medication (including over-the-counter, herbal or food supplements) is dispensed by school staff, the school health office must receive authorization from the student’s licensed health care provider and from the parent or guardian.
We accept original or faxed copies of a prescriber’s order on their order forms or letterhead. Parental permission may be added to the prescriber’s form. Authorization must include:
- Student name
- Date
- Name of medicine
- Dosage
- Time of day it is to be taken
- Duration of time it is to be taken
- Licensed health care provider signature
- Parent signature
For students with specific health concerns, the medication authorization can also be completed on an emergency care plan.
Medication authorizations are required at the start of each school year and automatically expire at the end of that school year. Students are allowed to carry their inhalers and EpiPens with health care provider and parent or guardian authorization.
Prescription Medications
Prescription medications must be supplied in the original prescription bottle and completely labeled with the date, student name, name of medication and dosage, name of prescribing health care provider, route of administration, clear directions for administration and medication expiration date.
Prescription medications brought to school in any other container will not be administered. No expired medications will be accepted. Questions regarding dosage and administration of the medications will be directed to the prescribing health care provider or the parent/guardian at the discretion of the health office staff. Medications will be administered only after any questions have been resolved.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Over-the-counter medications must be provided in the original labeled container. Over-the-counter medications will only be administered to students according to parent/guardian consent. This includes, but is not limited to, medications, vitamins, supplements, and topical treatments. With questions about specific over-the-counter medications and their use, contact your school’s health office.
Sharing of Medications Prohibited
Students may not share prescriptions or over-the-counter medications with other students. Appropriate disciplinary action may be taken, if necessary, upon the determination by the principal or his or her designee, after an investigation that a violation of this procedure has taken place.
Unused Medications
When the use of a medication has been discontinued or is no longer needed by the student, it is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to pick up unused medications from the school. Parents/guardians will receive a reminder that their student has medication left in the health office at the end of the year. If a parent/guardian does not pick up the medication or call the health office to make other arrangements for the medication to be sent home, unused medications will be disposed of by the district. Medications cannot be kept in the health office over the summer with the intent of using them the next school year.
Dispensing of Medication by School Personnel
When the Nurse is not available and medication must be given, the child’s teacher will assume this responsibility. The teacher will be trained in the correct method of medication administration.
When any type of medication is found in a student’s possession, the teacher will contact the school health office. If the student does not have a current order to self-carry the medication, the parent/guardian will be asked to come and pick it up. The school’s guidelines on medication will be explained.
Medication Changes or Termination
It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to notify the school when a medication changes or if the medication is discontinued. Any changes in dosing must come with a signature from the licensed health care provider.
Field Trips
Health Services staff do not routinely accompany students on field trips. Prior to leaving the building, health service staff, teachers, parents/guardians and students share the responsibility of communicating health issues that may need to be addressed while on the field trip.
If medication is needed during the time of the field trip, the child’s teacher will be designated to assume this responsibility after receiving appropriate medication administration instructions. The student’s parent/guardian may also choose to chaperone the field trip and dispense their child’s medication.