[Jeanine]

Can anyone tell me how they share the names of students with medical problems (asthma, diabetes, allergies, cardiac hx, etc...) with the teachers? I'm in middle school so the kids have up to 6 different teachers (plus any cafe staff, etc). I used to send a list stamped "confidential" to all of the teachers and necessary support staff. With the FERPA and new HIPPA regulations, I'm thinking that I should not distribute these lists anymore. We did send out a district wide letter of consent, asking for the parent's permission to share necessary medical information with the staff. If I get permission, am I covered? Please, let me know how your district shares this information!!

[bergren]

I have heard many people meet with teachers, asking them to come by the health office, making packets for teachers with only one student per sheet.

If you don't have it already, I recommend:

National Task Force on Confidential Student Health Information. (2000). Guidelines for protecting confidential student health information. Kent OH: American School Health Association. www.ashhaweb.org

Other resources:

InFocus (2003, January 13). The other health privacy law: What FERPA requires for schools. http://www.healthinschools.org/focus/2003/no1.htm

Bergren, M. D. (2003). National Conference on HIPAA Privacy Rule, NASNewsletter, 18 (4), 20 – 22. www.nasn.org

Bergren, M. D. (2001). The facts about email. Journal of School Nursing, 17(5), 274-277.

Bergren, M. D. (2001). The facts about faxing. Journal of School Nursing, 17(4), 210 – 212.

Bergren, M. D. (2001). HIPAA hoopla: Privacy and security of identifiable health information. Journal of School Nursing, 17(6), 336 - 341.

Bergren, M. D. (1999). Legal issues: Office management practices. Journal of School Nursing, 15(3), 40 - 41.

Schwab & Gelfman (2001). Legal issues in school health services: A resource for school nurses, administrators and attorneys. North Branch, MN: Sunrise River Press.

Inquiry and Analysis. www.nsba.org/cosa

Levin, M. & Lally, P. (2003, January). What to do if the HIPAA Beast is at your door, 1- 4.

Levin, M. & Lally, P. (2003, December). Is the HIPAA Beast coming to your school district, 1- 4.

[Suezq]

The only information I can give a teacher or a group of teachers, is what the parent gives me written permission to tell. When a parent tells me somthing about their child, I usually ask if they would like their childs teachers to be aware of the concern.
I remind my teachers to treat all children as if they have an allergy or an illness. I let them know that they are free to send a child down for me to see at any time there is a concern. It works pretty well.
Ocasionally I get hassled by a teacher who thinks they have the right to know all the students medical history. I usually just tell them, "Confidentiality" is the word of the day and they usually back down a bit.

[Josie K]

This is the same old problem since I was a SN many moons ago before managing the service, and moving on.
In the UK we progressed to a 'School Life' consent form signed by the childs parent prior to first day school entry. We sent a standard reminder to school principles at the beginning of each term, with a flyer posted in the teachers staff room re- 'The Nurse Code of Conduct' highlighting the confidentality clause and reminding staff to contact parents regarding medical/health info needs.
We also took the view that information would be shared on a 'needs to know' basis only. eg based on risk and safety.
If a child is diabetic, epileptic, or asthmatic, or has a life threatening illness, and is receiving any service, (education) in this case, then the service provider (teacher) has a right to know.
Where difficulties existed due to frequent class / school changes the nurse made the parent aware of their responsibility to inform relevant others, and kept the letter copy in the childs record.
In a cuple of schools older pupils designed and wrote their own 'pupil held' medical record to share with whom they wished and this turned out to be a valuable health ed programme.