Confidential Health Lists

[kilbylake]

I began working in a new school district that has still been handing out typed Confidential Health Concerns lists to all teachers. My previous district had parents sign a permission form at registration to cover this. While I understand the need to know certain info, I'm reluctant to make up these lists and start passing them out. Any ideas, input??? Thanks much!

[bergren]

You are doing th right thing by not putting multiple studnet names on a lsit to be distributed, but ensure that persons who are in a position to assist a student with serious health issues are aware of:

1. How to recognize a problem

2. What to do about it.

I provided all teachers with an individual "care plan " for those symptoms and responses in the classroom. I ran that plan by the parent before sharing and asked who else should receive it. Parents inevitably wanted more people to have a copy than I would ahve thought of, very appropriately.

JOSN articles are online at http://www.nasn.org for members. See the following publications:

Schwab, N. C., Rubin, M., Maire, J. A., Gelfman, M. H. B, Bergren, M. D., Mazyck, D. & Hine, B. (2005). Protecting and disclosing student health information: Guidelines for developing school district policies and procedures. Kent, OH: ASHA. http://www.ashhaweb.org

Schwab, N. (2003). School nurses role in education privacy standards for student health records. National Association of School Nurses, http://www.nasn.org (free)

Bergren, M. D. (2005). Confidentiality and individual health care plans. In C. Silkworth, M. Arnold, J. Harrigan, & D. Zaiger (Eds.). Individualized healthcare plans and the school nurse. North Branch, MN: Sunrise River Press.

Bergren, M. D. (2004). Privacy questions from practicing school nurses: Answers from an expert. Journal of School Nursing, 20, 296 - 301

Bergren, M. D. (2004). HIPAA - FERPA revisited. Journal of School Nursing, 20(2), 107 - 112.

Bergren, M. D. (2001). HIPAA hoopla? Journal of School Nursing, 17, 336 - 340.

Cheung, O., Clements, B. & Pechman, E. (1997). Protecting the privacy of student records: Guidelines for educational agencies. NCES. http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=97527 (free)

National Forum on Education Statistics. (2004). Forum Guide to Protecting the Privacy of Student Information: State and Local Education Agencies, NCES 2004-330. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2004330 (free)

Schwab, N. & Pohlman, K. J. (2004). Records: The Achilles heel of school nurses. Answers to some bothersome questions. Journal of School Nursing, 20, 236 - 241.

Schwab N. & Gelfman, M. H. B. (2001). Legal issues in school health services: A resource for school nurses, administrators and attorneys. North Branch, MN: Sunrise River Press. available on Amazon.com for $51

[abrenrn]

Bergren - Thanks for all the information you provided. I will be starting as a school nurse next week - this wiill help a lot. I did school nursing several years ago in Florida (now in NYC) and we were expected to make up "Health needs awareness lists" - which always made me a bit uncomfortable but saw the need. BTW, in Florida I was the nurse for ten schools so didn't have too much time for some of what you recommended. Here I'll be assigned to one school.

Off topic, I hear the "no nit policiy" is no longer recommended by NASN (read it on their web site). Is that what they do in your school?