Donating Albuterol to Schools?

[schoolnurse16]

Hello!

Last week I went to a nursing conference where a pediatric pulmonologist spoke. He said he would be willing to write scripts to whomever asked (this was a school nurse conference) so schools can get stock albuterol and stock epi. Great! Now, how do I go about getting them filled? I know you can go to the epi4schools website and get free epi; how about the albuterol? Has anyone had any luck getting any pharmacies to donate it?

Thank you!

[ohiobobcat]

I pay for the stock albuterol out of my nursing budget. I think it was $60 this year? Somewhere between $50-60 anyways. Not too horrible and worth it for my peace of mind.

Call ahead to the pharmacy, the albuterol had to be filled in my name (but obviously not submitted to my insurance) my first year, but they have since switched it and it can be filled under my school's name now. Different pharmacies may have different prices.

HOWEVER, do you have an order for said medication? I have a school physician who writes standing orders and we have signed protocols to administer both Epi-pens and stock abuterol inhalers. I would make darn sure I had that in place before I even filled those prescriptions.

[schoolnurse16]

Thanks for your response!

I did not think about having standing orders for the administration of these. How do schools do it that do not have a school physician?

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

Thanks for your response!

I did not think about having standing orders for the administration of these. How do schools do it that do not have a school physician?

Try your health department, they may have physicians available for that. I am in a private, the neighboring county had protocols they were willing to let me use. I edited them to delete the medical directors names and had a father of a student who happened to be a health dept. MD sign off on them. He said he has been asked by other privates in the area to sign orders and would recommend the protocols.

[schoolnurse16]

Thank you!