info for parents

I've been doing this and I find it very helpful. It saves time and energy to write health teachings and gives you more time to write findings/Remarks on the clinic memo. Plus it somehow ensure continuity of care at home. The information must be in layman term and simple (I've noticed that parents tend to avoid reading long materials). I've outlined my usual cases and came up with a general health teaching for it. For occasional cases such as 3 kids having gastroenteritis we send out a letter to all parents. (We don't include confidential matters. We just write "A case of Gastroenteritis has been confirmed in the upper school"). Then a short description of the disease, signs and symptoms, Mode of transmission, School policy (when to return to school), When to seek medical advice, prevention, lifestyle/home remedies, and our clinic number is given.

I personally like getting information from mayoclinic.com. For example,Head trauma. (Aside from calling the parent I would send the following)

Most head trauma involves injuries that are minor and don't require hospitalization. However, seek medical assistance if any of the following signs or symptoms are apparent:

• Severe head or facial bleeding
  
• Bleeding from the nose or ears
  
• Severe headache
  
• Change in level of consciousness for more than a few seconds
  
• Black-and-blue discoloration below the eyes or behind the ears
  
• Cessation of breathing
  
• Confusion
  
• Loss of balance
  
• Weakness or an inability to use an arm or leg
  
• Unequal pupil size
  
• Repeated vomiting
  
• Slurred speech
  
• Seizures
  

Btw. I don't give everyone a leaflet (especially my frequent flyers). I would first assess them if they really need it. I would also divide the page into four leaflet and use the back part if the health teaching covers more details. I'm doing this not because I am maximizing the school's resources but rather because I don't want to contribute to pollution.:monkeydance:

Hi,

Thanks!! Will make a thorough research about this!! I think it will help a lot!!

Btw, my memos seems to make the parents of the frequent flyers aware of their 'hobbies', and agfter receiving a few memos from me, they stopped coming!!

We actually keep a Comprehensive Health Services Plan notebook in all the health offices. Included in it are a lot of Communicable Diseases from chicken pox to scabies to the common cold etc. which describe on each page the incubation period, mode(s) of transmission, school attendance with regards to stated condition, follow ups and period of communicability. Then we also have a section of just forms which include physician referral, head injury letter, head lice letter etc........i have found it very helpful......bc when I come across said situation I just print the info off and send it home with parent!