Health Office Information for Staff
Resources for common situations *updated 04.26.24
New Field Trip Protocol
We now have electronic field trip request forms that automatically notify everyone who is involved in the trip. Please be sure to choose the correct form.
What is going on with all of the health office staff members?
You may have noticed that we've enhanced our health office staff to more effectively address our students' diverse and significant health needs. If you have any questions or would like further information about these updates, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.
Cailey McLain has recently completed her orientation as a fill-in school nurse. She will step in as a fully trained health office staff member in the event of health office staff absences or during times of temporary increased health needs. This ensures compliance with legal requirements mandating the presence of a registered nurse at all times. Some of you may recall when I fulfilled this role, and I am confident in Cailey's ability to uphold these standards with her availability, willingness, and credentials.
Stefanie will continue her role as the primary RN at AFE, while Mandy will resume her original responsibilities of circulating through the district..
Our district is legally obligated to adhere to physician orders for care, and we serve a considerable population of students with significant health needs. In fact, our district's statistics indicate that we are well above average in terms of student health conditions. I appreciate your dedication as educators, and I am grateful for the adjustments made to accommodate these student health needs with dedicated health office staff members.
For your consideration, here are some key statistics for the current school year:
4,088 recorded office visits thus far in the 23-24 school year *please note- the majority of these visits were documented at AFE, a building with dedicated health office staff. Most likely there are many more health related office visits in buildings without a dedicated health office staff that have not been recorded.
30% of our student population has an active health condition
3.7% of our student population has a life-threatening health condition
We are managing 309 documented medications across the district
If you have any questions or concerns, or if you'd like to discuss the details of our student health services, feel free to contact me. We aim for clear and transparent communication while ensuring the privacy of student health information.
Some health office FAQ answers
Teachers are not required to send students to the nurse's office unless they deem it necessary. The exception to this rule is for students with healthcare plans that grant them constant access to health office personnel. Identifying students who visit the health office to skip class can be challenging. Please inform us if you suspect this is happening. Your suggestions for how we can improve are always welcome. For instance, we were unaware of instances where students misused their ice bags until it was mentioned. Once informed, we're ready to modify our procedures to better support classroom needs.
The email address AFASDnurse@afasd.net will reach all of us in the health offices if you are unsure of who to contact and extension 1111 goes to my cell so you will catch me wherever I am.
Previously Shared Info for Reference:
Mandatory 5 day isolation is no longer required per the CDC
Spotlight on: Head Lice
Please familiarize yourself with the following guidelines to ensure a coordinated and informed response when head lice are detected in the school environment.
Guidelines for Managing Head Lice:
Remain Calm and Supportive:
Avoid panic or stigmatization. Head lice are a common occurrence and do not reflect personal hygiene or cleanliness.
Contact Parents Privately:
If head lice are identified, discreetly contact parents via SeeSaw or telephone.
In-Class Stay:
Students with head lice may stay in the classroom until they can be picked up or until the end of the day. Automatic dismissal is not necessary unless there is a significant infestation.
Health Office Assistance:
Limited Lice Treatments:
The health office has a limited supply of lice treatments available for families unable to purchase treatment.
Checking Assistance:
The health office is available to assist with head lice checks whenever possible and health office staff is available.
Treatment Options:
In some cases, the health office may provide lice treatment. However, this process requires parent consent and is time-consuming. This option should only be used if parents are unable to treat their child at home and the infestation persists.
Student Services Team Support:
Families dealing with persistent infestations or lacking resources to treat their child can contact the student services team for additional support.
Remember:
- Maintain Confidentiality: Handle information regarding head lice cases discreetly and professionally.
- Promote Understanding: Educate students and staff that head lice are not a result of poor hygiene.
- Collaborative Effort: Work together to create a supportive environment for affected students.
Employee Health
Health services are available 24/7 to school employees. Teledoc, EAP, UMR's nurse call line (only for staff with school insurance), and EMC are four of the assistance programs provided to us by the district.
You can use Teladoc: When your primary care physician is not available. (Teladoc physicians do not replace your primary care physician.)
For non-emergency medical issues, questions or concerns
When you need a prescription refill (short-term, limited refills only)
When you are traveling and need medical care
Teledoc offers phone or video visits.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)- Health and Well-being
Call 866.451.5465 or go online: www.niseap.com Login: NISEAP | Password: EAP
Services include: mental health care, addiction support, health topics, and more.
UMR NurseLine
Call 877-950-5083 or chat live on umr.com
A call to UMR’s NurseLine service will connect you to a team of registered nurses who can answer your questions and provide advice.
Your nurse can help you choose the right health care setting for an illness or injury, or offer information about common health issues or symptoms.
EMC OnCall Nurse
Call 24-Hour Claim Reporting: 888-362-2255
A 24/7 work-injury nurse hotline that allows injured workers and their supervisors to immediately speak with a registered nurse and receive guidance on the appropriate level of medical care.
Call 911 if the injury is life threatening. If life threatening, report the injury to your supervisor and call the EMC reporting line.
Please understand that those of us in the health office would love to be able to offer these supports but we legally cannot diagnose or treat. Asking us for treatment recommendations puts us in a very tough spot. We cannot be the ones deciding if you go home or see a doctor. Please use these resources when you have questions about your health and your primary care doctor is unavailable.
Medication in school forms
Prescription medication (anything you can only get from a pharmacy) must have this form filled out and signed by the student's parent AND their doctor.
Inhalers require this form to be filled out and signed by the student's parent AND their doctor.
Epi Pens require this form to be filled out and signed by the student's parent AND their doctor.
Non-prescription medication (anything you can buy without a prescription) must have this form filled out.
Dietary requests legally cannot be accomdated without this form completed
Health office items
Blankets- clean throw blankets are always appreciated. It is really nice to be able to send sick students home with the blanket they used in the health office. That extra bit of comfort goes a long way, especially in homes where blankets are in short supply.
Reusable ice packs- the ice packs from meal delivery kits work well for older students and sporting events.
Warm packs- we warm up rice packs and give them to students with tummy aches, ear aches, etc.
Ipsy bags or other small pouches- we use these to make period product kits for students.
Tricia McLain, RN
AFASD Nurse
mclain_t@afasd.net
Stefanie Seckinger
AFASD Nurse
Mandy Schwabe
AFASD Health Office Assistant
All health office staff receives emails sent to AFASDnurse@afasd.net