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STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES Student Health Services (SHS) provides health care for students while in attendance at Sir James Whitney School. Medical attention and care are given for acute or urgent health problems. All medications, prescription and over-the-counter, are administered under the supervision of the nursing staff. Students whose conditions are long-term are urged to continue to be monitored by their family physician. Vacation time, holidays and professional development days can be used for this purpose. We encourage the family doctor to remain the student=s primary medical professional. The school doctor and nursing staff act as an additional support for the student. Since our students spend a great deal of time away from home, it is advised that all students are seen annually by their family doctor. The nursing staff is experienced and skilled in assessment of health status, nursing treatments and care, and medication administration. Opportunities for health teaching are used to promote the students= understanding of their own bodies and their responsibilities for achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Medical Staff/Services The Student Health Services Department is staffed by registered nurses who work under the direction of the school physician. The school physician visits the Health Centre weekly and is available for consultation when needed. Interpretive services are available to facilitate doctor/patient communication if the student chooses. When a student is referred to a specialist, parents are contacted and options discussed. It is preferable, when possible, that parents accompany the student on visits to specialists, in order to provide background history and to be part of the decision-making regarding the plan for treatment. A psychiatrist, specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry, provides consultative services on special referral, to students in need of such interventions. Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) services are provided by a local ENT specialist (otolaryngologist). Students experiencing ENT problems may be referred by the school doctor, nurse or audiologist. Dental care is offered in emergency situations only. Physiotherapy and occupational therapy services are provided as needed. Annual tuberculosis tests (TB) are strongly encouraged, especially for residential students. It is suggested that parents arrange an eye examination, by an ophthalmologist every 2-3 years. For our deaf students, we recommend that parents request the student=s eye doctor to check for Usher=s syndrome, a condition that occurs in a small percentage of congenitally deaf children. Health Centre The Student Health Centre is located in the Resource Department. A nurse is available from 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. on Sundays, 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and until 4:00 p.m. on Fridays. While a nurse is not available overnight from 11:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m., residential staff has been trained and issued guidelines for emergency medical care overnight. This may involve the student being seen at the Quinte Healthcare Corp. (Belleville General Hospital) Emergency Department. The Student Health Centre remains open when students are admitted as in-patients. Presently there are a limited number of in-patient beds available in the Centre. These beds are used for students most in need of close/constant supervision or isolation from other students. Generally, students who are sick are assessed by the nurse, and return to their bed in residence to rest and recuperate, under the supervision of residential staff. The nurse maintains close contact with the counsellors in order to monitor the student=s progress. Residence staff is provided with written guidelines for care based on the nursing assessment. In some cases, a student would benefit most by returning to their home when they are ill. Parents are contacted and arrangements are made for the student to return home.
Communications Student Health Services welcome contact from parents, because any information is helpful and necessary in providing health care. Be assured that every effort is made to contact parents in emergency situations. When problems occur that necessitate a visit to Belleville General Hospital Emergency Department, parents are notified as quickly as possible. The student is always accompanied by a staff member and interpretive services are provided when requested. When Medical treatment is recommended, parents are contacted by telephone or TTY/TDD. One of our goals is to ensure that parents and the students themselves are involved (as much as possible/appropriate) in the decision-making regarding treatment and care. It is therefore extremely important that Student Health Services (SHS) be aware of any and all medications and treatments that a student is taking. This information is necessary when assessing health status and is, as with all medical information, considered confidential. It is important that SHS be notified of any changes in home or work phone numbers.
Ontario Health Cards Because of recent requirements that Ontario Health cards must be presented when accessing physician services and/or emergency treatment, we ask that residential students travel with their health card. The card can be accessed, if needed, while the student is at school or in transit to and from school. It is suggested that the card be secured to the student=s luggage. For day students, parents may wish to keep their child=s card at home, in which cases it can be accessed quickly when needed. Responsible senior students may wish to carry their cards in their wallet. Please indicate on the SHS update forms, exactly where your child=s Ontario Health Card is kept.
Medications All medications, prescription or over-the-counter, are to be kept in the Health Centre and dispensed by the nurse. This practice ensures that medications are taken correctly, prevents students from sharing medications with others, and prevents students from under or over medicating themselves. When a student brings medication to school, parents are asked to contact SHS. This communication ensures continuation of treatment. Any medication that is sent from home must be labelled correctly and legibly with a student name, the name of medication, dosage and times of administration. Senior students who have demonstrated responsible behaviour, and who have access to a locked cupboard in their room, may request permission to keep their medications in residence. Requests for this privilege must be directed to the nursing and residential staff. A Medication Contract will be used, with agreement by staff and parents, and signed by the student. Students who have asthma and must carry an inhaler are permitted to carry their inhaler with them at all times, so it is accessible in an emergency.
Payment for Medication Ordered at School Parents are billed directly by a local pharmacy (Geen=s) for medications ordered while at school. Please complete and sign the APayment of Medication Information@ form that indicates parents= responsibility to pay for medications that are obtained locally. The billing information required may include private medical coverage, Ontario Drug Benefit Cards or Indian Status Cards. Ensure this information is complete, and returned it to the SHS upon your child=s return to school. ** Without this information in place we are unable to obtain medication(s) for your child.**
Consents/Information Forms/Immunization Record
NEW ADMISSIONS to the school are required to present the following forms, completed with parent/guardian=s signature and date, prior to or upon admission:
A) Health Services B) Authorization for Medical Treatment and C) To Share Medical Information
*If your child has special medical needs, please forward pertinent information and medical records at least two weeks prior to school beginning. *
RETURNING STUDENTS are required to present the following form prior to or upon return to school:
A) Health Services B) Authorization for Medical Treatment and C) To Share Medical Information
Please feel free to contact our nursing staff with any questions or concerns that you may have regarding the health care of your child. Our nursing staff can be reached at 613-967-2823, extension 281 or 283 (Voice or TTY/TDD), or 1-800-501-6240 extension 281. Fax 1(613)967-2880
Nancy Sage Reg.N. Nurse Supervisor
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The Sir James Whitney School
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