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Health Suite

Welcome to the Wilkins STEAM Academy Health Office Website.

The Certified School Nurse is:

Contact Information: 
Email:
Phone: 412.824.3231  x 2350
Fax: 

Pennsylvania School Immunization Requirements


Under 24 P.S. §13-1303a and 28 Pa. Code §§23.81–23.87, children in Pennsylvania are

required to have the following vaccines to attend school:

    • DTaP/Tdap: 4 doses (1 on or after 4th birthday)
    • Polio: 4 doses (final on or after 4th birthday and 6 months after previous dose)
    • MMR: 2 doses
    • Hepatitis B: 3 doses
    • Varicella: 2 doses or proof of immunity

    • 7th Grade Entry: 1 dose Tdap and 1 dose MCV4 (in addition to previous immunizations)
    • 12th Grade Entry: 1 additional MCV4 dose (unless 1st dose was after age 16)
 

Exemptions are permitted only for:

    • Medical reasons (doctor’s written statement)
    • Religious beliefs
    • Strong moral or ethical convictions similar to a religious belief (See 28 Pa. Code 23.84.)

 

Exclusion from School:

Students who are not fully immunized and do not have an approved exemption may not

attend school and will be excluded until documentation is provided. (See 28 Pa. Code 23.85.)

Uninsured students can obtain these shots for FREE at the Allegheny County Health Department  412-578-8062


References:

    • 24 P.S. §13-1303a – School Immunization Law
    • 28 Pa. Code Chapter 23, Subchapter C – School Immunization Regulations
    • Pennsylvania Department of Health – www.health.pa.gov


Screening Requirements


Height and Weight ‐ All grades 

Vision ‐ All grades 

Dental examination ‐ Grades K‐1, 3, and 7 

Scoliosis screening ‐ Grades 6, 7 

Physical examinations ‐ Grades K‐1, 6, 11 

Hearing ‐ Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 7, 11 


Medication Administration


In order for any prescribed medication to be administered to any student by the school nurse, there must be a written order from a licensed prescriber. This written permission will include: 

  • Name of child
  • Date of prescription
  • Name of medication
  • Dosage and route of administration 
  • Specific time, or special circumstances, in which the medication shall be administered
  • Specific length, period, or amount of medication prescribed 
  • Signature of the prescriber
 

In addition to the order, written consent from the parent/guardian is required which shall give permission for such administration and relieve the Board and its employees of liability for  administration of medication. 


All medications must be stored in the original container and will be kept in a locked cabinet in the Health office. 


Emergency medications may be carried by the student with MD documentation and written parent/guardian consent.


Metro Community Health Center


Health services provided:

Complete pediatric care, physical exams, and sports physicals

Immediate attention for injuries, allergies, and sudden illnesses

Urgent Care VisitsPrescriptions and medication managementImmunizations. 

Video conferencing for parents who are unable to attend visits

About Health Services

School nurses are responsible for emergency treatment of accidental injuries and assistance to students who become ill at school. They also conduct a the Pennsylvania State Mandated health examinations and screenings. Up-to-date health and immunization records are maintained for each child.

*****Immunization Requirements  *****

School Board Policy: (Please review)
Book: Policy Manual
Section: 200 Pupils
Title: Immunization

Code: 203

In order to safeguard the school community from the spread of certain communicable diseases and in recognition that prevention is a means of combating the spread of disease, the Board requires all students to be immunized against certain diseases in accordance with state statutes, unless specifically exempt for religious, moral or medical reasons.[1][2]

No student shall be admitted to a school within the district who has not been immunized against such diseases as are enumerated by the Advisory Health Board and in the manner directed by the Secretary of Health.[1][3][4][5][6]

Immunization Law requires the immunizations listed below.

All student in grades K-5 must have

  • 4 doses of tetanus ( 1 dose after the fourth birthday)
  • 4 doses of diphtheria (1 dose after the fourth birthday)
  • 3 doses of polio
  • 2 doses of measles
  • 2 doses of mumps
  • 1 dose of rubella
  • 3 doses of hepatitis B
  • 2 doses of Varicella or written statement from physician indicating the month and year of disease or serologic proof of immunity.
 

The Woodland Hills School District provides the following health examinations and screenings:

Dental examination - grades K-1, 3, and 7
Physical examinations - grades K-1, 6, 11
Hearing - grades K, 1, 2, 3, 7, 11
Height and weight - All grades
Vision - All grades
Scoliosis screening - grades 6, 7, 8
Body Mass Index (BMI)- for all grades

MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION 

Book: Policy Manual (Please review the current Policy)
Section: 200 Pupils
Title: Use of Medications

Code: 210

Before any medication may be administered to any student during school hours, the Board shall require the written order of the licensed prescriber, which shall include the purpose of the medication, the dosage and the time at which the medication shall be administered. A written request from the parent/guardian is required which shall give permission for such administration and relieve the Board and its employees of liability for administration of medication.[1][2]

In order for any prescribed medication to be administered to any student by the school nurse, there must be a written order from a licensed prescriber. This written permission will include:

  1. Name of child.

  2. Date of prescription.

  3. Name of medication.

  4. Dosage and route of administration.

  5. Specific time, or special circumstances, in which the medication shall be administered.

  6. Specific length, period, or amount of medication prescribed.

  7. Signature of the prescriber.

Emergency prescribed medications and specified over-the-counter medications may be administered according to the current standing orders of the school physician.

Medication will not be administered unless the prescription is properly labeled and the required permissions are obtained. Written orders and parent/guardian permission may be faxed to district locations. No e-mails may be accepted as permission.

Guidelines

Delivery of Medication to/From School

The School Board and/or district employees cannot be responsible for the transportation of medication to and from school. If a responsible adult cannot deliver the medication to school, the parent/guardian accepts responsibility of the student transporting medication to/from school.

Prescribed medication must be provided in a container appropriately labeled by the pharmacy or health provider. The label must include the student's name, medication name, dosage, time, and route of administration. Over-the-counter medication must be in the original manufacturer’s packaging with a readable label.

Medications not picked up within one (1) day of the end of the school year will be discarded and recorded.

All medication orders will expire at the end of each school year. For those medications that extend from one (1) school year to the next, a new order and parent/guardian permission must be provided for each new school year.

Keep Those Viruses at Home !

Please be mindful of cold and flu season. Sending a child to school if he/she has begun to show signs of illness can cause an infectious disease to spread rapidly throughout an entire classroom.

To minimize the occurrence of contagious diseases among our students, we are asking for your cooperation in observing the following guidelines.

Please keep your child home if he/she has any of these symptoms:

  1. FEVER - elevated temperature (above 100.8 F.)
    usually indicates the presence of an infection. Tylenol relieves the fever, but not the disease. Children should remain at home at least for twenty-four hours after a fever subsides.
  2. UNCONTROLLED COUGH
  3. PROFUSE SINUS AND NASAL CONGESTION
  4. NAUSEA AND/OR VOMITING - within 12 hours prior to school
  5. DIARRHEA - within 12 hours prior to school
  6. PAIN - sore throat, severe stomachache, headache or body aches.

Your time and effort will help create a healthier environment for our school community.

WORKING TOGETHER TOWARD A  HEALTHY AND SAFE SCHOOL YEAR!!!
 
Medical guidelines for the care of the following: