About Health Services

About Health Services

PHOENIXVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

We want to take this opportunity to tell you briefly about the Student Health Services offered in the Phoenixville Area School District. These services are organized and developed in accordance with the School Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Health Services is comprised of a team of Certified School Nurses, Health Room Nurses, a Physician Consultant and a Dental Consultant.  The overall purpose of the School Health Services is to help all children develop physically, mentally, and emotionally so that they may achieve to their full potential. If your child has special needs of any kind that may require accommodations at school, every effort will be made to accommodate the child with school program, and coordinate our effort with the wishes of the parents and physician whenever possible.

Care given in the school is limited to first aid in accidents and illness until the parent can be reached. Emergency forms are kept on file for each child and must  be updated as the need occurs. It is important for you to keep this information up-to-date with the school.

WHEN IT IS NECESSARY FOR MEDICATION (PRESCRIPTION AND/OR NON-PRESCRIPTION) TO BE GIVEN TO YOUR CHILD DURING SCHOOL HOURS, THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE MUST BE FOLLOWED:  
  1. A medication consent form (PH-17a) MUST be completed and returned to the school nurse (forms are available in nurse’s office).
  2. Medication prescribed by the family physician MUST be delivered by the parent to the school nurse (or teacher designated by the principal).
  3. Doctor’s written request AND directions on a professionally packaged medicine MUST accompany the medicine.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES PROHIBITS THE SCHOOL NURSE FROM ADMINISTERING THE MEDICATION TO YOUR CHILD.

School nurses work under written orders from the School Physician for first aid. School Nurses are prohibited by law to diagnose injuries or illnesses. Please do not send your child to the nurse for a diagnosis. We believe that decisions regarding the need for medical care rest finally with the parents; therefore, parents are always contacted to take the child home or to the doctor as the need arise. Transportation is the responsibility of the family.

Pennsylvania State mandated health screening(s) are held annually. During the growth screening your child is weighed and measured and their body mass index, (BMI) is calculated. Parents will receive notification from the school nurse when the results are obtained.

Additional Annual Health Screenings
  • Vision screenings are conducted in grades K-12
  • Hearing is tested in grades Kindergarten, 1, 2, 3, 7, and 11.
  • A scoliosis examination (an examination of the spine) is conducted in grades 6 and 7.
A report is sent home if any of the screenings are failed. This notification is sent home for parents to seek further medical attention.
  • A Dental examination is required upon original entry into school and grades 3 and 7.
  • A Physical examination is required upon original entry into school and in grades 6 and 11.
Parents may elect to have an abbreviated physical exam performed by the School District Physician Consultant and/or a dental exam performed by the Dental Consultant. This requires written permission from the parent/guardian.
           
All students in Pennsylvania must be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, varicella, measles, rubella and mumps. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania immunization requirements is as follows:
  • 4 doses of tetanus (1 dose on or after the 4th birthday)
  • 4 doses of diphtheria (1 dose on or after the 4th birthday)
  • 3 doses of hepatitis
  • 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or history of disease
  • 2 doses of measles, mumps, and rubella usually administered as MMR1, MMR2
Children entering 7th need the following:
  • 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, accellar pertussis (Tdap) if 5 years has elapsed since last tetanus immunization)
  • 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)
The only exceptions to the school laws for immunization are for medical reasons and religious beliefs. Please consult the Superintendent for further information regarding immunization exemption. An immunization certificate is on file in the nurse’s office. When a student transfers to another district, please request a copy of this record for registration at your new school.

Finally, we urge you to encourage your child to eat a balanced diet to ensure growth and development, get plenty of rest and to practice good health habits that contribute to a sense of well being. When a student shows signs of illness, he/she should remain at home. Any new medical update regarding your child’s health should be reported to the School Nurse. The school requires parents to report all absences to the office. A physician’s note is required for readmission following an absence of three days or greater. A physician’s note is also required if a child is absent due to a communicable disease.
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