AR 5141.21
Students
Administering Medication
and Monitoring Health Conditions
Definitions
Other designated school personnel may include any
individual employed by the district who has consented to administer the medication
or otherwise assist the student, and who may legally administer the
medication. (5 CCR 601)
Medication may include not only a substance dispensed
in the
Notifications to Parents/Guardians
At the beginning of each school year, the
Superintendent or designee shall notify parents/guardians that students who
need to take prescribed medication during the school day may be assisted by
designated school personnel or allowed to self-administer certain medication as
long as the district receives written statements from the student’s physician
and parent/guardian in accordance with law, Board policy and administrative
regulation. (Education
The Superintendent or designee shall inform the
parents/guardians of any student on a continuing medication regimen for a
nonepisodic condition of the following requirements: (Education Code 49480)
1. The
parent/guardian is required to inform the designated employee of the medication
being taken, the current dosage and the name of the supervising physician.
2. With
the parent/guardian’s consent, the designated employee may communicate with the
student’ physician regarding the medication and
its effects, and may counsel school personnel regarding the possible effects of
the medication on the student’s physical, intellectual and social behavior, as well as possible behavioral signs
and symptoms of adverse side effects, omission or overdose.
Parent/Guardian Responsibilities
Before a designated employee administers or assists
in the administration of any prescribed medication to any student or any
student is allowed to carry and self-administer prescription inhaled asthma
medication during school hours, the district shall have a written statement
from the student's physician and a written statement from the
student's parent/guardian (Education Code 49423, 49423.1; 5
CCR 600)
The physician’s written statement shall clearly:
1. Identify
the student
2. Identify
the medication
3. Specify
the method, amount and time schedules by which the medication is to be taken
4. Contain
the name, address, telephone number and signature of the physician.
5. If a
parent/guardian has requested that his/her child be allowed to self-administer
prescription auto-injectable epinephrine or
prescription inhaled asthma
medication, confirm that the student is able to self-administer the medication.
The parent/guardian's written statement shall:
1. Identify
the student
2. Grant
permission for the authorized district representative to communicate directly
with the student's authorized health care provider, as may be necessary, regarding the health care provider's
written statement or any other question about the medication
3. Contain
an acknowledgment that the parent/guardian understands how district employees
will administer or otherwise assist the student in the administration of medication
4. Contain
an acknowledgment that the parent/guardian understands his/her responsibilities
to enable district employees to administer or otherwise
assist the student in the administration
of medication including, but not limited to, the parent/guardian's
responsibility to provide a written
statement from the authorized health care provider and to ensure that the
medication is delivered to the school in a proper
container by an individual legally authorized to be in possession of the
medication
5. Contain
an acknowledgment that the parent/guardian may terminate consent for such
administration at any time
If a parent/guardian has requested that his/her child
be allowed to carry and self-administer prescription auto-injectable
epinephrine or prescription inhaled asthma medication, the parent/guardian’s
written statement shall also: (Education Code 49423, 49423.1)
1. Consent
to the self-administration
2. Release
the district and school personnel from civil liability if a student suffers an
adverse reaction as a result of self-administering the medication
The parent/guardian shall annually provide the
Superintendent or designee a new written statement from himself/herself and the
student’s physician. In addition, the
parent/guardian shall provide a new physician statement if the medication,
dosage, frequency of administration or reason for administration changes. (Education Code 49423, 49423.1)
Parents/guardians shall provide medications in a
properly labeled, original container along with the physician's
instructions. For prescribed medication,
the container shall bear the name and telephone number of the pharmacy, the
student's identification, name and phone number of the physician, and
physician's instructions. Medications
that are not in their original container shall not be accepted or administered. Medications shall be delivered to the school
by the parent/guardian, unless the Superintendent or designee authorizes
another method of delivery.
The parent/guardian of a student on a continuing
medication regimen for a nonepisodic condition shall inform the school nurse or
other designated certificated employee of the medication being taken, the
current dosage and the name of the supervising physician.
A parent/guardian may designate an individual who is
not an employee of the district to administer medication to his/her child as
long as the individual is clearly identified, willing to accept the
designation, permitted to be on the school site, and any limitations on the
individual's authority are clearly established. The parent/guardian shall
provide a written statement designating the individual and containing the information
required above.
Designated Employee/District Responsibilities
The designated employee shall:
1. Administer
or assist in administering the medication in accordance with the physician’s written
statement
2. Accept
delivery of medication from the student's parent/guardian, including counting
and recording the medication upon receipt
3. Maintain
a list of students needing medication during the school day, including the type
of medication, times and dosage, as well as a list of students who are authorized to self-administer
medication
4. Maintain
a medication log documenting the administration of medication including the
student's name; name of medication the student is required to take; dose of medication; method by which the student is
required to take the medication; time the medication is to be taken during the regular school day; date(s) on
which the student is required to take the medication; authorized health care
provider's name and contact
information; and a space for daily recording of medication administration
The
daily record shall contain the date, time, amount of medication administered
and signature of the individual administering the medication.
5. Maintain
a medication record including the authorized health care provider's written statement, the parent/guardian's
written statement, the
medication log, and any other written documentation related to the
administration of medication to the student
6. Ensure
that student confidentiality is appropriately maintained
7. Coordinate
the administration of medication during field trips and after-school activities
8. Report
any refusal of a student to take his/her medication to the parent/guardian
9. Keep
all medication to be administered by the district in a locked drawer or
cabinet
10. Communicate
with the authorized health care provider regarding the medication and its
effects
11. Counsel
school personnel regarding the possible effects of the medication on the
student's physical, intellectual and social behavior, as well as possible behavioral signs and symptoms of adverse side effects,
omission or overdose.
12. By the
end of the school year, ensure that unused, discontinued
and outdated medication is returned to the student's parent/guardian where possible or, if the medication cannot
be returned, is disposed of in accordance with state laws and local ordinances.
Adopted:
Revised: