SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES  - 413 572-6544
Email Nurse LaPanne at jennifer.dubreuil-lapanne@schoolsofwestfield.org

Fort Meadow's nurse is an essential member of the educational team responsible for promoting, protecting and improving the health status of all students. The unique role of the school nurse is to provide professional health care by coordinating services between home, school and community. The school nurse assists in maximizing each child’s potential to learn and grow by providing the best possible health care. Health care provided includes: identifying health problems; preventative health measures; maintaining and promoting health and learning; promoting healthy lifestyles in students, families and staff; acute and emergency care; health counseling; mandated screenings; immunization monitoring and adherence to state regulations; medication administration and evaluation; comprehensive and appropriate health education to students, parents and staff; skilled nursing care and management of children with special health care needs; individual health care planning; school nurse and parent conferences; health input to special education meetings; review and interpretation of medical and health records. Our school nurse has the professional education and expertise to function successfully in the complex system of education and health.

PRESCHOOL HEALTH SCREENINGS

Vision screenings are preformed in accordance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regulations.  If screening results indicate the need for follow-up care by a physician, parents/guardian will be notified in writing.

STATE MANDATED PHYSICAL EXAMS
A physical examination within the last year is required by the student’s own physician upon entering Preschool.

IMMUNIZATIONS
All students must present evidence of immunizations in compliance with the requirements of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 15, which specifically prohibits admitting a student to school without a physician verifying that, unless religious or medical exemptions apply, the child has been immunized against Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus, Measles/Mumps/ Rubella, Polio, Hepatitis B, Varicella and Haemophilus Influenzae type B (HIB).  Every student is also required to have a lead level result provided to the nurse upon entering preschool.

MEDICATION POLICY
Westfield Public Schools policy requires that a parent/guardian and a licensed provider sign consent for medications to be given by the nurse during school hours. All medications must be brought to school by a parent/guardian or designated adult in the original labeled container from the pharmacy. No child is permitted to bring medications to school.  Call our school nurse for more information.

WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL

Please refer to the Westfield Public Schools website for more information.

https://www.schoolsofwestfield.org/page/health-services

STUDENT HEALTH RECORDS
An individual health record is kept on file for each student throughout his or her school career. This record includes immunizations, physical exams, screening results, health office visits and medication administration logs. Parents are asked to communicate directly with the school nurse about student health concerns, medical reports and/or issues.
INDIVIDUAL HEALTH CARE PLANS (IHCP)
When a student has a specialized medical need or diagnosis which must be assessed, managed, and monitored during school, such as asthma, a life threatening allergy, or diabetes, the nurse in collaboration with the parent will make an IHCP. This plan is based on the student’s individual need, medical history, and or physician’s orders. The IHCP is then reviewed and shared with appropriate staff to ensure optimal integration of the student’s health needs into the school setting. In some instances, an emergency medical plan is also developed to expedite identification and treatment of a student with a life-threatening diagnosis.

NURSE AS EDUCATOR
The school nurse teaches individual students, parents and staff about health and wellness issues and strives to promote an understanding of student health needs. She teaches children formal lessons on hand washing and trains staff on the use of standard precautions and  EpiPen Auto-Injectors