Medication Management At School

Millions of children take medications during the course of a year. Whether your child has an occasional need to take medications at school or has a chronic condition that is treated daily, you and your child's health care provider want to know that required medications are given to your child with the right dose, at the right time. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reminds us that medical errors are one of the leading causes of death and injury and that medication errors contribute to that toll. Parents are encouraged to take steps to reduce the likelihood of medication errors for their children. 1 Four questions will help you learn whether your school's policies are keeping pace with medically recommended practices.

[Download free checklist -- PDF format]

• Is there a locked cabinet where children's medications are stored?
  
  
• What staff members administer medications?
  
  
• What training have these individuals received - both in medication administration and in monitoring medication effects?
  
  
• How are medication errors tracked? What procedures are in place for revising procedures or training when that seems warranted?

Resources

The National Association of School Nurses has adopted a position paper that provides guidelines for safe medication administration at school. Medication Management in the School Setting. Revised 2003. www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=230

See also: J.G. Lear, Improving Safety and Quality in Medication Management in Schools. 2002. 
http://healthinschools.velir.com~/media/Files/Presentations%20PPTs/medmgmt.ashx

State Guidelines
A number of state health departments and state departments of education provide local school districts with recommended policies for school health programs. These compendia include guidance related to medication management. Here are guidelines from three states.

Report to the Minnesota Legislature.
Medication Dispensed in Schools Study. January 2002.
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fh/mch/schoolhealth/report/report4.html

Texas Department of Health.
The Texas Guide to School Health Programs. 2005.
www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/pgramguide.shtm

Virginia Department of Public Health.
Virginia School Health Guidelines, Chapter 3, School Health Services.
www.vahealth.org/schoolhealth/onlinepubs.htm#vshguidelines

Local Guidelines
Winooski, Vermont School District. Student Medication.
Policy #5142. 2000.
www.winooski.k12.vt.us/super/policies/policy5142.pdf

Footnote

1. US Department of Health and Human Services.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors in Children. Patient Fact Sheet. AHRQ Publication No. 020-PO34, September 2002.
www.ahrq.gov/consumer/20tipkid.htm