Policy & Program


School-Based Health Centers - Implementation Tools
Sample Formulary for Middle/Senior High School Based Health Center

Source: School Health Policy Initiative, Ingredients for Success, 1993 National Workgroup Meetings

The list of medications or categories of medications included in this formulary was derived from existing formularies in experienced school-based health centers. These are the prescription and over-the- counter medications most commonly stocked and dispensed in centers to insure satisfactory treatment of students' health problems. The problems for which the medications are most often prescribed are also listed. There are a variety of factors which have influenced the extent to which school-based health centers stock and dispense medications. These factors result in the variations and similarities seen among centers. The following is a list of some of these factors:

--Cost of medications

--Effectiveness of medications as treatment for a problem
--Compliance issues with adolescents
--Problems with a likelihood of being ignored, untreated or leading to more serious sequellae if untreated
--What problems are being most commonly seen
--Those problems which if treated can result in returning to class or avoiding a hospital emergency room visit
--Restrictions or limits on dispensing medication imposed by state pharmacy laws
--How best practice is currently defined
--Provider preference
--Special needs which may not be common across programs but which are unique to certain populations.

Antibiotics (sexually transmitted diseases, urinary tract infections, sinusitis, ear infections, skin infections, vaginal infections
  • Amoxicillin
  • Sulfamethoxazole
  • Metronidazole
  • Penicillin VK
  • Erythromycin
  • Doxycycline
  • Ceftriaxone Sodium
Bronchodialaters (asthma)
  • Ventolin solution and inhaler
  • Inhaled steroid
  • Epinepherine Sub Q
Decongestant and antihistamine (allergies and upper respiratory infections)
  • Pseudophedrine
  • Diphenhydramine
  • Chlorpheniramine
  • Decongestant nasal spray
Vaginal preparations(moniliainfections)
  • Miconazole cream, suppositories
  • Trconazole cream, suppositories
Analgesics/Antipyretics (dysmenorrhea, headaches, viral syndromes, sports injuries, accidental injuries, dental pain)
  • Naproxen sodium
  • Ibuprophen
  • Acetaminophen
  • Aspirin
Oto/ophthalmic(diagnosis of eye injury and conjunctivitis)
  • Fluro-J-Strips
  • Sodium sulamyd eye drops
Gastrointestinal preparations (gastritis, gastroententis)
  • Anti-acid , i.e. Maalox
  • Anti-diarrhea , i.e. Kaopectate
Dermatologics(minor skin infections, burns, wart removal, acne, eczema, lice, ringworm, and other fungal rashes)
  • Antifungal cream
  • Antibiotic ointment
  • Trichloro Acetic Acid 85%
  • Benzyl-peroxide gel
  • Hydrocortisone creams
  • Kwell lotion
  • Silvadine cream
  • Trenotin cream
Immunizations
  • Polio vaccine
  • Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine
  • Influenzavaccine
  • PPD
Other (vary according to populations seen, services provided, restrictions, etc.)
  • Emergency tackle box
  • Contraceptives
  • Pre-natal vitamins
  • Iron supplements
  • Anti-tuberculine drugs
  • Hepatitis vaccine
  • Steroids
  • Provera
  • pediatric vaccines
  • HIB
  • DPT