Health
Services
Links to Important Health Documents
The Health Services Department/Nurses’ Office is located in the lower level of the Field House building. Nurses are available for student and parent contacts on school days from 7:00-2:15. Parking for student pickup is located on the left side, near the back of the building just outside the foyer leading to the Health Services Dept. (437-5218).
Messages may be left for Health Services Staff on voicemail by dialing 437-5200 x 2118
Immunization Clinic –Immunization clinics will continue through the Derry Public Health Dept. at the Derry Municipal Center. Please consult the Town of Derry website or call 845-5519 for information and to pre-register. Pre-registration IS REQUIRED. (Note: Varicella vaccine MAY NOT be available at these clinics. Meningitis vaccine and HPV vaccine are limited. Td, Tdap, IPV, Hep A, & Hep B are also available.)
Emergency Forms – Emergency Forms are distributed at the beginning of each school year and are crucial to the safety and welfare of the students. Please provide as much contact information as possible so that you or a designee can be contacted in case of emergency. As the year progresses, if there are changes in work, cell, pager, or home numbers or e-mail addresses, please inform the nursing staff ASAP (437-5218). Click here for printable copy of the form. Please return completed form to PA Health Office.
** Note: the section at the bottom of the form permits parents to provide permission for the administration of acetaminophen (generic for Tylenol) and ibuprofen (generic for Advil, Motrin, etc.). These OTC medications are available in Health Services. Written permission is required annually for acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen. Please be sure to indicate "One or Two" as appropriate for your student.
Health Information Updates – If there are any significant health issues, surgeries, accidents, injuries, hospitalizations, emotional issues, medication additions or changes, etc. that occur during the year. Please inform the nursing staff directly so that appropriate measures can be taken as quickly as possible, should an emergency arise.
Medications – All medication that is to be taken at school must be brought to Health Services. The following are required:
- Non-prescribed medication must be brought to Health Services in the original container and must be accompanied by a permission note from the parent. Acetaminophen (generic for Tylenol) and ibuprofen (generic for Advil, Motrin, etc.) are available in Health Services but also require written parental permission (see Emergency Forms Note above).
· Prescribed medication must be accompanied by a parental note PLUS a note from a doctor and must be brought in the pharmacy labeled bottle. (Most pharmacists will provide a bottle for home and another for school if requested.)
· Only a 30 day supply of a prescribed medication may be accepted by the nursing staff at any time.
· All controlled substances, including methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Ritadex, Metadate, Focalin, etc.), Dexedrine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), Tylenol with codeine, etc., must be brought in by a parent.
· Taking a narcotic pain relief medication is NOT recommended at school for safety reasons due to their potential for causing dizziness, drowsiness, etc. If the student is experiencing pain that is so severe that a narcotic pain reliever is needed, it is probably unwise for the student to be in school. If the student is unable to be in school due to severe pain, a note from their provider to excuse days should be obtained.
· No "stock" medication of any type will be dispensed by any other member of the school staff, as directed in RSA 541‑A. This includes aspirin and other non‑prescribed medication
· All medication notes must be renewed annually.
· Any medications not picked up prior to the last day of final exams in June will be destroyed. No medications are stored over the summer.
NOTE: Students with severe, potentially life-threatening allergies may be permitted to carry Emergency medications such as inhalers and Epipens. Written authorizations from the parent and physician must be provided and must specifically request that the student be permitted to carry the medication. The student will then be provided with a pink card authorizing the student to carry the Emergency medication. This must also be renewed annually.
ADDITIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY INFORMATION
The nursing staff is available to provide emergency care, maintain facilities and records, coordinate health services, and promote student education in health, safety and other related areas. First Aid will be administered at the office (or at the scene, if moving the victim appears inadvisable), by the nurse, with the intent of protecting life and providing comfort until authorized treatment can be secured. Students are then placed under the care of their parents/guardians upon whom rests the responsibility for subsequent care.
Parent (or other designated adult) notification will be made as soon as possible in case of emergency. A reasonable attempt will be made to advise a parent of other situations that may indicate a need for follow‑up. Physician contact will be made when appropriate if indicated on the Emergency Form. Injuries that occur at home are the responsibility of parents/guardians.
If, in the judgment of the nursing staff, the condition of a student to be excused due to illness, injury, or other emergency is such that permitting the student to walk or drive home would be imprudent, the nurse may delay excusing that student until a parent or appropriate escort is available.
Accidents/Injuries – All accidents, illnesses, or emergencies should be immediately reported to the nearest staff member and to the nursing staff.
Confidentiality –All medical information shared between students and certified health care providers is private and is treated confidentially within the limits of the law. Protecting the confidentially of health care for students serves important interests. By respecting their need for privacy, students are encouraged to develop relationships of trust with their health care providers and to be candid about their health histories and risk behaviors. The Health Services staff strongly encourages students to communicate with parents. Confidential information will be released in life-threatening circumstances and when legally necessary as required by law or in litigated matters. Whenever possible, students and/or parents will be notified before confidential information is released.
Emergency Transportation – In case of emergency, the school nurse and/or administrator at the scene will decide if ambulance transport is appropriate. Please be aware of the following policy of the Derry Ambulance Service:
- Preferences are limited to Derry, Manchester, Nashua, Methuen and Lowell.
- All life‑threatening situations will be transported to Parkland Medical Center. Transport to another facility can usually be arranged after stabilization. If there is a serious health problem that cannot be treated at a local health facility (or that can only be treated at a specific out‑of‑town facility), please make this known, in writing, to the Pinkerton Academy Health Office. The Academy, will, in turn, make every effort to inform responding emergency personnel of these exceptional circumstances.
- Preferences (limited to the above) will be honored provided back‑up ambulance service is available at the time.
Exclusions –A student may be excluded from school by an administrator if there is reason to believe that there is serious risk to the student’s health, life, safety, or well-being, or by a school nurse if the hazard is specifically health related. The student may be required to remain out of school until evaluated and approved to return by a licensed medical provider. Students whose immunizations are not updated will be excluded from school until they are in compliance with NH imm. laws.
Excusals – for minor illnesses are considered as part of the 5‑day per quarter policy. A "medical excuse" will be considered for students dismissed due to high fevers, situations where contagion is questioned and for other circumstances where it was "inadvisable or impossible" for the student to remain in school.
HIV/AIDS Policy Statement – The Pinkerton Academy policy on HIV/AIDS adopted by the Pinkerton Academy Board of Trustees on April 9, 1992 (revised 2003) is available in the Health Services links.
Immunizations – In conjunction with RSA 141‑C:20 and its recent amendments, no students will be enrolled at Pinkerton Academy without an immunization record that is in compliance with said laws. Students are required to update their tetanus immunizations every 10 years. Verification must be provided to the nursing staff.
Parent Trips/Absences – If a student will be attending school, but the parent(s) or guardian(s) will be away on a vacation, business trip, etc., even for only a day or two, it is essential that the school receive a note (preferably notarized) indicating the student's name, birth date, the inclusive dates, the adult who will be responsible, and that person's phone numbers. This is crucial in the event of an accident, illness, injury, need for dismissal from school, care and treatment, etc. The signed and dated note should be forwarded to the nurse's office with a copy to the attendance office prior to the period of the parent/guardian's absence. Notarization is normally available in the Pinkerton attendance office.
Passes Required – Except in cases of emergency, students must report to the Health Office with a pass from a teacher or other staff member.
Responsibility/Self Care – Students are encouraged to accept responsibility for their own health; prevention of illness and accidents, communicable disease control, good nutrition, appropriate attendance, etc. Proper hand-washing is the single most important means of interrupting the transmission of communicable diseases and reducing the incidence of colds, flu, and other viral and bacterial infections, including some forms of meningitis and hepatitis. Sharing cups, lip balm, etc. should also be avoided.
RSA 169‑C – Consistent with the spirit of the 1979 Child Protection Act, Pinkerton Academy maintains a policy for referring to the Bureau of Child and Family Services of the New Hampshire Division of Welfare suspected cases of child abuse and neglect. The Academy will refer suspected cases, as is required by law.
Wheelchair – In the event a student is confined to a wheelchair at any time, the parent/ guardian must contact the student’s Guidance Counselor or Case Coordinator prior to the student arriving at school. The parent/guardian will need to provide medical documentation verifying the need and approximate length of time that the student will require a wheelchair. School personnel will evaluate the situation to ensure that appropriate accommodations are in place. If necessary, the parent/guardian will be referred to the 504 Coordinator or Director of Special Education. Parent/guardians should keep in mind that only a person authorized by Pinkerton Academy can assist a wheelchair-bound student around campus and only if the student qualifies for 504 accommodations or Special Education services. The nursing staff will provide the student with an elevator pass, Safe Haven information, a campus map indicating handicapped access points, helpful hints, and other medical assistance.
(Updated 12/20/06)