Health Screening Programs

Introduction

The school will establish and implement a screening program which will meet legal requirements for the provision of selected appropriate health screenings of students at mandated intervals (Neb. Rev. Stat. Sec. 79-4, 133 to 79-4, 138) *. The school provides this service directly or contracts with an agency, utilizing appropriate personnel to carry out the program.

RATIONALE FOR HEALTH SCREENINGS

Recognizing the adverse impact selected health related conditions may have on learning, the legislature has enacted laws which require that certain screening tests are provided for students attending schools. These and other health screenings are recommended by the Department of Health's School Health Advisory Committee.

STRUCTURE CRITERIA FOR HEALTH SCREENINGS

1. The School Nurse, in consultation with the school administration, manages the overall planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating of the screening programs.
2. Parents and guardians of students are informed of the health screening program via the school's annual handbook, the school newsletter, or a special health memorandum.
3. Health education regarding screenings, is provided for the students by the School Nurse or the classroom/ health education teacher.
4. The School Nurse is responsible for instruction and supervision of volunteers or school health aides providing assistance during screenings.
   * (See State of Nebraska School Laws, Chapter 79 - Schools)
5. Screening equipment, environment, and procedures shall conform with the most recent recommendations and guidelines available regarding same. See suggested guidelines to use for each screening in the Recommended Screenings section.
6. Individual or mass screenings may be carried out, dependent upon nurse to student ratio and available time. Trained volunteers or school health aides providing the initial screening for height, weight, vision, and in some cases, hearing, can conserve the use of professional time for the more critical re-screening done by the school nurse for students failing the first screening.
7. Proper care will be taken to ensure confidentiality regarding any health concerns noted.
8. Parents/guardians will be sent written notification on an appropriate referral form of the student's failure to pass the re-screening performed by the school nurse.
9. Screening referrals are followed-up by the school nurse through written, phone, or home visit contacts with parents/guardians.
10. Recording of health screenings and their follow-up on the student health record may alert school staff to a student's special need for educational assistance. Documentation of these health screenings provides validation of the health services delivered in schools.

RECOMMENDEDSCREENINGS AND GUIDELINES FOR REFERRAL

See applicable Guideline sections on Vision (including Color-Vision), Hearing (including Audiometry and Acoustic Immittance), Height and Weight, Scoliosis, Blood Pressure, or Oral Health screenings following this Introduction.

PROCESS CRITERIA

The qualified School Nurse will:

1. Notify parent/guardian of intent to perform designated screenings as described in item two of the structure criteria.
2. Exempt those students whose parents/guardians submit a written waiver.
3. Conduct specific screenings as defined by state laws and/or as recommended by the Department of Health's School Health Advisory Committee.
4. Perform and/or supervise initial screening program and re-screen all failures.
5. Supervise recording and/or record all passed initial screenings onto the student's health record.
6. Analyze data and compare to referral criteria; refer to appropriate source for care, if indicated.
7. Interpret significant findings to student, parents, and teacher(s).
8. Plan with the student and teacher for temporary modification of educational program or environment pending recommendations of specialist, e.g. in the case of hearing or vision, check classroom seating arrangement.
9. Complete each referral, interpret recommendations and counsel student, parent/guardian, and teacher(s).
10. Record results of all re-screening, referrals and follow-up onto the student's health record.
11. Re-screen students with identified problems annually or more frequently if indicated.
12. Provide school administration with an evaluative report of the screening program.

OUTCOME CRITERIA

1. Students are screened for a specific health problem and referred for care as indicated.
2. The student with a potential identified health concern receives appropriate care for correction of his/her health problem.
3. The student demonstrates knowledge of their unique health problem and follows the health care provider's recommendations.
4. Students referred from the screening program and diagnosed with a health problem will participate in educational activities to the fullest extent possible in the least restrictive environment.