FAQs

What type of illness is considered a chronic health condition/illness?

Conditions such as Anaphylaxis (Severe Allergic Reaction), Asthma, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD), Cerebral Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis, Diabetes (Type 1 or 2), Eczema, Seizure Disorder, Sickle Cell, etc. Any condition that does or could need medical management during the school day, as these conditions can become an emergency situation very quickly.

What can I do as a parent to help keep my child safe at school?

Provide the school clinic worker, RN and other designated school personnel with accurate medical information about your child's health condition and any treatment needed. 

• Provide all needed medication or medical supplies needed for the management of your child's health condition.
• Notify school personnel any changes regarding his/her care and ensure the school has good contact information for you so you can be reached in the event of an emergency.
• Please complete all portions of the health information section of the registration form and notify the school prior to school starting so that we can be prepared and, with your assistance, provide needed staff training.
• Provide all necessary care plans and Physician's Orders for any procedures and special treatments required throughout the school day.

What do I do if my child is hospitalized?

Please notify the school as soon as possible if your child is hospitalized. Upon discharge, we will assist with any necessary planning for a successful return to school. If a referral to Hospital Homebound services is needed, we will be glad to assist.

 

Can my child take morning medications at school?

If medications can be given at home, prior to school, please do so. Giving morning medications at home allows adequate time for the medication to become active in the student's system allowing for a more successful day at school. 

• If your child takes ADD/ADHD medication in the morning, this medication can be given with a small amount of food at home (i.e. crackers), and the student can still eat breakfast at school.
• If your child takes medication twice a day, the morning dose should be given at home. The second dose should also be given at home, unless ordered at noon/lunch. Lunchtime medications can be given at school.
• For specific questions regarding your child's medication times, please contact your child's School Itinerant RN.

Can my child take over-the-counter medications at school?

Yes, with signed authorization and medication provided from home, your child can take over-the-counter medications at school. Medication dosage must be age appropriate. Products that contain Aspirin can cause a condition known as Reyes Syndrome in children. Please do not send products that contain Aspirin.

What is my child needs special equipment?

Parents/guardians must provide all medications and special equipment required. 

What can cause my child to be excluded from school?

A number of illnesses can cause your child to be excluded from school. This is necessary in order to protect your child's health, as well as the health and safety of other students. Some conditions may require a physician's examination and medical clearance in order to return to school.
Examples include:

• Symptoms consistent with Conjunctivitis
• Elevated temperature, over 100 degrees
• Students excluded due to elevated temperature cannot return to school until fever free for 24 hours, without fever reducing medications.
• Rash of unknown origin
• Head lice and/or nits
• Symptoms consistent with Gastroenteritis (i.e. diarrhea, vomiting)

Does my child have to be immunized to attend school?

Each new student entering Georgia for the first time, PreK - 12, must meet the Georgia Requirements for Immunization and provide a Georgia Form 3231. It is the responsibility of the parent to obtain the required immunizations as indicated.

Georgia's immunization requirements for children attending seventh grade have been revised to align with the current Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Effective July 1, 2014, all children born on or after January 1, and children who are new entrants into a Georgia school in grades eight through twelve, must have received one dose of Tdap vaccine and one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine.

Effective July 1, 2020, children 16 years of age and older who are entering the 11th grade (including new entrants) must have received one booster dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), unless their initial dose was administered on or after their 16th birthday. 

Please note, the student’s name on the Georgia Immunization Certificate must match the name on their birth certificate. Immunization forms are considered invalid if the names do not match. 

The only exemption for any vaccine is Medical Exemption or Religious Objection. The Medical Exemption must be renewed each year and signed by a physician. The Religious Objection must be documented, by parent or guardian, on “The Religious Objections to Required Immunizations Form 2208. This form is located in the resources area or it may be obtained at your child’s school. The form must be notarized and does not have to be renewed.

Your student must have the updated immunizations, unless he/she has an exemption. Students without a valid immunization certificate (or valid exemption) on file may be withdrawn from school until a valid form is provided. If you have any questions about vaccinations, please contact your student’s health care provider. The vaccine and the appropriate form are both available at your healthcare provider’s office and the Columbus Health Department. 

Parents of students without health insurance or those whose health plan does not cover these vaccines, may call the Columbus Health Department at 706-321-6300 and ask about getting no or low cost vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program. For more information on the vaccination requirements for school attendance in Georgia, visit dph.georgia.gov. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states: “On-time vaccination throughout childhood is essential because it helps provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening disease. Vaccines are tested to ensure that they are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages.” For more information on vaccinations, and the diseases they help prevent, visit cdc.gov/vaccines.

If we are new to the school district, what happens if my child does not have all immunizations on the first day of school?

Children without completed immunizations will be given a 30 day waiver, which allows them to attend school while obtaining the required immunizations. The medical professional administering the immunizations will provide children in this process with form 3231, with an expiration date. It is the parent/guardian responsibility to complete the immunization process

If we are new to the school district, what happens if my child does not have an Eye/Ear/Dental/Nutrition assessment on the first day of school?

If you move into the school district from out of state, you will be given a waiver for up to 90 days to complete the necessary Eye/Ear/Dental/Nutrition exam (form 3300). This should be completed as soon as possible, as vision and hearing can impact your child's academic performance. This exam can be completed by your child's private physician or by the Health Department.

How do parents request HHB services?

You may request form from the school or district office. The form must be fully by the parent and the attending physician. All completed forms should be delivered by the parent to the Muscogee County Public Education Center, the office of Student Services, at 2960 Macon Road on the first floor for review.

Who provides HHB instruction?

Instruction is provided by a Georgia certified teacher.

When students are hospitalized in out-of-state health care of psychiatric facilities, are services provided?

Yes. It is our obligation to provide services even if the student is hospitalized out-of-state as long as they are a registered student of Muscogee County School District.