Legislative Update: Use of Asthma Inhalers
Raised Bill 5702, referred to the Committee on Public Health in this session of the General Assembly, would allow a "respiratory care practitioner" to issue a written certification to a local or regional board of education providing that a child diagnosed with asthma be permitted to possess an asthmatic inhaler at all times while attending school.
This legislation would also add a check-box to the standard health assessment form completed by parents and physicians prior to school enrollment which would indicate whether such a certification has been issued allowing the child to carry an asthma inhaler in school. The bill would make similar changes to other portions of the statutes permitting self-administration of an asthma inhaler by a student who has been given the appropriate certification.
Would this legislation result in any changes in policy in your Connecticut school district? Tell us by posting a comment (see link at right).
This bill looks redundant to, and in conflict with, current state law,10-212a, and its regulations, especially Regulations 10-212a-2.and Regulations 10-212a-4 (see below). This bill takes away any particpation of schools in the decision making process regarding the safety and effcicay of individual students carrying and administering their own inhalers. The school nurse would no long be a particpant with the parent and physician in determining whether a student is competent and responsible enough to self administer IN SCHOOL. School is a very different setting from the MD office and the home which is why the regulations currently require a three way judgment. While I strongly support self administration of medication when students are ready, I think this bill removes the safety checks and monitoring assistance that many students need, especially but not soley when younger. And, yes, it would require us to change our policy in at least two ways - our standard CT form for medication administration with MD and parent authorization, including student specific informtion, would no longer be required for these students (school would have no actual MD order that way - not a good idea) and the school nurse would no longer be involved in assessing the student's readiness and competencies in school.
1. Regulations 10-212a-2. Administration of medications
(a)...
(b)If a board of education chooses to allow the administration of medications in schools within its jurisdiction, the following shall apply:
(1)The board of education, with the advice and assistance of the school medical advisor and the school nurse supervisor, shall establish specific written policies and procedures concerning the administration of medications by a nurse, or in the absence of a nurse, by a principal or teacher to students within the school system. The board shall submit such policies and procedures to the department for review and approval.
(2)The board of education with the advice and assistance of the school medical advisor and the school nurse supervisor shall review and revise the policies and procedures concerning the administration of medications as needed, but at least biennially. Whenever revised, these shall be forwarded to the department for review and approval.
(c)No medication may be administered without:
(1)the written order of an authorized prescriber; and
(2)the written authorization of the student's parent or guardian.
ALSO
2. Regulations 10-212a-4. Self administration of medications
If approved by the board of education, students who are able to self administer medication may do so provided:
(a)An authorized prescriber provides a written order for self administration; and,
(b)there is written authorization from the student's parent or guardian; and,
(c)the school nurse has evaluated the situation and deemed it to be safe and appropriate; has documented this on the student's cumulative health record; and has developed a plan for general supervision; and,
(d)the principal and appropriate teachers are informed that the student is self administering prescribed medication; and,
(e)such medication is transported to the school and maintained under the student's control in accordance with the board of education's policy on self medication by students.
(Effective August 8, 1995.)