Be aware of the school medication rule

[Anonymous]

Did you know that for things like inhalers and even diabetic insulin shots, if you don't have the cardboard box the scrip came in, the nurse's office confiscates the med? Apparently even though the doctor's form provides the details of the med, the dose, the child's name, etc, this info also has to appear on the label (box) and since inhalers don't have labels, the nurse took it from my child.

So calling in yet another scrip from the doc and picking up at the pharmacy so we can have a cardboard box. Yay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you know that for things like inhalers and even diabetic insulin shots, if you don't have the cardboard box the scrip came in, the nurse's office confiscates the med? Apparently even though the doctor's form provides the details of the med, the dose, the child's name, etc, this info also has to appear on the label (box) and since inhalers don't have labels, the nurse took it from my child.

So calling in yet another scrip from the doc and picking up at the pharmacy so we can have a cardboard box. Yay.

That is a bit crazy, if you don't give a kid insulin, or you don't administer the inhaler when needed you can have serious problems that day.

[Anonymous]

I thought this was common knowledge. Even with a doctor's note, the school still needs verification that the medication they're administering was, in fact prescribed for the child and not the parent sending in someone else's medication for the child.

[Anonymous]

Yes, sadly I did know this because it happened to me with an epi-pen. They won't take it without the original box.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I knew this from daycare in Virginia.

[Anonymous]

It's annoying but I get it. They can't just take your word for it that the meds and dose are for your kid.

[Anonymous]

The doctor put all the info on the form. The med, the dose, the diagnosis. So now I bring in a cardboard box. But there is still no way to really prove the item in the box actually came in said box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The doctor put all the info on the form. The med, the dose, the diagnosis. So now I bring in a cardboard box. But there is still no way to really prove the item in the box actually came in said box.

Yes, bring in the box.

It's better for the school to be too cautious about medicine than not cautious enough, right?

[Anonymous]

You also have to hand carry Adderall as a parent (kid needs an early afternoon booster). Which is a PITA because it is so tightly regulated, you never have extras. So you pick it up from the pharmacy, and have to go to the school the next day to drop off. Every month. Rather than sending it in with your HS kid. I get that these are abused drugs, but I don’t always have an hour in the day to take it the next day for a kid who self administers because college next year. The crazy thing is he turns 18 soon, and I will still have to take it myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The doctor put all the info on the form. The med, the dose, the diagnosis. So now I bring in a cardboard box. But there is still no way to really prove the item in the box actually came in said box.

Yes, bring in the box.

It's better for the school to be too cautious about medicine than not cautious enough, right?

No. Everyone knows what an Epipen looks like. And getting a new one in a box from the pharmacy is expensive. Parents without good insurance can’t afford it, and their kid goes without.

But I also think parents should be able to contribute to a fund for a few communal school epipens. It is crazy wasteful and costly, and who has time in a real emergency to sort through 50 epipens and get the one Larla brought in. You need to be able to get it fast. Not sort through 50 for the box with the right name.

[Anonymous]

But you're a hell of a lot less likely to go through the trouble of having the original packaging with your kid's name and correct dosage and stick some other random med in it, right? Why would you even do that?

What they're attempting to do is make sure your child is taking medication that is properly prescribed and not expired. You sound like a lovely and responsible parent, but let's get real these regulations exist for the lowest common denominator, which exists.

Many schools have communal epipens at this point. I know my school in APS does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: But I also think parents should be able to contribute to a fund for a few communal school epipens. It is crazy wasteful and costly, and who has time in a real emergency to sort through 50 epipens and get the one Larla brought in. You need to be able to get it fast. Not sort through 50 for the box with the right name.

LCPS schools have them. But they are intended for children with unidentified allergies, not kids who should have their own Epipen.

https://www.loudountimes.com/news/new-epipen-law-requirement-for-virginia-schools/article_b8dae4e8-702c-5f74-b4fd-244511b8561d.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The doctor put all the info on the form. The med, the dose, the diagnosis. So now I bring in a cardboard box. But there is still no way to really prove the item in the box actually came in said box.

I am in a healthcare setting and without this information it’s too dangerous. You want to rely on a school nurse, who is probably overseeing medications for dozens if not more kids, to just *know* the loose inhaler that came to her is for your kid and is the exact same one the doc prescribed AND matches the medication auth form you signed? You are awfully trusting or self absorbed. This is part of a triple check process, for safety. Not just your kids safety but everyone else’s kids too.

[Anonymous]

It's too easy to forge a doctor's note. Having the prescription label showing that the medication listed in the note was obtained via legitimate prescription confirms that the note is also legitimate. Otherwise it would be way too easy for someone to forge a note and then send their kid in with some adderall prescribed for the parent (or purchased illegally elsewhere).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But you're a hell of a lot less likely to go through the trouble of having the original packaging with your kid's name and correct dosage and stick some other random med in it, right? Why would you even do that?

What they're attempting to do is make sure your child is taking medication that is properly prescribed and not expired. You sound like a lovely and responsible parent, but let's get real these regulations exist for the lowest common denominator, which exists.

Many schools have communal epipens at this point. I know my school in APS does.

My kid is supposed to carry her inhaler in her purse. In fact the nurse told me to just have her secretly carry one and she probably won't get caught. So no I don't buy that the concern is she's going to use someone else's inhaler.

They want to see the box, hold it in their hand, and then allow my kid to carry her inhaler in her purse anyway.

I do understand a need for rules but I also understand a need for common sense.