The Plainfield School District acknowledges that the responsibility for administering medication to a student rests primarily with that student’s parent/guardian. Authorized Plainfield School District personnel will administer medication during the school day only when it is absolutely necessary for a student’s critical health and well-being. The administration of medication during regular school hours is contingent upon the following:

1. Authorized Plainfield School District personnel will administer medication during the school day only when it is absolutely necessary for a student’s critical health and well-being. All Medications, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS and OVER-THE-COUNTER, to be taken during the school day will only be administered after the parent/guardian, and physician, Advanced Practice Nurse, or Physician Assistant completes the Plainfield School District "Medication Authorization Form”. The form is available from the building nurse or the district website. This form must be filled out at the beginning of each school year or when a new medication is to be given.

2. Any medications that are brought to school without the completed required forms will not be administered.

3. The student's parent/guardian must renew written orders for continuing medication at the beginning of each school year, whenever the medication or dosage is changed, and when asked to do so by the school nurse.

4. Prescription Medication must be brought to school by a parent/guardian and must be in the original pharmaceutical container labeled with the student’s name, name of medication, the exact dosage and all pertinent instructions. Over-the-Counter medication must be brought to school by a parent/guardian in its original unopened / sealed container with the student’s name affixed to the container. If it is absolutely impossible for parents to bring the medication to school, we ask that students, upon their immediate arrival to school, turn the medication into the health office in a sealed envelope with the parent signature across the seal. Unused medication should be picked up by parent/guardian at the end of each school year.  If the parent/guardian does not pick up the medication by the last day of school, the building nurse will dispose of and document that medications were discarded. Medications will be discarded in the presence of a witness.

5. Any substance meant to treat a medical condition, including essential oils, CBD oils, and supplements are considered to be a drug/medication and must be FDA approved and requires a doctor’s prescription.  The guidelines set forth by the Illinois Department of Public Health require the medication to be both: 1)Prescribed by a physician, APN, or PA with exact dosing instructions specified on the medication administration authorization form and 2)Be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration specifically as a drug/medication.
   Homeopathic treatments do not currently meet these requirements.  Homeopathic treatments cannot be stored in the health office, and students may not self-administer. Examples of these treatments include but are not limited to essential oils, CBD oils, and supplements.  Plainfield School District 202 does not allow non-FDA regulated homeopathic treatments at school.   

6. The first dosage of medication should not be given at school in case the student suffers an allergic or other adverse reaction.

7. Students are prohibited from keeping any kind of medication in their possession while at school, except where a student is authorized to self-administer an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen®), diabetic care supplies, pancreatic enzymes, or asthma medication.   Students must have the Emergency Medication Hold Harmless and Indemnity form signed by their parents/guardian and physicians to keep their inhalers, diabetic care supplies,  or epinephrine auto-injectors with them in school. In case of emergency or loss of these items, we recommend that these students also keep an additional inhaler, diabetic care supplies, or epinephrine auto-injector in the health office.

8. The student must come to the health office for his/her medicine. The school will strive to assist students to remember to come to the health office to take his/her medication.

9. Acknowledging that occasionally a medication must be administered during the school day, a certified school nurse or registered professional nurse, if available, shall administer the medication. If a nurse is unavailable, a building administrator or other certified staff member who volunteers may either: 1) Supervise the self-administration of the medication; or 2) administer the medication himself/herself.

10. Any Plainfield School District employee who volunteers or otherwise dispenses or oversees the dispensation of medication to a student will be fully indemnified by the District in the event of any legal action. It is the intent of this paragraph to fully protect such individuals and, therefore, the District assumes full liability in this regard.

11. Any Plainfield School District employee may administer medications in emergency situations if, under the circumstances, professional registered nurse, an administrator, or emergency medical personnel cannot be available in sufficient time and the student cannot reasonably self-administer the medication.

12. Any medication dispensed to a student will be documented in the student’s individual electronic health record.

13. Medications and special items necessary to administer medications, such as diabetic supplies, will be stored in a secured area.  Medications requiring refrigeration will be refrigerated in a secured area. 

14. Medications will generally not be administered to students during field trips or other school-sponsored activities located away from the customary site of storage of the medication. In these situations, medication will only be administered to a student if absolutely necessary for the critical health and well-being of the student as documented in a student’s individualized health care plan or Emergency Allergy Action Plan. Medication to be administered in these situations must be sent to school by a parent/guardian, in a pharmaceutical container labeled with the student’s name, name of medication, dosage and all pertinent instructions. The administration protocol will be determined by District staff.

15. An employee authorized to supervise the administration of medication will provide the medication to the student from the storage area, confirm the dosage and witness the administration, and return the medication to its storage place. The employee will provide the nurse the date and time for self-administration. The building nurse will chart in the student’s individual record.

16. Any side effects of the medication will be documented and placed in the student’s individual electronic health record, and parent will be notified.  This information can also be provided to the student’s licensed prescriber per parental/guardian request and completion of the Authorization for Exchange of Information Form.

17. Plainfield C.C.S.D. 202, its employees and agents, are to incur no liability, except for willful and wonton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from the administration or self-administration of medication pursuant to these procedures. Employees who administer or supervise the self-administration of medication pursuant to these procedures who are acting in the scope of their employment are strictly immune from liability pursuant to the Illinois Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act (745 ILCS 10/1-101 et seq.), the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/22-30), and the Illinois Good Samaritan Act (745 ILCS 49/1 et seq.).

     

Legal References:  105 ILCS 5/10-20.14b; 5/10-22.21b; and 5/22-30; 745 ILCS 10/1-101 et seq., and 745 ILCS 49/1 et