The Student Health Services program supports academic achievement by addressing health-related barriers to education. Each school has a well-equipped health room staffed by a school nurse, and in some cases, a health room assistant. School health staff provides many services to students including emergency care, administration of medications and treatments, promotion of positive health practices, prevention of illness and injury, and the maintenance of a safe and healthy school environment.

The School Based Health Centers are a partnership between the school system and Choptank Community Health System.   School Based Health Centers deliver quality, age-appropriate health care so children are ready to learn. Services provided include: sick care, follow-up for acute or chronic health care needs, prescriptions, oral health programs, health risk assessments, behavioral health services. Whenever a student is seen in the School Based Health Center, a report is shared with his/her primary care physician or dentist. 

Health Centers are located at all schools. Hours of operation are posted at each site. Parents/legal guardians may enroll their children in these programs by completing the SBHC enrollment form:

Student Enrollment Forms - English | Spanish | Haitian Creole

For more information, contact Choptank Community Health System, Community Based Programs at 410-479-4306, ext. 5012.

Caroline County Public Schools has developed guidelines in order to manage the health needs of students with chronic health issues or disabilities. The school nurse will use these guidelines to develop and implement a plan of care so students can participate as much as possible in the educational program. If your child has a chronic health issue that may require a care plan, please contact your school nurse.

The school health program follows recommendations from the Caroline County Health Department and the Maryland Department of Health for communicable diseases and illness.  The school nurse will send a student home if exclusion criteria are met or if the student’s illness or injury does not allow them to remain in school.  

Parents should keep their child home from school because of a serious illness, injury or a condition that can be passed on to other children. Although there is no comprehensive list, the following conditions may be considered appropriate reasons to keep a student home from school. 

Examples of serious illness or injury:

• Vomiting

• Temperature 100 °F(orally)/100.4 °F(forehead or ear) or greater. Children with a fever must stay home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication

• Abdominal pain

• Earache

• Head injury

• Adverse medication effect

• Suspected fracture

• Chest pain

• Severe pain

• Shortness of breath or wheezing

Examples of possible communicable conditions:

• Vomiting

• Loose stools/diarrhea

• Suspected communicable disease

• Nuisance condition not currently being treated, e.g., ringworm, scabies, head lice

• Red, draining eyes

• Persistent runny nose with yellow/green discharge, accompanied by fever

• Productive cough, accompanied by fever

• Undiagnosed rash

Parents should consult with their doctor for advice and/or treatment of the conditions or symptoms listed above.

Students are expected to take medications at home if possible. When there is a need for over the counter or prescription medications to be administered at school, safe and proper administration is essential. Medications must be brought to school by a responsible adult in the original container and must be accompanied by the  Maryland State School Medication Administration Form signed by both the provider and the parent/guardian. This form is also available from your school nurse. 

All medications must be stored in the health room with the exception of certain emergency medications (inhalers or EpiPens). If a student needs to carry an emergency medication, it must be authorized by the medical provider and approved by the school nurse. All other medications carried by students on school property will be confiscated and students may be subject to disciplinary action.

Anew medication form is required at the beginning of each school year and whenever there is a change in the type, time or dosage of the medication. Any medications remaining after the order is discontinued or at the end of the school year will be destroyed unless picked up by a parent or responsible adult within the time frame given by the school nurse. No medication will be stored over the summer or sent home with a student.

Every student entering the Maryland school system for the first time is required to have a physical examination using the form designated by the Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland Department of Health.  

MD SCHOOL RECORD OF PHYSICAL EXAM

All children must have the required State of Maryland immunizations in order to attend school. Parents are responsible for providing proof of immunization to the school prior to the student attending or proof of an appointment for necessary immunizations within 20 calendar days of the first day of school. The School Nurse can explain medical or religious exemptions to immunization requirements.

School hearing and vision screenings allow for early detection and prompt treatment of important health problems. In accordance with Maryland law, students entering the school system for the first time, entering first grade, and entering eighth or ninth grade are screened for potential vision or hearing difficulties unless there is written documentation of testing within the past year from a vision or hearing specialist. We will also screen any student referred by a parent or teacher, and 5th grade students if time permits.

Vision screening does not replace a complete eye exam by an eye care specialist. Childhood vision problems that are detected and treated early can, in many cases, improve outcomes. Left untreated, vision problems can decrease the potential of the child and have long-term health and vision implications. When students have poor vision, they may suffer from low grades, restlessness, or disruptive behavior. Near sighted children struggle to read the board. Farsighted children have difficulty doing close work, such as reading, drawing, writing. Poor vision could lead to behavior and social issues, as well as difficulty playing sports.

Certain groups of students are at increased risk for vision impairment. These include those with hearing impairment, close relatives with a visual impairment (amblyopia and strabismus), and children with other health conditions such as autism, Down syndrome, or neurodevelopmental disorders. If you have any concerns regarding your child’s vision, follow up with your child’s vision care specialist. For more information related to school hearing and vision screenings, please call your child’s school nurse.

The school system does not carry medical insurance for accidents that occur at school, including non-sport related injuries, such as trips and falls, physical education injuries, and recess/playground injuries. Thus, parents are encouraged to enroll students in the accident insurance program offered through CCPS.

Student Accident Insurance

The Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program (MCHIP) is available for families, pregnant women, and children in need of medical insurance. Applications are available through the school health assistant or by contacting the Caroline County Health Department at 410-479-8030.

Maryland state law authorizes trained school personnel to administer auto-injectable epinephrine to students experiencing anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening condition and may occur as a reaction to insect stings or bites, foods, medications, or other allergens. Schools are stocked with auto-injectable epinephrine (EpiPens) for those students who experience signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis during on site school activities. Parents/guardians of students prescribed an EpiPen by their health care provider must provide an EpiPen for use at school and school sponsored activities. Please contact your school nurse with any questions or concerns.

Maryland state law requires naloxone or other overdose reversing medication to be stored in every public school.  Health services staff and other designated school personnel are trained on the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose and how to respond.  Trained school staff will administer naloxone or other overdose reversing medication to any student or other person located on school property who is reasonably believed to be experiencing an opioid overdose.  Contact your school nurse or the Supervisor of Health Services with any questions or concerns.