Medication Policy of the Archdiocese of Atlanta for Catholic Schools

With the exception of physician-prescribed inhalers, there are no circumstances under which any medication, prescription or non-prescription, may be in the possession of a student or with a student's possessions.

In all instances where medication is administered, the physician prescribing the medication has the power to direct, supervise, decide, inspect and oversee the administration of such medication. In order to ensure that the physician retains the power to direct, supervise, decide, inspect and oversee the implementation of this service, no medication shall be given to a student by any employee of the school unless the following are delivered to the authorized school/clinic personnel responsible for administering medications:

Written instructions from the prescribing physician for the administration of the prescribed medication, signed by the prescribing physician.
Written statement from the prescribing physician who identifies the specific conditions and circumstances under which contact should be made with him/her in relation to the conditions or reactions of the student receiving the medications. The statement must reflect a willingness on the part of the physician to accept direct communications from the person administering the medication.
A written statement from the parent/legal guardian authorizing school personnel to give the medication in the dosage prescribed by the physician and authorizing school personnel to contact the physician directly. (See Archdiocesan policy 5300.)

Medication Policy of Saint Joseph Catholic School

Only the designated school clinic personnel following these guidelines will dispense medication:

All medications, prescription and non-prescription, must be kept in the school health clinic.
Only authorized school personnel will be permitted to dispense medication to any student.
Parents/guardians should complete a Medication Consent Form and the Physician Order for Medication Authorization Form and return it to the homeroom teacher informing him/her of the type of medication and time(s) the student should be sent to the clinic to receive it. These forms are available in the school office and online at www.sjsathens.org.
During the final week of school any remaining medication should be picked up and signed out by the parent only. The clinic will not release any remaining medication to another parent or to any student.
Any medication remaining in the clinic on the last day of school will be discarded in a safe manner.
Medication sent in plastic baggies will not be accepted in the clinic; medication must be submitted in original packaging.

Prescription Medicine/ Non-prescription Medicine

All medication must be brought to the clinic by the parent in the original pharmaceutical container, with the pharmacy label. Prescription medications will only be dispensed per the pharmacist's directions on the original pharmacy label. This includes physician prescribed inhalers on the first day they are brought to school, for notation in the health records; inhalers may then be kept with the student under the following conditions:

Doctor's authorization and parents' authorization is received
The nurse observes the student using an inhaler to make sure it is being properly utilized.
The student reports to the clinic after self-administering so that the log can be updated.
If the above conditions are not met, the student loses the privilege of carrying the inhaler.

Parent requests for variance from the pharmacy label will not be honored.
Following label instructions, it is the student's responsibility to obtain the teacher's permission and go directly to the clinic at the appropriate time.
Teachers and the clinic staff are not responsible for reminding a student about medication.