School Health Clinics are staffed by trained clinic assistants who support students’ daily health needs under the guidance of a registered school nurse. Clinic assistants help keep the clinic running smoothly and serve as an important link between students, families, and the school health team.

Services Provided

• Medication administration
• First aid and care for injuries/illnesses
• Support for emergency medical needs
• Health screenings and routine procedures
• Assistance with chronic health conditions
• Identifying health concerns and notifying the registered school nurse
• Communication with families, staff, and the school health team

Our Commitment

All students receive timely, respectful, and compassionate care to help them stay healthy and ready to learn.

Assistive Medical Equipment: Crutches, Canes, Walkers, Wheelchairs, Braces, Splints

Medical devices—such as crutches, canes, walkers, wheelchairs, braces, or splints—are prescribed by a medical provider to help students move safely or support an injury. These devices are professionally fitted to each child, and families receive instructions on their proper use and care.

To keep students safe at school, the medical provider must give the school health team written medical orders. These orders help us understand:

• How long the device should be used
• Any limits on activities (e.g., “no PE for one month”)
• What monitoring or health care is needed during the school day
• Any assistance the student may need when moving around campus

Parents/guardians must provide this documentation to the school health team before the student returns to school with a medical device. Please keep us informed of any changes in your child’s condition or needs.

Physical Education Exemptions

If a student needs to be excused from PE, the school must receive a written note from a physician, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or physician assistant that includes the length of the exemption. The school principal will be notified of all approved exemptions.

Health Management 

Parent/guardian are responsible for notifying the school/school nurse of student health or medical conditions. The school must receive orders from a medical provider to provide any medical treatment or medication(s) during the school day. School health staff are only permitted to follow orders provided by a medical provider. When the order is received, the school nurse, in collaboration with the parent/guardian, will develop a plan of care addressing the student's health/medical needs during the school day or school-sponsored activity. The school nurse will distribute the student's care plan to the staff members working with the student. Along with the care plan, the individual staff members will also receive additional training, as appropriate, from the school nurse on managing the student's medical condition (I.e., diabetes, seizure management, and emergency medication administration). 

Student Illness Procedure

According to the District School Board of Pasco County student sick procedures, students are not able to remain in school with the following symptoms (the list is not exhaustive): 

• Fever (100.4 or greater)/Chills
• Sore Throat
• Repeated episodes of vomiting/diarrhea
• Severe Cold - runny nose/disruptive cough that prevents the student from sleeping at night or disrupts normal activities 
• Has distracting pain from earache, headaches, or sore throat 

Students exhibiting these symptoms must be excluded from school and remain home for 24 hours after the symptoms are gone without using over-the-counter medications to treat these symptoms. The school must have a phone number where you can be contacted during the day and an emergency number in the event you cannot be reached. Please be sure that arrangements can be made to transport your student home from school and that childcare is available in case of illness. 

Students that have been diagnosed with a respiratory illness (Covid-19, Flu, or RSV) may return to school according to the above procedures. If you have questions please reach out to your school nurse or the school health supervisor, Amy Ponce - aponce@pasco.k12.fl.us. 

PRIVACY RIGHTS UNDER THE HEALTH INFORMATION PORTABILITY ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPAA)

Protected health information includes demographic and medical information that concerns the past, present, or future physical and mental health of your student or yourself. Demographic information could include name, address, telephone number, social security number, and any other means of identifying you or your child as a specific person. Protected health information contains specific information that identifies a person or can be used to identify a person. You or your child's protected health information may be used or disclosed for treatment (emergency care, for example), payments, and health care operations. The school district may send medical information to Medicaid, insurance companies, or community agencies to pay for services provided to your child or yourself. Some protected health information can be disclosed without your written authorization, as allowed by law.

Those circumstances include:

• Reporting abuse; • Investigations related to missing children; • Internal investigations and audits or by government agencies; • Public health purposes, including vital statistics, disease reporting, public health surveillance, investigations, interventions, and regulation of health professionals; • District medical examiner investigations; • Research approved by the Department of Health or school board; • Court orders, warrants, or subpoenas; • Law enforcement purposes.

You have the following rights as an individual or as a parent:

• You can request to restrict the use and disclosure of your or your child's health information. • You have the right to be assured that information will be kept confidential. • You can inspect and receive a copy of your or your child's protected health information. • You have the right to correct your or your child's health information.

Disclosure of information to school staff is made with your permission to provide maximum safety to you and your child. This would be discussed with the parent before any disclosure of health information.

DERECHOS DE PRIVACIDAD BAJO LA LEY

DE RESPONSABILIDAD POR LA INFORMACIÓN DE SALUD (HIPAA)

La información protegida sobre salud incluye la información demográfica y médica relacionada con la salud física o mental pasada, presente o futura de su estudiante o de usted mismo(a). La información demográfica pudiera incluir el nombre, dirección, número de teléfono, número de seguro social y cualquier otra forma de identificarle a usted o a su niño(a) como una persona específica. La información protegida sobre salud contiene información específica que identifica a una persona o que puede ser utilizada para identificar a una persona. La información protegida de salud sobre usted o su niño(a) pudiera ser usada o entregada para propósitos de tratamiento (cuidados médicos de emergencia, por ejemplo), o de operación de pagos o cuidados de la salud. El distrito escolar pudiera enviar información médica a Medicaid, compañías de seguro o agencias comunitarias respecto a servicios provistos a su niño(a) o a usted. Alguna información protegida sobre salud pudiera ser entregada sin autorización suya por escrito, en los casos en que las leyes así lo permiten.

Esas circunstancias incluyen:

• Reporte de abuso; • Investigaciones relacionadas con niños desaparecidos;

• Investigaciones y auditorias internas o realizadas por agencias gubernamentales;

• Propósitos de salud pública, incluyendo estadísticas vitales, reporte de enfermedades, vigilancia de la salud pública, investigaciones, intervenciones y regulaciones de profesionales de la salud; • Investigaciones del investigador médico del distrito;

• Investigaciones aprobadas por el Departamento de Salud o la Junta Directiva Escolar; • Órdenes de la Corte, mandatos judiciales o citaciones judiciales; • Propósitos relacionados con la aplicación de la ley.

Usted tiene los siguientes derechos como persona, o como padre/madre:

• Usted puede solicitar la restricción en el uso o la entrega de información sobre la salud suya o de su niño(a); • Usted tiene el derecho de que se le asegure que la información se mantendrá confidencial; • Usted puede inspeccionar y recibir copia de la información protegida sobre la salud suya o de su niño(a); • Usted tiene el derecho de corregir la información sobre la salud suya o de su niño(a).

La entrega de información al personal escolar se hace con el permiso previo suyo, con el propósito de proveer la máxima seguridad a usted y a su niño(a). Esto será discutido con el padre/madre antes de entregar cualquier información sobre salud.

Revised 02/2026