Health Start is Ohio's free or low-cost health insurance program for kids. Signing up today means your kids are covered on and off the field. Even if you've been turned down in the past, your child may be able to get coverage now.
Call their office at 800-324-8680 or visit their website at www.InsureKidsNow.gov for more information and get your questions answered. See if your kids are eligible now........
Have a healthy day~
Nurse Donna
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Updated Flu Recommendations from CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced July 29 the updated recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
Among others, the ACIP recommends vaccinating all children over the age of 6 months during the 2010-2011 flu season. View the full list of online recommendations to learn more.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr59e0729a1.htm?s_cid=rr59e0729a1_e
Nurse Donna
Among others, the ACIP recommends vaccinating all children over the age of 6 months during the 2010-2011 flu season. View the full list of online recommendations to learn more.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr59e0729a1.htm?s_cid=rr59e0729a1_e
Nurse Donna
Saturday, July 31, 2010
New Immunization Requirements for 2010-2011 School Year
Here is the annual update of the Immunization Summary for Child Care, Head Start, Pre‐School & School Attendance for the 2010‐11 school year.
Please note that the Ohio Department of Health Director’s Journal has been updated; the Director’s Journal contains the requirements for immunizations for Ohio students. The changes in the Director’s Journal will be effective for the 2010‐11 school year. A brief summary of the changes are:
The addition of a Tdap booster requirement for 7th grade
The addition of the 2nd dose of varicella
A requirement that the 4th dose of polio be administered on or after the 4th birthday
The most significant change for schools is that all 7th graders will be required to have the Tdap – a tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis booster. Currently, only 30% of Ohio’s 7th graders have received this booster, therefore this requirement will most likely affect the majority of incoming 7th grade students. As with other school immunization requirements, students who do not provide documentation of this immunization are subject to exclusion from school. To avoid exclusion, we encourage you to share this information with the families of 6th graders soon so that they have time to get this booster before school starts in the fall.
We have already received a number of questions regarding this change. Here are some points of clarification:
Any student who completed the original DTP/DTaP/DT series and later received Td or Tdap for an injury or other reason within 5 years of entering 7th grade will meet this requirement and not need to be re‐immunized for entry to 7th grade
In this situation, students who received only Td rather than Tdap should be immunized with Tdap 5 years after the Td immunization
CDC has said that Tdap can be administered as soon as two years after Td
In the absence of contraindications, parents should be encouraged to get Tdap as a booster for their students rather than only Td
For ALL Kindergarten Entries:
K-5 doses of DTaP, DTP, or DT, or any combination, if the fourth dose was administered prior to the 4th birthday
K-4 doses of any combination of OPV or IPV, the final dose must be administered on or after the 4th birthday regardless of the number of previous doses.
K‐12
2 doses of MMR. Dose 1 must be administered on or after the first birthday. The second dose must be administered at least 28 days after dose 1.
K‐11
3 doses of Hepatitis B. The second dose must be administered at least 28 days after the first dose. The third dose must be given at least 16 weeks after the first dose and at least 8 weeks after the second dose. The last dose in the series (third or fourth dose), must not be administered before age 24 weeks.
Kindergarten
2 doses of varicella vaccine must be administered prior to entry.
For more information you may call the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Immunization Program hotline at 800‐282‐0546.
Further information can also be found on the ODH web site:
http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/idc/immunize/imunchsc.aspx
See you soon,
Nurse Donna
Please note that the Ohio Department of Health Director’s Journal has been updated; the Director’s Journal contains the requirements for immunizations for Ohio students. The changes in the Director’s Journal will be effective for the 2010‐11 school year. A brief summary of the changes are:
The addition of a Tdap booster requirement for 7th grade
The addition of the 2nd dose of varicella
A requirement that the 4th dose of polio be administered on or after the 4th birthday
The most significant change for schools is that all 7th graders will be required to have the Tdap – a tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis booster. Currently, only 30% of Ohio’s 7th graders have received this booster, therefore this requirement will most likely affect the majority of incoming 7th grade students. As with other school immunization requirements, students who do not provide documentation of this immunization are subject to exclusion from school. To avoid exclusion, we encourage you to share this information with the families of 6th graders soon so that they have time to get this booster before school starts in the fall.
We have already received a number of questions regarding this change. Here are some points of clarification:
Any student who completed the original DTP/DTaP/DT series and later received Td or Tdap for an injury or other reason within 5 years of entering 7th grade will meet this requirement and not need to be re‐immunized for entry to 7th grade
In this situation, students who received only Td rather than Tdap should be immunized with Tdap 5 years after the Td immunization
CDC has said that Tdap can be administered as soon as two years after Td
In the absence of contraindications, parents should be encouraged to get Tdap as a booster for their students rather than only Td
For ALL Kindergarten Entries:
K-5 doses of DTaP, DTP, or DT, or any combination, if the fourth dose was administered prior to the 4th birthday
K-4 doses of any combination of OPV or IPV, the final dose must be administered on or after the 4th birthday regardless of the number of previous doses.
K‐12
2 doses of MMR. Dose 1 must be administered on or after the first birthday. The second dose must be administered at least 28 days after dose 1.
K‐11
3 doses of Hepatitis B. The second dose must be administered at least 28 days after the first dose. The third dose must be given at least 16 weeks after the first dose and at least 8 weeks after the second dose. The last dose in the series (third or fourth dose), must not be administered before age 24 weeks.
Kindergarten
2 doses of varicella vaccine must be administered prior to entry.
For more information you may call the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Immunization Program hotline at 800‐282‐0546.
Further information can also be found on the ODH web site:
http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/idc/immunize/imunchsc.aspx
See you soon,
Nurse Donna
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Medication Pick up "end of school year"
It's that time of year and as our school year comes to a closing so does the need for the clinic to shut down. With this said, ALL medication whether it be or prescription or over the counter must be picked up by Friday June 4, 2010. Any medication not picked up with be properly disposed of as we do not keep medications in the clinic over summer break.
Thank you and have a wonderful summer~
Nurse Donna
Thank you and have a wonderful summer~
Nurse Donna
Monday, May 3, 2010
Children's Health Insurance Toolkit
Children's Health Insurance: Tools to Advance Enrollment and Retention Efforts is a tool developed by Insure Kids Now to assist organizations in increasing awareness and understanding of children's health insurance programs.
It was also designed to assist organizations in encouraging eligible parents and guardians to apply for coverage on behalf of their uninsured children. The toolkit includes how-to information, as well as customizable materials. The kit will be updated and expanded as successful strategies and practices emerge.
This tool is available at http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/professionals/toolkit/toolkit.html.
Nurse Donna
It was also designed to assist organizations in encouraging eligible parents and guardians to apply for coverage on behalf of their uninsured children. The toolkit includes how-to information, as well as customizable materials. The kit will be updated and expanded as successful strategies and practices emerge.
This tool is available at http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/professionals/toolkit/toolkit.html.
Nurse Donna
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Strep Throat
What is Strep throat?
Strep throat and Scarlet fever (a rash that sometimes accompanies strep throat) are caused by the beta hemolytic streptococcus, type A bacteria. The organisms are spread by contact with secretions from the mouth and nose of infected persons. The incubation is short, usually 2 to 5 days. Infected persons are considered contagious until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment is begun.
What are the signs and symptoms or strep throat?
The signs and symptoms include sore throat, fever, swollen glands under the jaw and in the neck, and pus pockets on the tonsils. Vomiting and stomach pain may also occur. Additionally, with scarlet fever there is a fine, red, sandpapery skin rash.
What should I do if I think my child has strep throat?
If a sore throat is suspected, if would be recommended to go ahead and seek medical care. A throat culture will be done to determine the diagnosis. If the culture is positive, a ten-day course of an antibiotic, is prescribed. The child should be out of school until 24 hours of antibiotic therapy is received and condition improved to return to school. If the culture is negative, the cause is probably viral and the treatment is warm salt water gargles, force fluids, rest, and Tylenol.
Can strep throat be prevented?
YES! Frequent handwashing, plenty of rest, and adequate diet will to go far to protect your child against strep throat and other germs which tend to be more prevalent this time of year. Be careful not to share cups or utensils that can also lead to the spread of germs.
If you have any further questions, please contact your family physician or the school nurse.
Nurse Donna
Strep throat and Scarlet fever (a rash that sometimes accompanies strep throat) are caused by the beta hemolytic streptococcus, type A bacteria. The organisms are spread by contact with secretions from the mouth and nose of infected persons. The incubation is short, usually 2 to 5 days. Infected persons are considered contagious until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment is begun.
What are the signs and symptoms or strep throat?
The signs and symptoms include sore throat, fever, swollen glands under the jaw and in the neck, and pus pockets on the tonsils. Vomiting and stomach pain may also occur. Additionally, with scarlet fever there is a fine, red, sandpapery skin rash.
What should I do if I think my child has strep throat?
If a sore throat is suspected, if would be recommended to go ahead and seek medical care. A throat culture will be done to determine the diagnosis. If the culture is positive, a ten-day course of an antibiotic, is prescribed. The child should be out of school until 24 hours of antibiotic therapy is received and condition improved to return to school. If the culture is negative, the cause is probably viral and the treatment is warm salt water gargles, force fluids, rest, and Tylenol.
Can strep throat be prevented?
YES! Frequent handwashing, plenty of rest, and adequate diet will to go far to protect your child against strep throat and other germs which tend to be more prevalent this time of year. Be careful not to share cups or utensils that can also lead to the spread of germs.
If you have any further questions, please contact your family physician or the school nurse.
Nurse Donna
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Scoliosis Screens this week...
What is Scoliosis?
Scoliosis in a sideways (lateral) curving of the spine. One in 10 persons will have it. Two to three persons in every 1000 will need active treatment for a progressive condition. In one out of every 1000 cases surgery may be necessary.
Frequent signs are prominent shoulder blade, uneven hip and shoulder levels, unequal distance between arms and body, and clothes that do not "hang right."
Eighty percent of scoliosis cases are idiopathic (cause unknown). Scoliosis tends to run in families and affects more girls than boys.
Spinal curvature is best dealt with when a young person's body is still growing and can respond to treatments, such as a body brace. Mild cases may not need treatment, but must be monitored.
Kyphosis (round back) may also occur in developing adolescents. It should be screened for and may need to be treated.
You, your physician and/or your school screening program can perform a 30-second annual screen during these growing years. Screening during the bone-growing years can make a difference between a preventable condition and a disability in adult years.
Do keep in mind this is merely a screening and we do not diagnose scoliosis. We simply notify those parents that student presents with questionable visual signs of possible issues that we may see. Diagnosis is made by your physician by way of exam and xrays of the spine.
If you have any questions regarding scoliosis feel free to call my office. I will be happy to assist and offer suggestions regarding the need for follow-up exams, etc.
Have a healthy day!
Nurse Donna
Scoliosis in a sideways (lateral) curving of the spine. One in 10 persons will have it. Two to three persons in every 1000 will need active treatment for a progressive condition. In one out of every 1000 cases surgery may be necessary.
Frequent signs are prominent shoulder blade, uneven hip and shoulder levels, unequal distance between arms and body, and clothes that do not "hang right."
Eighty percent of scoliosis cases are idiopathic (cause unknown). Scoliosis tends to run in families and affects more girls than boys.
Spinal curvature is best dealt with when a young person's body is still growing and can respond to treatments, such as a body brace. Mild cases may not need treatment, but must be monitored.
Kyphosis (round back) may also occur in developing adolescents. It should be screened for and may need to be treated.
You, your physician and/or your school screening program can perform a 30-second annual screen during these growing years. Screening during the bone-growing years can make a difference between a preventable condition and a disability in adult years.
Do keep in mind this is merely a screening and we do not diagnose scoliosis. We simply notify those parents that student presents with questionable visual signs of possible issues that we may see. Diagnosis is made by your physician by way of exam and xrays of the spine.
If you have any questions regarding scoliosis feel free to call my office. I will be happy to assist and offer suggestions regarding the need for follow-up exams, etc.
Have a healthy day!
Nurse Donna
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