Perfect Attendance Calls for Proactive Health Care
Sponsored by E-Care Emergency Centers
By Dr. Josh Prickett, MD, E-Care Emergency Center
Parents know the many challenges faced before the first daybrof class every year — school supplies, new shoes, uniforms, new bus routes,brschool zones, class schedules and more. Unfortunately, a crucial step like updatingbrhealth records may be overlooked in the rush, causing potential delays and boostingbrthe overall stress levels.
As Carroll Independent School District recently completedbrthe first six weeks, administrators report that advance planning, onlinebrcommunications and support from local health care providers came togetherbrperfectly to get the 2013 school year off to a smooth start. Texas beganbrphasing in new immunization requirements back in 2009, and school nurses arebrnow seeing a positive impact, according to Karen Flexer, RN, BSN, Carroll ISDbrNurse Coordinator.
“The state began requiring Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussisbr(DTaP), two doses of Varicella (chicken pox) and Meningacocci (meningitis) vaccinationsbrfor students in grades K to 4th and 7th to 11th.brNow we’re seeing shot records getting caught up for our senior high kids,” shebrsaid. CISD health services staff credits the proactive communication andbrsupport from school administrators and community healthcare providers with thisbraccomplishment.
“We do a lot of work in the spring, especially with 6thgrade families, to get ready for shot requirements coming up in the fall,” Flexerbrexplained. Without up-to-date shot records, students cannot attend the firstbrday of school.
“Most families in Southlake are able to get updates throughbrurgent care clinics or from primary care doctors,” she added. “Our nursingbrstaff really appreciates the emergency care centers and pharmacies. Sometimesbrwe send students out with the forms and they can get vaccinations that day tobrreturn for the first day of school.”
Texas Education Code states that no student will be admittedbrto CISD without written evidence that immunizations are in compliance with thebrTexas Department of Health Regulations. If your child transfers to CISD frombranother Texas school, there is a 30-day grace period. Returning students orbrthose from out of state do not have that grace period.
Texas law allows doctors to write a statement to exempt thebrchild if the vaccines would be harmful to the child or household member.brParents or guardians can claim an exemption from immunization requirements forbrreasons of conscience, including a religious belief. Inconvenience or a lostbrshot record is not grounds for exemption, however, so be sure to keep yourbrchild's medical history, including shot records, available year round.
Shot records may be needed for everything from enrollment tobrclearance for participation in sports or other extracurricular activities. Thatbrapplies to Southlake Carroll school activities, as well as those connected tobrother local community organizations. Fortunately, modern technology makes itbreasier than ever to maintain heathcare records.
The Internet HelpsbrKeep Shot Records Secure
Southlake parents and physicians know that the Internet canbrbe a great place to look up general health information. But did you know it isbralso an excellent tool for managing your family's healthcare records? There arebrmany excellent, reliable resources available on the national, state and localbrlevels, including:
Texas Vaccination Requirements Grades K-12
Inbraddition, Texas offers a freebrimmunization registry service called ImmTrac. ImmTrac is designed to be a secure, confidential method ofbrelectronically storing immunization records for your whole family. With yourbrwritten consent, the registry gathers immunization records from private andbrpublic healthcare providers, Medicare and the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Authorizedbrprofessionals such as doctors, emergency clinics, schools and daycare centers canbrthen access up-to-date immunization records as needed.
You canbrlearn more online by watching the videoor calling the Texas Department of StatebrHealth Services 800-252-9152. The registry system is handy for adultbrshot records as well as children’s, so the whole family can benefit. Workingbrtogether with physicians, urgent care clinics and school health officials,brSouthlake families should be able to stay healthy and happy throughout thebr2013-2014 school year.
Josh Prickett,brMD, is currently medical director for North Tarrant location of E-CarebrEmergency Center in North Richland Hills. Dr. Prickett graduated from thebrUniversity of Oklahoma Medical School and has been practicing emergency care inbrOklahoma, Minnesota and Texas since 1989. brHe has been married to his wife Carin for 29 years. They have abrson Jonathan, a daughter Whitney, and a son-in-law John. Dr. Prickett andbrhis family are active at Gateway Church in Southlake and love being a part ofbrthe Southlake community.