School wants us to sign a crazy medical release form..

[tiggger1]

Yesterday my 4th grade daughter brought home an orange medical emergency form which was followed by a phone call from the principal stating that parents needed to fill out the form and return it asap. We have already filled out a similar one at the beginning of the year which just had emergency contact information.

Well this form is causing a major stir with the parents because of what type of information they want. I am ok with them wanting the names and number of my childrens' pediatrician and dentist but they also want insurance information for both.. all of their doctors have this information on file, so I dont understand why the school needs this..

the biggest problem is that there are 3 medical releases on the back that they want us to sign.

( these are slightly paraphrased because I dont have the form anymore)

#1 if my child has an emergency and they cannot reach me they are allowed to contact my child's doctor for a referral.

#2 i allow the school nurse to give ANY school personnel any medical information about my child, that she feels important.

#3 I give the school nurse permission to have unlimited access any of my childrens medical records (not limited to, information about appointments, referrals, physicals, lab results, immunization records, phone calls)

#3 is what angers me the most. I dont want the school to have unlimited access to that information and honestly I dont know how they can even get that information without me signing a HIPPA release form at the doctors but I still refused to sign any of them?

Would you have signed it?

 

[newt2]

I would raise those concerns with the school before signing, at a minimum.

 

[kamik86]

Yesterday my 4th grade daughter brought home an orange medical emergency form which was followed by a phone call from the principal stating that parents needed to fill out the form and return it asap. We have already filled out a similar one at the beginning of the year which just had emergency contact information.

Well this form is causing a major stir with the parents because of what type of information they want. I am ok with them wanting the names and number of my childrens' pediatrician and dentist but they also want insurance information for both.. all of their doctors have this information on file, so I dont understand why the school needs this..

the biggest problem is that there are 3 medical releases on the back that they want us to sign.

( these are slightly paraphrased because I dont have the form anymore)

#1 if my child has an emergency and they cannot reach me they are allowed to contact my child's doctor for a referral.

#2 i allow the school nurse to give ANY school personnel any medical information about my child, that she feels important.

#3 I give the school nurse permission to have unlimited access any of my childrens medical records (not limited to, information about appointments, referrals, physicals, lab results, immunization records, phone calls)

#3 is what angers me the most. I dont want the school to have unlimited access to that information and honestly I dont know how they can even get that information without me signing a HIPPA release form at the doctors but I still refused to sign any of them?

Would you have signed it?

I would have no problem signing number 1. If for some reason my (hypothetical) child has a problem and they can't reach me I would rather they call my doctor and take their advise then do nothing or make something up.

2 and 3... no I would be refusing to sign those ones.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

Wow, I was with the school until those releases. I wouldn't sign any other than the first.

I thought HIPPA was created to prevent this. The nurse is getting free reign to tell the janitor your child's medical information (ok, I know that's a stretch, but I hope you get what I'm saying).
Hopefully the uproar will cause the school to have an open meeting to explain to the parents why they are asking for these permissions.

 

[mickeyboat]

I would not have signed it, and I am not picky at all about these kinds of releases in general.

It looks to me like they don't want to have to bother with HIPPA at all.

 

[JessicaR]

I wouldn't sign #2 and #3.
As far as #2 - if a teacher has a question relating to my childs medical condition - they can ask me not the nurse. And, #3 - just no way.

 

[Janepod]

I wouldn't have a problem signing any of it. So the school nurse knows my kid's medical history - what's the downside there? She knows if he's had allergic reactions to something or if he still has his appendix or whatever ... she's a professional. I really don't see the fuss.

 

[sam_gordon]

The insurance information I don't have a problem with. Yes, if they have to take the child to their pediatrician, that information is on file. What if they have to take the child somewhere else?
#1 I don't have a problem with.
#2 & #3 I wouldn't sign without finding out more information about why this is needed. The school should be able to give an example of why this is needed. FWIW, the immunization record thing doesn't bother me, lab results, appointments, tests, etc, does.

 

[SaraJayne]

I never give insurance info to the school. They have the dr/dentist/hospital my child should be taken to and by the time that would happen, DH and/or I would already be on our way to provide it to the appropriate people.

It's none of the school's business, and I definitely wouldn't sign that release form (other than #1).

 

[cabanafrau]

From what I've seen in the courtroom doctors' offices typically won't release information simply because they are presented with a signed release. They generally require a signed release form on their own release forms, not a standard release form signed by a patient or guardian that is generated by another party, even a government agency in most cases.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Agree with the others that I would sign the first release and then tell them to pound sand on the second and third release.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

We already fill out the actual medical stuff and a form that is very similar to #1. I would ask about #2 and #3. Looks as though the school had a problem with a very sick child and could not proceed and are looking to cover their butts. I am sure they really don't want the information as it gives them more responsibility but it looks like a legal matter is pushing it.

 

[Fire14]

Not school but I'm a nurse and can't get half that info from md office when I call to let office know of a concern or what not. Heck 9 times out of 10 I can't find out if m pt has been taken to hosp

 

[tiggger1]

thank you!

I could deal with the insurance information and even with number 1 but the way they are worded they are wide open to interpretation.

If #2 said that the nurse could give medical information to the child's teachers I wouldnt have an issue with it. but it was worded at she could share the information with any school personnel.

# 3 is what really bothers me. It basically says that I give them permission to access any medical information they need.

My son was in the hospitalized 4 days last month with a bad case of cellulitus. When he was released from the hospital, I was given a note for the school that stated he was hospitalized for an illness and when he was allowed to go back to school. I did tell her he had cellulitus, she also wanted to know what meds he was on, what meds he had in the hospital, she also wanted me to have a copy of his follow up. I asked her why she needed it and she said she wanted to make sure he was being treated correctly. she questioned the diagnosis and she kept saying that it sounded like he had MRSA and that if he did I was required by law to tell the school... thankfully he did not have MRSA but I am sure she was itching to see the medical records to make sure I was not lying to her...

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd be asking the school what compelled them to create this form, why they need htis infomation & what happens if I don't sign it.

 

[kimblebee]

I wouldn't have a problem signing any of it. So the school nurse knows my kid's medical history - what's the downside there? She knows if he's had allergic reactions to something or if he still has his appendix or whatever ... she's a professional. I really don't see the fuss.

I totally agree with you. Who cares if someone knows she had bad ear infections til she was 5? Heck, I wouldn't care if they had an assembly to announce that I have MS. It's not a secret and I don't really care who knows.

 

[rgf207]

I would agree with #1. #2 doesn't really bother me that much. #3 is irrelevant due to HIPPA. It doesn't matter what signature the school has, if your Dr. doesn't have permission from YOU to give that info to the school, they can't get it.

 

[focusondisney]

thank you!

I could deal with the insurance information and even with number 1 but the way they are worded they are wide open to interpretation.

If #2 said that the nurse could give medical information to the child's teachers I wouldnt have an issue with it. but it was worded at she could share the information with any school personnel.

# 3 is what really bothers me. It basically says that I give them permission to access any medical information they need.

My son was in the hospitalized 4 days last month with a bad case of cellulitus. When he was released from the hospital, I was given a note for the school that stated he was hospitalized for an illness and when he was allowed to go back to school. I did tell her he had cellulitus, she also wanted to know what meds he was on, what meds he had in the hospital, she also wanted me to have a copy of his follow up. I asked her why she needed it and she said she wanted to make sure he was being treated correctly. she questioned the diagnosis and she kept saying that it sounded like he had MRSA and that if he did I was required by law to tell the school... thankfully he did not have MRSA but I am sure she was itching to see the medical records to make sure I was not lying to her...

So the school nurse thought she knew more than the hospital MDs who treated your son???? I am an RN, who has worked in a hospital for almost 35 years. I would absolutely blow a gasket if a school nurse tried to question/ second guess the doctors like that. I'm sure your son went thru lots of testing/ cultures to get the right diagnosis & meds. And the nurse thinks she can diagnosis just by hearing symptoms?? She's not qualified or licensed to diagnosis at all.

No way would I be signing those releases or giving the school unlimited access to my child's medical records. I wouldn't even give them the insurance info. If there's a medical emergency, they should be calling the paramedics who would transport to a hospital if needed. I can't think of any other circumstance where the school nurse would need to take my child to the pediatrician. Anything that's not an emergency can wait til I get there. In this day of cell phones/ constant contact, I can't imagine a school not being able to get in touch with a parent in a reasonable amount of time.

And knowing that school nurse has a history of questioning my child's medical care, I wouldn't trust her to keep out of things that are none of her business. JMHO. And remember, I'm a nurse too.

 

[tvguy]

Sounds like a typical school release form, they haven't change much in decades, while privacy laws have. Reality is, they COULD need this information in an emergency.

 

[tvguy]

I would agree with #1. #2 doesn't really bother me that much. #3 is irrelevant due to HIPPA. It doesn't matter what signature the school has, if your Dr. doesn't have permission from YOU to give that info to the school, they can't get it.

Not an attorney but I think HIPPA is the reason for that line, so they CAN release the information.