Medical Information

medical kit

Health Office and School Nurses

The Health Office is Room 125, to the right of the Counseling Office (see campus map).

One of our two nurses -- Ms. Lewis or Mr. Phillips -- is on campus in the Health Office each day.

Teachers issue referral forms when a student has a health issue. Students are required to have a pass to go to the Nurse’s Office unless a medical emergency has occurred.

Please keep your child home if they have a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive coughing or congestion, eye discharge, or any other serious or contagious illness. A student should never attend school with a rash unless it has been found not to be contagious by a physician.

Parents should make sure that their emergency information is up to date, in case the Health Office needs to contact them.

To send immunization records or other messages to the Health Office and nurses, email Ms. Saulsberry in the Student Services Office.

Be sure to read, sign, and return the LAUSD Student Health Policies notice in your Registration Packet.

Click or tap the subjects below for more medical information.

Tdap Booster Shots Required for 7th Graders

California requires that all public and private school students have proof of a tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap) booster shot before starting 7th grade.

7th grade students who do not provide proof of their Tdap booster by the start of the Fall semester will be excluded from school.

If your child entering 7th grade has not yet received the Tdap booster shot, contact your doctor, clinic, or the health department to get the shot. Then bring a copy of your child's immunization record (the "yellow card") to the Student Services or Health Office (see campus map).

If you have questions about the Tdap requirement you can:

contact the Palms Health Office
see the information for parents, in either English or Spanish, at the California Department of Public Health
find information at Shots for Schools
contact LAUSD Local District West Nursing Services
contact LAUSD Nursing Services

Low-Cost or No-Cost Vaccines

The Tdap booster is recommended for children age 10 and older. If your child does not have a doctor or insurance coverage for the Tdap booster you can find low cost or no-cost vaccine clinics as follows:

Check the L.A. County Dept. of Public Health's List of Immunization Clinics by City
Dial 2-1-1 for the Los Angeles County Information Line
Contact Palms for information on Tdap immunization programs offered near school
Read about Vaccines for Your Children

Immunizations

LAUSD and the Los Angeles County Health Department regulations require that complete health and immunization records for students new to the district be presented in written form and authorized or signed by a public health clinic, health care provider or private doctor before a student can begin attending classes. The health records should be brought when parents come to pre-register their children for the new school year.

Parents with additional questions can

contact the Palms Heath Office
contact LAUSD Nursing Services

Medications

A student who needs to take prescription or over-the-counter medication during school hours must have a statement to this effect on file at the school, signed by the prescribing physician and the parent/guardian. The required forms are available form the Health Office or an administrator. The same applies to medical equipment, such as crutches.

School health personnel do not prescribe or give advice regarding medication or other care beyond first aid.

Students with Severe Allergies

Physical Examinations

Students enrolling for the first time in LAUSD secondary schools are encouraged to provide the school with a report of a recent physical examination. Forms for this purpose may be obtained from the Health Office.

Screening of vision and hearing will be done in accordance with State guidelines. Parents/guardians will be notified of any findings in these mandated screening tests that require further attention.

If you do not want your student screened you must provide this request in writing to the Health Office.

Other Health Information You Should Know

Communicable disease inspections will be conducted periodically. A student suspected of having a communicable disease will be excluded from school until guidelines for readmission are met.

An effort will be made to notify parents/guardians about school exposure to chicken pox. The parent/guardian of a student for who chicken pox presents a particular hazard should contact the Health Office to facilitate notification. Students at risk include those with deficient immune systems and those receiving certain drugs for the treatment of leukemia or organ transplants.

A student returning to school with sutures, casts, crutches, brace(s), a wheelchair, or an injury must have a physician's written permission to attend school, must have a statement from their physician outlining their limitations, and must comply with any safety procedures required by the school administration and Health Services personnel.

A student returning to school following a serious or prolonged illness, injury, surgery, or other hospitalization, must have written permission by the health care provider to attend school, including any recommendations regarding physical activity.

A parent's written request for an excuse from participation in physical education will be accepted for up to 5 days; thereafter, a written request is needed from the student's health care provider. Requests for exemption beyond 5 days are referred to the Health Office.

A current Emergency Information Card must be on file at the school so that parents/guardians can be notified promptly in case of accident or illness involving their child.

School health personnel are available for consultation.

Vision to Learn

Health Resources