Health Center Welcome
Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians,
On behalf of the TSBVI nursing team, we would like to welcome you. We look forward to getting to know and working with your student. Prior to the student’s arrival, Health Center nurses will be calling students, parents, and guardians to obtain updated medical information so the Health Center will be prepared to care for students.
Following is Health Center information that you will find helpful about communication, student/parent/guardian responsibilities, illness, hospitalization, medical appointments, and medication management. Please feel free to contact the Health Center at (512) 206-9136 or email us at [email protected]. Our fax number is (512) 206-9445.
Health Center General Information
The Health Center collaborates closely with students, families, healthcare providers, and school staff regarding each student’s medical needs. For this reason, it is important that parents/guardians are available to respond to communications from the school, Health Center, or emergency personnel. This is especially important during an urgent or emergency medical situation in which a student may need to be transported to a medical facility.
Parents/guardians may be asked to keep the student at home if the student is ill or seriously injured, or with certain medication changes (such as starting a new behavioral health or seizure medication), medical treatments, or home care is required. TSBVI’s Health Center Director will collaborate with healthcare providers and families to determine the required time for care at home and when the student may return to TSBVI.
Illness, Fever, and Communicable Diseases
A student who is ill will not be able to perform well in school and may spread their illness to other students and staff. TSBVI follows Department of State Health Services guidelines regarding communicable illnesses, which also include respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, flu, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). If your student has a fever greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, they will need to remain at home until well.
Students who appear ill while attending TSBVI will be assessed and monitored by nurses in an area away from others. Depending on the student’s symptoms and medical history, families may be notified to make immediate arrangements to pick up their student. This allows the student to recuperate at home and follow up with their own healthcare provider as needed.
We encourage students and families to develop a backup plan that includes at least three other persons (family, friends, home school liaison) that may be able to pick up your student if you are not able to do it.
Emergency Transport to Hospital or Emergency Department
If it becomes necessary to transport a student to a hospital, the student, parent, or guardian will communicate directly with the hospital or medical facility. Parents and guardians must make immediate arrangements to come to Austin to be with their student at the hospital or medical facility, attend to their care, communicate with healthcare providers, make medical decisions, and take their student home. TSBVI is unable to assume this responsibility.
Once the hospital discharges the student from the hospital, parents or guardians will need to obtain follow-up care, which may include an examination with the student’s appropriate medical provider (neurologist, endocrinologist, behavioral health, primary care, etc.) and obtain a release for the student to return to school. Once TSBVI receives the follow-up information from the student’s appropriate healthcare provider, a return to TSBVI will be addressed. The TSBVI Health Center Director will review and identify if any additional information is needed before making arrangements for the student to return to TSBVI.
We ask that parents or guardians keep the student at home if the student is ill or seriously injured or when home care and supervision are required due to a medical treatment plan (e.g., starting a new behavioral health or seizure medication). The student’s healthcare provider or the Department of State Health Services School Communicable Disease Chart determines the length of time that the student will need to remain at home. This allows the family to carefully monitor the student and quickly follow up with the student’s healthcare provider in case of medical complications or undesired side effects from a new medication or treatment plan.
Students with serious, ongoing, or potentially contagious illnesses or conditions will need to be picked up from TSBVI by the parent, guardian, or designee. In these instances, students will not be permitted to ride the Weekends Home buses or planes.
Parents or guardians must provide TSBVI with at least three reliable emergency contacts who can respond to TSBVI within 24 hours or sooner when emergency circumstances require parental consent for treatment or pick-up from TSBVI or a hospital. TSBVI requests that parents or guardians create a backup plan that includes other alternates (family, friends, district) who can come to Austin to pick up the student if they cannot do so. If problems occur with student pick-up related to a medical issue, the student’s educational team, including the parents or guardians and the LEA, will need to meet to discuss eligibility.
TSBVI will provide mileage reimbursement upon request to parents/guardians traveling to pick up a student due to health reasons.
Medical, Dental, and Behavioral Health Appointments
All routine medical evaluations, care, and treatment, including immunizations and dental need to be scheduled by the student/parents/guardians in the student’s hometown.
Students/parents/guardians will need to make plans for continued behavioral health appointments either via telehealth or in the student’s hometown.
The Health Center team looks forward to having your student at TSBVI. Please feel free to call the Health Center at (512) 206-9136 or email at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.
In health and wellness,
Sally A Freeman, MSN, RN, NCSN
TSBVI Health Center Director
