Image Courtesy Of: www.bbc.com
Guest Post by Samantha Rose, NP, a pediatric nurse practitioner on the pediatric pulmonology team at The Mount Sinai Hospital
Starting a new school year can be stressful for all families: asthma or not. If you are the parent of a child with asthma, here are a few tips to start off the school year stress- and symptom-free
- Make an appointment with your pulmonologist a few weeks prior to school starting. This allows the team to do a fresh assessment of your child and have an up-to-date physical exam on file.
- Make sure your provider gives you a new Asthma Action Plan with all updated information and dates, even if the plan is unchanged from last year. Schools require that Asthma Action Plans be updated on a yearly basis.
- Request that all refills are e-prescribed to your child’s pharmacy during your visit to avoid last-minute requests later on.
- Due to time constraints, many pulmonologists will not be able to fill out school forms during your child’s visit. Bring copies of forms that need to be filled out, being sure to include school address and fax number on all paperwork. Give the office a week to fax or mail these forms to the school. As every school is different, discuss exactly what paperwork is needed with the school nurse ahead of time.
- Things can get hectic during the fall. Try to book your next appointment prior to leaving your provider’s office so that you do not forget later.
- If you are the parent of a teenager, even if your child seems to be on top of their medication usage, remember to check in with them to ensure they are taking their medications correctly throughout the school year.
- Most importantly, make sure you are confident about your child’s care plan, that you are comfortable with the current dose, and know how to use a spacer.