Update on Diabetes Management in School Settings

In the Summer of 2016, Act 86 of 2016 amended the Pennsylvania Public School Code allowing the school nurse, in consultation with the superintendent, to identify at least one school employee in each school building (“Trained Diabetes Personnel”), who is not the school nurse and who does not need to be a licensed health care practitioner, to administer diabetes medical care and treatment. The Trained Diabetes Personnel is required to complete annual education in specifically-identified areas.   The Departments of Education and Health released November 2016 regulations and a one-hundred and thirty-three (133) page Resource Guide [Diabetes in School Children: Recommendations and Resource Guide for School Personnel, 2016], for necessary training and education.  For trained diabetes personnel who are not licensed healthcare practitioners to administer diabetes medications via injection or infusion, the Trained Diabetes Personnel must complete annual education by a licensed healthcare practitioner with expertise in the treatment and care of diabetes and the school must receive written authorization from both the student’s healthcare practitioner and parent/guardian that the Trained Diabetes Personnel may administer specified medications. Read on…