Page 111 - Team Member Handbook Aug 2020.docx

POLICY: MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION POLICY #75
CREATION DATE: November 2018
REVISION DATE:
EFFECTIVE DATE: February 2019
*********************************************************************************

Purpose:
Jack and Jill Children’s Center will identify the procedures to be followed when a child
requires medication while in attendance at our center. Responsibilities of educators,
parents/guardians and the Chief Executive Officer to ensure the safe administration of
medication at Jack and Jill Children’s Center.

Policy Statement:
Scope
This policy applies to the Administration, educators, staff, students, volunteers,
parents/guardians, children and others attending the programs and activities of Jack and Jill
Children’s Center. Medications/treatments may be administered by the Chief Executive
Officer or their designee when there exists an illness that requires medication/treatment,
when failure to take the medication/treatment could jeopardize the student’s health, and
when the medication /treatment administration schedule cannot be accommodated before
or after school. Center personnel shall receive training on medication/treatment
administration prior to administering medications/treatments. The confidentiality of the
student’s diagnosis and health status shall be ensured.

Background and Legislation
Medication (including prescription and over-the-counter medications) must not be
administered to a child without the authorization of a parent/guardian or person with the
lawful authority to consent to the administration of medication attention to the child.
Administering medication requires skill, knowledge and careful attention to detail.
Parents/guardians and prescribing health professionals must give a caregiver/teacher
written authorization to administer medication to the child (American Academy of Pediatrics,
2011). There is always a risk that a child may have a negative reaction to a medication, and
children should be monitored for serious side effects that may require an emergency
response. In the case of an emergency, it is acceptable to obtain verbal consent from a
parent/guardian, or to obtain consent from a registered medical practitioner or medical
emergency services if the child’s parent/guardian cannot be contacted. In the case of an
anaphylaxis or asthma emergency, medication may be administered to a child without
authorization following the direction of a direct healthcare provider. In this circumstance,
the child’s parent/guardian must be contacted as soon as possible. When educators are
required to administer medication, they must abide by specific regulatory requirements,
such as written consent and must follow the guidelines outlined in the procedures section of
this policy.

The medication record protects the person administering medication by documenting the
process. The medication errors log can be reviewed and will point out what kind of
intervention, if any, will be helpful in reducing the number of medication errors. Accounting
for medications administered and thrown away is important for several reasons. It may assist
a health professional in determining whether the child is actually getting the medicine,
especially when the child is not getting better from treatment. Some medications are