COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 67
May 17, 2002
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne
DeMary Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Inclusion of
Iron Deficiency Screen and Urinalysis in School Entrance Physicals for
Kindergarten or Elementary School Enrollment |
This memo is
to provide clarification received from the Virginia Department of Health for
section 22.1-270 of the Code of Virginia.
This section states as follows:
No pupil shall be admitted for the first
time
to any public kindergarten or elementary
school
in a school division unless such pupil
shall
furnish, prior to admission, (i) a report from a qualified licensed physician, a licensed nurse practitioner, or a licensed physicians assistant acting under the supervision of a licensed physician, of a comprehensive physical examination of a scope prescribed by the State Health Commissioner performed within the twelve months prior to the date such pupil first enters such public kindergarten or elementary school
The State
Health Commissioner has clarified through a memorandum to the Department of
Education dated 12/21/01 that a comprehensive physical includes (a) a screen
for iron-deficiency anemia, or (b) hemoglobin, or (c) a hematocrit and a
urinalysis. The Virginia Department of
Education and the Virginia Department of Health require documentation on
the MCH 213D (Preschool Entrance Physical Examination and Immunization Form) of
a hemoglobin or hematocrit within the previous 12 months, or documentation of
an iron-deficiency anemia risk assessment as well as a urinalysis.
The
Virginia Department of Health and the Department of Medical Assistance Services
have adopted the iron deficiency screening found in the guidelines for health
supervision of infants, children, and adolescents established and recommended
by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and
Services Administration Maternal and Child Health Bureau. These recommendations can be found in Bright
Futures (2002) www.brightfutures.org.
These
recommendations are also supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the
American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association, the
National Association of School Nurses, and the National Association of
Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners.
Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend
that health professionals assess children ages 1 to 5 years for risk of anemia.
Should
you have any further questions, please contact Gwen P. Smith, RN, MSN school
health specialist at 804-786-8671 or gsmith@mail.vak12ed.edu.
JLD/gps