Dear parents, students and guardians:

Berkshire School – Student Health Service
Medication Letter

Dear Parents, Students and Guardians,
Berkshire School’s medication policy has been developed to insure the health and safety of all
students. Please read and review this policy thoroughly with your child before beginning school.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires that we have a written order for each prescription
medication your child takes. Please have your child’s primary care provider complete the
Medication Form for each medication that your child takes and return it to our office before
school starts. If your child’s prescription changes or they begin a new medication during the year
we will need an updated new Medication Form. We must receive these written orders within 3
days to avoid having to discontinue the medications.
Students who take psychotropic medication and/or controlled medication must take each dose in
person at the Student Health Service where these medications must be stored, and administered
by a Registered Nurse. Any student who takes insulin must take each dose at Student Health
Service, unless otherwise arranged with SHS. When students are prescribed such medications
they are expected to take their medications consistently, as ordered, or they may be asked to leave
school.
Students who take psychotropic medications or medications regulated by the federal government
as controlled substances must comply with the following protocol. The parents or prescribing
primary care provider must send the actual original written medication prescription directly
to the Student Health Service NO LATER THAN two weeks before registration, BUT NO
EARLIER THEN August 14th. Please mail the written prescription along with a copy of
both sides of your insurance card to:

Student Health Service
ATT: Nurses

Examples of psychotropic and controlled medications include, but are not limited to, Adderall,
Ritalin, Vyvanse, Focalin, Dexedrine, Concerta, Strattera, Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, and
medications containing codeine such as Tylenol #3, Vicodin, and Robitussin AC.
For continuity we strongly suggest that each prescription for psychotropic medication be filled at
our local pharmacy. The Student Health Service will be responsible for submitting the written
prescription to the pharmacy. The local pharmacy will then deliver the medications back to the
Student Health Service. There will not be a delivery charge for this. If it is not possible to have
your child’s prescription filled at our local pharmacy, please be advised that the Student Health
Service cannot accept medications which will be dispensed from our office that are brought or
mailed to us without the contents being verified. There will be a $5 fee from the local pharmacy
to verify all medications delivered in this manner. The prescription medication must be in the
original pharmacy container with the pharmacy label printed in English. Students who take
psychotropic medications or controlled substances are not permitted to have these medications in
their possession at any time without permission of Student Health Service.
It is the responsibility of the family to insure that their child maintains an adequate supply of
prescription refills. Please have all written prescriptions for psychotropic medication as well as all
psychotropic medication sent directly to Student Health Service, not to your child. According to
Massachusetts law we are not permitted to store more than a 30 day supply of any medication at
school. It is for this reason that we ask you to call our office monthly to check on your child’s
medication supply and compliance. It also remains the responsibility of the parents to keep a
supply of medication at home for weekends and vacations as the Health Center cannot dispense
large quantities of medication to the students to carry off campus. It is the parent/guardian’s
responsibility to coordinate with the prescribing practitioner and plan for medication that will be
needed at home.
It is the responsibility of the family to instruct your child in the proper way to use his/her
medication as well as the proper technique. Please review this with them before they come to
school.
It is the expectation of Student Health Service that all students on psychotropic medication who
are “stable” will be seen in person by their prescribing physician quarterly. Students who are new
to medication or having any associated concerns should be monitored by their physician in person
more frequently. If your child is unable to see their physician at home then psychiatric
consultation can be set up at Berkshire School through the counseling office as needed.
Medications will be destroyed if not picked up at the close of school or at any time the medication
order is discontinued or the student leaves school.
If you have any questions regarding Berkshire’s medication policy, please feel free to contact us
at the Student Health Service office. During the summer the office is closed. You may leave a
message, and your call will be returned.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Jennifer Edelman-Crine, RN ‘79 Carolee Harrigan, RN
Director of Student Health Service

Source: https://www.berkshireschool.org/uploaded/Document_Files/Student_Health_Forms_2011-12/NEW_Student_Health_Forms_2012-13/07_-_Medication_Policy_Letter_2012_-_2013.pdf