CHAPTER 5. CARE OF STUDENTS WITH DIABETES
IC 20-34-5
Chapter 5. Care of Students With Diabetes
IC 20-34-5-1
"Diabetes management and treatment plan"
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "diabetes management andtreatment plan" means a plan prepared under section 12 of thischapter.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-2
"Health care services"
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "health care services" has themeaning set forth in IC 27-8-11-1.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-3
"Individualized health plan"
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "individualized health plan" meansa coordinated plan of care designed to meet the unique health careneeds of a student with diabetes in a school setting.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-4
"Licensed health care practitioner"
Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "licensed health care practitioner"means an individual who:
(1) is licensed to provide health care services; and
(2) has prescriptive authority;
under IC 25.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-5
"Physician"
Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "physician" refers to an individualwho is licensed under IC 25-22.5.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-6
"Registered nurse"
Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "registered nurse" refers to anindividual who is licensed as a registered nurse under IC 25-23.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-7
"School"
Sec. 7. As used in this chapter, "school" refers to a public school,including a charter school.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-8
"School employee"
Sec. 8. As used in this chapter, "school employee" means anindividual employed by:
(1) a public school, including a charter school, or an accreditednonpublic school;
(2) a local health department working with a school under thischapter; or
(3) another entity with which a school has contracted to performthe duties required under this chapter.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-9
"School nurse"
Sec. 9. As used in this chapter, "school nurse" refers to anindividual who:
(1) is employed by a school;
(2) is licensed as a registered nurse under IC 25-23; and
(3) meets the requirements set forth in 515 IAC 8-1-47.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-10
"Student"
Sec. 10. As used in this chapter, "student" refers to a student withdiabetes.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-11
"Volunteer health aide"
Sec. 11. As used in this chapter, "volunteer health aide" means aschool employee who:
(1) is not licensed or authorized to provide health care servicesunder IC 25;
(2) volunteers to act in the capacity of a volunteer health aide;and
(3) has successfully completed the training described in section15 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.3-2008,SEC.119.
IC 20-34-5-12
Requirements of plan
Sec. 12. (a) A diabetes management and treatment plan must beprepared and implemented for a student with diabetes for use duringschool hours or at a school related activity. The plan must bedeveloped by:
(1) the licensed health care practitioner responsible for thestudent's diabetes treatment; and
(2) the student's parent or legal guardian.
(b) A diabetes management and treatment plan must: (1) identify the health care services or procedures the studentshould receive at school;
(2) evaluate the student's:
(A) ability to manage; and
(B) level of understanding of;
the student's diabetes; and
(3) be signed by the student's parent or legal guardian and thelicensed health care practitioner responsible for the student'sdiabetes treatment.
(c) The parent or legal guardian of a student with diabetes shallsubmit a copy of the student's diabetes management and treatmentplan to the school nurse. The plan must be submitted to and bereviewed by the school nurse:
(1) before or at the beginning of a school year;
(2) at the time the student enrolls, if the student is enrolled inschool after the beginning of the school year; or
(3) as soon as practicable following a diagnosis of diabetes forthe student.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-13
Development of plan
Sec. 13. (a) An individualized health plan must be developed foreach student with diabetes while the student is at school orparticipating in a school activity. The school's nurse shall develop astudent's individualized health plan in collaboration with:
(1) to the extent practicable, the licensed health carepractitioner responsible for the student's diabetes treatment;
(2) the school principal;
(3) the student's parent or legal guardian; and
(4) one (1) or more of the student's teachers.
(b) A student's individualized health plan must incorporate thecomponents of the student's diabetes management and treatmentplan.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-14
Use of volunteer health aides
Sec. 14. (a) At each school in which a student with diabetes isenrolled, the school principal, after consultation with the schoolnurse, shall:
(1) seek school employees to serve as volunteer health aides;and
(2) make efforts to ensure that the school has an adequatenumber of volunteer health aides to care for students.
(b) A volunteer health aide, while providing health care services,serves under the supervision and authorization of the principal andthe school nurse in accordance with the requirements that apply tothe school nurse under IC 25-23.
(c) A volunteer health aide must have access to the school nurse,
in person or by telephone, during the hours that the volunteer healthaide serves as a volunteer health aide.
(d) A school employee may not be subject to any disciplinaryaction for refusing to serve as a volunteer health aide. The schoolshall inform school employees that participation as a volunteer healthaide is voluntary. A school employee who volunteers as a volunteerhealth aide may elect to perform only those functions that the schoolemployee:
(1) chooses to perform; and
(2) is trained to perform in the training program described insection 15 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-15
Diabetes training program
Sec. 15. (a) The department may cooperate with the statedepartment of health in the development of a diabetes trainingprogram for school nurses. The department, with the assistance ofphysicians or registered nurses who are qualified in the area ofdiabetes training, shall provide annual diabetes training programs toschool nurses. The training must include technological advances,current standards of practice for diabetes management and training,and instruction in the following:
(1) Developing individualized health plans for students withdiabetes that follow the orders of a licensed health carepractitioner.
(2) Recognizing and treating the symptoms of hypoglycemiaand hyperglycemia.
(3) Understanding the current standards of practice and theproper action to take if the blood glucose levels of a student areoutside the target ranges indicated on the student's diabetesmanagement and treatment plan.
(4) Performing tests to check glucose and ketone levels, andrecording the results.
(5) Properly administering glucagon, insulin, or otheremergency treatments prescribed by the licensed health carepractitioner, and recording the results.
(6) Recognizing complications that require emergency medicalassistance.
(7) Understanding recommended schedules and food intake formeals and snacks for a student, the effect of physical activity onblood glucose levels, and the proper action to be taken if astudent's schedule referred to in this subdivision is disrupted.
(b) The department may cooperate with the state department ofhealth in the development of a diabetes training program forvolunteer health aides. The department, with the assistance ofphysicians and registered nurses who are qualified in the area ofdiabetes training, shall provide a diabetes training program forvolunteer health aides which includes the most current standards ofpractice and technology for diabetes treatment. The training must
include the following:
(1) Implementing the orders of a licensed health carepractitioner.
(2) Recognizing and treating the symptoms of hypoglycemiaand hyperglycemia consistent with the orders of the licensedhealth care practitioner.
(3) Performing tests to check glucose and ketone levels, andrecording the results.
(4) Properly administering glucagon, insulin, or otheremergency treatments as prescribed, and recording the results.
(5) Recognizing complications that require emergency medicalassistance.
(6) Understanding:
(A) recommended schedules and food intake for meals andsnacks;
(B) the effect of physical activity on blood glucose levels;and
(C) the proper action to be taken if a student's schedule isdisrupted.
(c) The school nurse shall coordinate:
(1) the training of school employees acting as volunteer healthaides, using the training program developed under subsection(b); and
(2) the record keeping and monitoring of a volunteer health aideacting under this chapter.
(d) Training for volunteer health aides must be provided by ahealth care professional with expertise in the care of individuals withdiabetes or by a school nurse. The training must be provided beforethe beginning of the school year or as soon as practicable following:
(1) the enrollment; or
(2) the diagnosis;
of a student with diabetes at a school that previously had no studentswith diabetes.
(e) The school nurse or principal shall maintain a copy of thetraining program and the records of training completed by schoolemployees.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-16
Tasks; school nurses and volunteer health aides
Sec. 16. (a) The school nurse shall perform the tasks necessary toassist a student in carrying out the student's individualized healthplan.
(b) When necessary, a volunteer health aide may perform the tasksnecessary to assist a student in carrying out the student'sindividualized health plan, in compliance with the training guidelinesprovided under section 15 of this chapter.
(c) A volunteer health aide may act under this section only if theparent or legal guardian of the student signs an agreement that:
(1) authorizes a volunteer health aide to assist the student; and (2) states that the parent or legal guardian understands that, asprovided under IC 34-30-14, a volunteer health aide is not liablefor civil damages for assisting in the student's care.
(d) A volunteer health aide who assists a student under thissection:
(1) is not considered to be engaging in the practice of nursing;and
(2) is exempt from applicable statutes and rules that restrictactivities that may be performed by an individual who is not anindividual licensed or authorized under IC 25 to provide healthcare services.
(e) A school corporation may not restrict the assignment of astudent to a particular school on the sole basis of whether the schoolhas volunteer health aides.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-17
Authorized diabetes management and treatment activities
Sec. 17. (a) As provided in a student's individualized health plan,a school shall, except in an emergency, allow the student to attend tothe management and care of the student's diabetes if the student hasbeen evaluated and determined to be capable of doing so as reflectedin the student's individual health plan and the student's diabetesmanagement and treatment plan, including the following activities:
(1) Performing blood glucose level checks.
(2) Administering insulin through the insulin delivery systemthe student uses.
(3) Treating hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
(4) Possessing on the student's person at any time the suppliesor equipment necessary to monitor and care for the student'sdiabetes.
(5) Otherwise attending to the management and care of thestudent's diabetes in the classroom, in any area of the school orschool grounds, or at any school related activity.
(b) The school nurse shall, in accordance with the requirementsthat apply to the school nurse under IC 25-23, establish a procedurethrough which a student described in subsection (a) is cared for in anemergency.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.
IC 20-34-5-18
Information sheet requirement
Sec. 18. A school shall provide the individual who is responsiblefor providing transportation for or supervising a student withdiabetes during an off-campus school related activity an informationsheet that:
(1) identifies the student with diabetes;
(2) identifies potential emergencies that may occur as a resultof the diabetes and appropriate responses to an emergency; and
(3) provides the telephone number of a contact in case an
emergency occurs.
As added by P.L.166-2007, SEC.2.