Specialized Health Care Procedures in the Schools: Training and Service Delivery

Students who require specialized health care procedures at school need school personnel with specific knowledge and skills to promote a safe, healthy environment and to assist with procedures. This comprehensive national study examined the extent to which nonmedical personnel were responsible for performing health care procedures, training and supervising health care procedures, training in basic health skills to promote a safe environment for all students, and involving students in performing their own health care procedures. Results indicated that while teachers and paraprofessionals regularly perform these specialized health care procedures, although only about half reported being very knowledgeable about them. Results raise several issues regarding appropriate service delivery, training, and maintaining an appropriate instructional and healthy environment for students requiring these specialized health care procedures.