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 and
treatment plan" means a plan prepared under section 12 of this
chapter.
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 the
meaning 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" means
a coordinated plan of care designed to meet the unique health care
needs 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 individual
who 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 an
individual 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 an
individual employed by:
(1) a public school, including a charter school, or an accredited
nonpublic school;
(2) a local health department working with a school under this
chapter; or
(3) another entity with which a school has contracted to perform
the 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 an
individual 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 with
diabetes.
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 a
school employee who:
(1) is not licensed or authorized to provide health care services
under IC 25;
(2) volunteers to act in the capacity of a volunteer health aide;
and
(3) has successfully completed the training described in section
15 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 be
prepared and implemented for a student with diabetes for use during
school hours or at a school related activity. The plan must be
developed by:
(1) the licensed health care practitioner responsible for the
student'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 student
should 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 the
licensed health care practitioner responsible for the student's
diabetes treatment.
(c) The parent or legal guardian of a student with diabetes shall
submit a copy of the student's diabetes management and treatment
plan to the school nurse. The plan must be submitted to and be
reviewed 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 in
school after the beginning of the school year; or
(3) as soon as practicable following a diagnosis of diabetes for
the 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 for
each student with diabetes while the student is at school or
participating in a school activity. The school's nurse shall develop a
student's individualized health plan in collaboration with:
(1) to the extent practicable, the licensed health care
practitioner 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 the
components of the student's diabetes management and treatment
plan.
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 is
enrolled, the school principal, after consultation with the school
nurse, shall:
(1) seek school employees to serve as volunteer health aides;
and
(2) make efforts to ensure that the school has an adequate
number 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 and
the school nurse in accordance with the requirements that apply to
the 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 health
aide serves as a volunteer health aide.
(d) A school employee may not be subject to any disciplinary
action for refusing to serve as a volunteer health aide. The school
shall inform school employees that participation as a volunteer health
aide is voluntary. A school employee who volunteers as a volunteer
health aide may elect to perform only those functions that the school
employee:
(1) chooses to perform; and
(2) is trained to perform in the training program described in
section 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 state
department of health in the development of a diabetes training
program for school nurses. The department, with the assistance of
physicians or registered nurses who are qualified in the area of
diabetes training, shall provide annual diabetes training programs to
school 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 with
diabetes that follow the orders of a licensed health care
practitioner.
(2) Recognizing and treating the symptoms of hypoglycemia
and hyperglycemia.
(3) Understanding the current standards of practice and the
proper action to take if the blood glucose levels of a student are
outside the target ranges indicated on the student's diabetes
management and treatment plan.
(4) Performing tests to check glucose and ketone levels, and
recording the results.
(5) Properly administering glucagon, insulin, or other
emergency treatments prescribed by the licensed health care
practitioner, and recording the results.
(6) Recognizing complications that require emergency medical
assistance.
(7) Understanding recommended schedules and food intake for
meals and snacks for a student, the effect of physical activity on
blood glucose levels, and the proper action to be taken if a
student's schedule referred to in this subdivision is disrupted.
(b) The department may cooperate with the state department of
health in the development of a diabetes training program for
volunteer health aides. The department, with the assistance of
physicians and registered nurses who are qualified in the area of
diabetes training, shall provide a diabetes training program for
volunteer health aides which includes the most current standards of
practice and technology for diabetes treatment. The training must
include the following:
(1) Implementing the orders of a licensed health care
practitioner.
(2) Recognizing and treating the symptoms of hypoglycemia
and hyperglycemia consistent with the orders of the licensed
health care practitioner.
(3) Performing tests to check glucose and ketone levels, and
recording the results.
(4) Properly administering glucagon, insulin, or other
emergency treatments as prescribed, and recording the results.
(5) Recognizing complications that require emergency medical
assistance.
(6) Understanding:
(A) recommended schedules and food intake for meals and
snacks;
(B) the effect of physical activity on blood glucose levels;
and
(C) the proper action to be taken if a student's schedule is
disrupted.
(c) The school nurse shall coordinate:
(1) the training of school employees acting as volunteer health
aides, using the training program developed under subsection
(b); and
(2) the record keeping and monitoring of a volunteer health aide
acting under this chapter.
(d) Training for volunteer health aides must be provided by a
health care professional with expertise in the care of individuals with
diabetes or by a school nurse. The training must be provided before
the 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 students
with diabetes.
(e) The school nurse or principal shall maintain a copy of the
training program and the records of training completed by school
employees.
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 to
assist a student in carrying out the student's individualized health
plan.
(b) When necessary, a volunteer health aide may perform the tasks
necessary to assist a student in carrying out the student's
individualized health plan, in compliance with the training guidelines
provided under section 15 of this chapter.
(c) A volunteer health aide may act under this section only if the
parent 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, as
provided under IC 34-30-14, a volunteer health aide is not liable
for civil damages for assisting in the student's care.
(d) A volunteer health aide who assists a student under this
section:
(1) is not considered to be engaging in the practice of nursing;
and
(2) is exempt from applicable statutes and rules that restrict
activities that may be performed by an individual who is not an
individual licensed or authorized under IC 25 to provide health
care services.
(e) A school corporation may not restrict the assignment of a
student to a particular school on the sole basis of whether the school
has 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 to
the management and care of the student's diabetes if the student has
been evaluated and determined to be capable of doing so as reflected
in the student's individual health plan and the student's diabetes
management and treatment plan, including the following activities:
(1) Performing blood glucose level checks.
(2) Administering insulin through the insulin delivery system
the student uses.
(3) Treating hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
(4) Possessing on the student's person at any time the supplies
or equipment necessary to monitor and care for the student's
diabetes.
(5) Otherwise attending to the management and care of the
student's diabetes in the classroom, in any area of the school or
school grounds, or at any school related activity.
(b) The school nurse shall, in accordance with the requirements
that apply to the school nurse under IC 25-23, establish a procedure
through which a student described in subsection (a) is cared for in an
emergency.
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 responsible
for providing transportation for or supervising a student with
diabetes during an off-campus school related activity an information
sheet that:
(1) identifies the student with diabetes;
(2) identifies potential emergencies that may occur as a result
of 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.