Introduction
In any learning institution, there are various medical issues that face students. Some of these issues include kidney disorders, asthma, cancer, back injuries, fractures, cystic fibrosis, HIV/AIDS and chronic fatigue syndrome among many other conditions.
The purpose of this write up is to highlight the importance of teacher to parent communication on student’s health and medical issues.
This written letter is addressed to parents as the audience. While at school, students face different medical complications that only teachers may be aware of.
It is therefore the duty of teachers to ensure that such information is communicated to parents. As teachers, we have the responsibility to communicate this kind of information to the child’s parents.
The information should be confidential and no other third party should get exposed to such information (James Cook University, 2012, para. 2).
However, teachers should be concerned with the wellbeing of their students and therefore, take necessary steps in reporting such issues to responsible parents.
Teachers have access to the medical files of students and are required to disclose such information to the parents and student (James Cook University, 2012, para. 2). However, they have no responsibility to inform the parents on any suspected medical issues that their student may be exhibiting in class without further medical examination.
Furthermore, we as teachers cannot carry out any tests to student without the consent of the parents. Likewise, parents have the right to decline such tests from being carried out on their student without recourse.
This kind of communication is gaining much acceptance by many teachers. The relationship between parents and teachers over the years has improved and therefore, issues pertaining to the condition of students in school are well conveyed to their parents.
In most cases, teachers consult with their students on their medical issues and they make a decision to communicate the issues to the parents.
This kind of communication is also frequently used in situations where the parents are far and the only way of reaching them is through written communication. Teachers will use this kind of communication to inform the parents on the medical conditions of their student.
Furthermore, this kind of communication is also used in situations where the information of medical condition of a student is required to be kept confidential. Therefore, parents can communicate such information on issues that are private and confidential.
Strengths of using written communication by teachers in conveying information about medical issues of students include: it is confidential and authoritative way of communication. A parent will have confidence and will believe the information because it is conveyed through a credible means.
Secondly, this method of communication can be used as a source of reference to the medical condition of a student hence help in understanding the history of a medical complication of a student in providing subsequent medical solution.
On the other hand, this kind of communication has weaknesses. These include: the method is slow as information may reach the destination slightly late hence affecting the provision of necessary medication to the student.
Another weakness is that the method is prone to abuse especially by teachers as they may give false information on the medical condition of their student.
Regardless of these weaknesses, this kind of written communication is effective in conveying information to parents concerning their student medical conditions. The method provides confidential information precisely and clearly compared to other forms of communication.
Teachers can also use this form of communication in a classroom. This can be used effectively by teachers understanding the laws that govern privacy on information on medical privacy of their students.
Teachers need to be cautious when writing on the behaviors of their students in class. They should seek the assistance of a medical practitioner who should provide a test or diagnosis on the status of the student.
However, in extreme situations, a teacher should put the well-being of the student ahead regardless of the level of confidence required.
References
American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
James Cook University. (2012). Students with Medical Conditions- A Guide for Staff. Retrieved from: https://www.jcu.edu.au/