School doctors: Asking for more support for children’s welfare
The parents are often unaware of who their child’s school doctor is, when they hold office hours, and what tasks they perform. However, school health care plays a key role in maintaining and improving children’s health. Understanding the responsibilities of school doctors is essential for parents to support their children in receiving the appropriate health care. In this article, we will review what exactly school health care entails, what tasks school doctors perform, and what important role they play in children’s health.
The Role of School Doctors
School doctors are in a unique position within public health care, as they provide health supervision not only for school-aged children but also for preschoolers. In addition to regular medical check-ups, screening programs, and vaccinations, school doctors also play an important role in the social integration of children. To ensure proper health care, it is essential for parents to be aware of the tasks of school doctors and the office hours.
The Content of School Health Care Activities
The foundation of school health care is the collaboration between school doctors and nurses. Additionally, dentists and dental assistants are also involved in the work. The tasks of school doctors include performing mandatory screening examinations, administering vaccinations, and conducting various preventive lectures. During the screenings, the health status of children is monitored, and medical care is provided if necessary.
During the examinations, the medical history of the children is also recorded, and children who belong to potential risk groups are screened based on their anamnesis. Furthermore, it is important for children with chronic illnesses to undergo increased monitoring to ensure they can integrate healthily into the educational system. School doctors also participate in the implementation of comprehensive dental health programs, thereby ensuring the maintenance of children’s oral hygiene.
Types of School Health Examinations
Within the framework of school health care, the continuous monitoring of children’s health status is the most important task. For preschool children, it is particularly important to conduct examinations aimed at preventing infectious diseases. For school-aged children, mandatory physical examinations take place in the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grades, during which the children’s medical history and family anamnesis are also recorded. The aim of these examinations is the early detection of diseases and the provision of appropriate specialist care.
The tasks of school doctors also include physical education, career counseling, and monitoring compliance with public health and epidemiological measures. School doctors, nurses, and psychologists work closely together to address children’s health holistically. Providing first aid for accidents that occur during school life is also part of the duties of school doctors, as immediate care is needed to minimize injuries.
The Role and Importance of Vaccinations
Vaccinations are crucial for maintaining children’s health and preventing infectious diseases. School doctors are responsible for administering mandatory vaccinations, which help prevent the spread of diseases that previously caused significant health problems. Resistance to vaccinations is becoming an increasingly serious issue, as some parents are unwilling to have their children receive mandatory vaccines.
School doctors play an important role in informing parents about the benefits of vaccines and dispelling misconceptions. If parents are unwilling to administer vaccinations, it is the school doctor’s duty to contact them to inform them about the possible consequences. To ensure the effectiveness of vaccination programs, it is important for parents to cooperate with school doctors, thus ensuring the preservation of children’s health.
The Role of Parents in School Health Care Activities
Active parental involvement is essential for the success of school health care activities. It is important for parents to be informed about the responsibilities of the school doctor and to support their children’s health care. When enrolling their children in school, parents should bring the children’s vaccination records and specialist medical reports, as these assist the school doctor in performing their duties effectively.
Parents are responsible for monitoring their children’s health status and should not send sick children to school. To protect the community, it is particularly important for parents to pay attention to their children’s health and adhere to medical recommendations. To improve communication between school doctors and parents, it would be advisable to hold regular parent meetings where parents can directly ask the school doctor questions and receive information about current health issues related to their children.
School health care is therefore not only about treating illnesses but also about prevention, maintaining children’s health, and the active participation of parents. To improve the health status of the community, we all need to work together.
