Medical and School Health Forms

For some kids, going to school means getting extra medical forms filled out by their parents and pediatrician. There are forms for kids with asthma, ADHD, food allergies, and many other medical conditions. And even if your child doesn't have a specific medical condition, there are always forms to fill out for sports and camps.

If your pediatrician or school doesn't have its own medical forms, consider using these school health forms to make sure your kids stay safe and ​healthy.

HEADS UP Program

Mother with daughter filling out form
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The HEADS UP program from the CDC offers the gradual return to play guidelines for concussions to help kids know what they can and can't do after a concussion, including when to return to daily activities, school, and sports.

ADHD Forms

The National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality (NICHQ), in cooperation with the American Academy of Pediatrics, provides the Vanderbilt Rating Scales to help parents get their kids evaluated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This ADHD toolkit includes a number of forms, including rating scales for parents and teachers and follow-up assessment forms.

Asthma Forms

The American Lung Association's Asthma-Friendly Schools Initiative page has most of the forms that parents and educators need to help kids manage their asthma while in school. They include an asthma action plan (with peak flow zones), oral medication order form, and symptom management checklists for school nurses.

There is a 'Dear Doctor' letter that school nurses can use to help alert a pediatrician that a child's asthma might not be under very good control and that the child is often visiting the nurse with asthma symptoms or isn't participating in P.E.

Diabetes Medical Management Plan

The American Diabetes Association provides a Diabetes Medical Management Plan. The plan includes a child's target range for blood glucose, when their glucose should be checked, their self-care skills, treatment protocols for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, and details about their insulin therapy.

Food Allergy Medical Forms

Kids with food allergies, whether they have mild symptoms or more severe life-threatening symptoms, need a food allergy action plan. The Food Allergy Research & Education's (FARE) Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan was last updated in May 2020. The form provides easy-to-follow instructions on what to do if a student with food allergies develops symptoms, including whether to immediately inject epinephrine or to give only an oral antihistamine. Doses of medications, information about monitoring, and instructions on how to use epinephrine injectors are also included.

Sports Preparticipation Physical Exam Forms

Put together by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Sports Medicine, and a number of other organizations, these Preparticipation Physical Evaluation (PPE) forms include a history form, physical examination form, and clearance form to make sure kids don't have any heart or lung problems and aren't at risk for concussions or other problems before they play sports.

Scouting Annual Health and Medical Record

Although they won't need it for school, the medical form from the Boy Scouts of America needs to be filled out if your child is going to participate in a Scouting event. Health forms for short events can be filled out by a guardian. Events longer than 72 hours will need a preparticipation physical section filled by the child's pediatrician or other healthcare provider.

Whether they are going on a high adventure camp (Florida Sea Base, Northern Tier, Philmont, Summit Bechtel Reserve) or a short weekend trip, be prepared and get your Annual Health and Medical Record complete.

Vaccination Record Forms

Although it is hoped that your pediatrician will provide you with a vaccination record when you need it, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a number of tools to help you keep a vaccine record.

By Vincent Iannelli, MD
Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years.