Health Services
Your child’s health is our priority
At Overbrook School for the Blind, we take each child’s health seriously. Healthy students are better able to learn, participate and thrive, and our Health Services team works to help keep OSB’s campus safe and healthy for all.
OSB’s caring, dedicated Registered Nurses assist students and staff with medications, illnesses, emergencies and a variety of nursing needs throughout the school day and residential program hours.
Measles Preparedness & Vaccination Information
Important Information for OSB Staff, Families, and School District Partners
At Overbrook School for the Blind (OSB), the health, safety, and well-being of our students, staff, and school community remain our highest priorities.
Because OSB serves students with a wide range of disabilities and complex medical needs, we are taking proactive steps to ensure our school community is prepared in the event of a measles exposure or outbreak.
As part of these preparedness efforts, all OSB staff and students are required to submit documentation of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination status, or other acceptable documentation as determined by OSB's school health team, subject to applicable exemptions.
Our goal is to collect and verify this information before an exposure occurs, allowing OSB to respond quickly and appropriately to protect our students and staff.
Health Services at OSB
Our Health Services team helps support student wellness, responds to routine and emergency health needs, and works with families to help students safely participate in school activities.
OSB goes to great lengths to maintain a clean, healthy campus environment and help prevent the spread of illness.
Nursing Hours
Day students: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Residential: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Important Health Forms & Resources
Nursing Resource Links
When Your Child Should Stay Home
A child who is sick may not be able to participate in school activities and may spread illness to other students or staff. If your child has any of the symptoms or illnesses listed below, please keep them home and follow the return-to-school guidance.
If your child becomes ill at school and the nurse determines they are too ill to remain at school, contagious, or unable to safely travel on the school bus, a parent or guardian will be contacted to pick them up.
Families are encouraged to plan for childcare in advance in case a child needs to be picked up during the school day. OSB must have a primary phone number and a secondary emergency number on file.
- Fever
- Influenza or Flu-like symptoms
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye
- Rash or Skin Lesions
- Impetigo
- Lice
- Ringworm
- Ear or Nose Drainage
- Streptococcal Infection
- Communicable Diseases
Fever
Influenza or Flu-like symptoms
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye
Rash or Skin Lesions
Impetigo
Lice
Ringworm
Ear or Nose Drainage
Streptococcal Infection
Communicable Diseases
Hospitalizations and Surgeries
Please notify Health Services when your child has been hospitalized for an illness or surgery.
Once Health Services receives your call or email, OSB will send the Medical Clearance to Return to School After Medical or Surgical Hospitalization form by fax, email or postal mail. Depending on your child’s surgery or medical needs, additional forms may also be required.
The medical clearance form must be completed in full before your child returns to school.
If your child is having surgery, the form should be returned preferably two weeks before their return to school.
Forms may be emailed to healthservicesstaffgroup@obs.org or faxed to 215-689-0137.
If the OSB Form Cannot Be Completed
If the OSB medical clearance form cannot be completed, Health Services will need a note from the treating physician.
The note must include the reason for hospitalization, the date your child may return to school and any restrictions or limitations, especially related to feeding changes, gym, swimming, physical therapy, occupational therapy or sports.
Why Documentation Matters
OSB’s educational support team needs documentation from the treating physician in order to prepare an educational program that is appropriate, safe and aligned with your child’s current needs.
If your child returns after a prolonged hospitalization or surgery without the completed form, required paperwork or a detailed doctor’s note clearing them to return, they may be sent home.
Student Medical Equipment
If your child comes to school with a brace, cast, splint, orthopedic boots, medical shoes or boots, crutches or other medical equipment that they did not previously have, you must provide a note stating that the child is cleared to come to school with the equipment.
The note must indicate any restrictions or limitations the child may have in the school setting.
Examples of Restrictions or Limitations:
- No swimming
- No physical therapy or occupational therapy
- No orientation and mobility activities
- Limits on walking distance
- Required rest times
- Required skin checks
- No sports or running
- Elevator use
- Bending or lifting restrictions
Emergencies
If it is determined that your child is unstable and needs emergency services, 911 or First Responders will be contacted, and you will be notified immediately.
In most instances, your child will be taken to the closest children’s hospital, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, known as CHOP. If First Responders determine that your child is too unstable to transfer to CHOP, they may seek medical assistance at the closest hospital to OSB, Lankenau Medical Center.
In either case, parents or guardians should meet their child at the hospital where they are transferred.
Helping Keep OSB Healthy
Healthy students can become ill when exposed to sick students. This is more likely to happen when students come to school sick, are not picked up in a timely manner or return to school before fully recovering.
OSB asks parents and guardians to help maintain a safe and healthy school environment by following Health Services guidelines and keeping students home when they are ill.
Contact Health Services
For questions about illness, medical forms, medications, hospitalizations, medical equipment or your child’s health needs at school, please contact Health Services.
Phone: ext. 261 or ext. 231
Email: renee.crosby@obs.org
Fax: 215-689-0137