The MacDuffie Health Center

Mission:  

The MacDuffie School Health Center will improve the health and academic success of all students by providing evidence based nursing, athletic training, counseling care, and health education in a safe and welcoming environment.

Vision: 

The nurse, counselor, and athletic trainer offices are located within the MacDuffie School campus to promote wellness and disease prevention by early identification of health problems that might interfere in the educational process. Health services include identification of health problems, preventative health education, health maintenance, necessary therapeutic and psychological intervention, physician referral, and first aid.  

Health Forms

We use Magnus Health Portal to better connect you with your child’s school health and wellness information. This web-based system provides an easy, secure way for you to update and review important school health information and medical documents throughout the year. With 24-hour access over the web, you will be able to:

• Electronically sign and submit most health forms safely over the internet

• Review and update new health information such as vaccinations, health conditions, and screening results throughout the school year

• Easily message the school health clinic to expedite communication

• Magnus is accessed through your Blackbaud, so only one login/password to remember!

All medical information can easily be filled out in the Magnus Health Portal. To access your Magnus Health Account:

• visit your Blackbaud account

• go to the Blackbaud Resource Board

• click on the button titled “Magnus Health Portal” (no separate login required)

To help navigate what medical forms are required, here is a list:

All students:

• Permission for Medical Treatment (parent electronic signature)

• Annual physical exam (upload; must be signed by a physician)

• Immunization record (upload; must be signed by a physician)

• Over-the-Counter Medication Authorization (parent electronic signature)

• Prescribed Medication Authorization (upload; if medication will be taken on while on campus; must be signed by the prescribing physician)

• Health Insurance Disclosure Notification (parent electronic signature)

Boarding/Homestay students (in addition to the forms listed above):

• Required vaccine consent (parent electronic signature)

• TB Screening form (upload; must be signed by a physician)

• Influenza Vaccine consent (upload; parent signature)

Individual Forms that can be uploaded into Magnus:

Annual Physical Exam

Immunization Record

Prescribed Medication Authorization

Tuberculosis Screening (international students only)

Annual Influenza Vaccine Consent 2024-2025 (optional)

Health Insurance

In order to ensure prompt and appropriate medical attention is given to your child, either for well-care or in the event of an emergency, The MacDuffie School requires that every student must have medical insurance information in file. All Health Insurance policies must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Private Insurance must be US-based on medical insurance from an Affordable Care Act (ACA), a credible plan. Information on whether your insurance meets ACA standards may be obtained from your insurer or from your employer’s benefits administrator.

• Mass Health

• State Health Insurance provided by a state other than Massachusetts (e.g. an SCHIP/Medicare plan)*

• Traveler Insurance program

International boarding students will be enrolled in the minimum school health insurance plan (Silver) with the option to upgrade, for an additional fee, to a Gold plan (Bronze plans are no longer an option). Silver plans WILL NOT cover the entirety of an emergency or routine medical bill. Upgraded plans cover more medical treatments, and require lower family out-of-pocket expenses. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to upgrade your plan.  Please view the different plans (silver vs gold) and what they cover HERE.

To upgrade your health insurance plan contact bshaw@macduffie.org

We strive to make sure every student has support when needed in order to have a successful academic career at MacDuffie. We have wonderful support teams that are ready to help, even for short term. We need your help in order to put those supports in place. 

Please notify the Health Center (via phone, email, or fax) when:

•  A new medical diagnosis, or change in your child’s physical status including:

• A new allergy

• A newly prescribed medication or change in dose of a current medication

• A serious injury, illness, or condition requiring emergency treatment or hospitalization

• A head injury or concussion

• An injury requiring sutures, casting, splints, or mobility assistance of crutches or wheelchair.

• Contagious conditions such as chicken pox, flu, strep throat, whooping cough, pneumonia, conjunctivitis, or head lice.

• Your child is absent for more than 3 days 

• If there are any recent changes in your child’s life that may affect emotional status; such as an up coming birth, a recent death, a serious illness, military deployment, unemployment, marital separation or divorce, etc.

Covid-19 Protocol

Masks:

Masks will be optional in all indoor and outdoor spaces, except when a short term temporary mask mandate is in effect. A mask mandate will go into effect when spreading of an illness, via respiratory transmission, is shown to be high within the school.

Covid Testing:

We will have antigen rapid tests available in the Health Center for symptomatic testing only. If you prefer your child not have testing done, please fill out the COVID Testing OPT OUT form and return it to epiwcio@macduffie.org .

Close contact of a Covid positive person:

Exposure Quarantine is no longer required, regardless of vaccination status or where the exposure occurred. All exposed individuals may continue to attend school as long as they remain asymptomatic. Those who can mask should do so until Day 10 after exposure, and it is recommended that they test on Day 6 after exposure. If symptoms develop, follow the guidance for symptomatic individuals.

Returning to school after having Covid:

A person who tests positive must isolate for a minimum of 5 days. The day of the positive test is considered day 0 (not day symptoms started). If asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving, and have been fever free (without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours), they may return to school on day 6 following the guidelines below:

• Have a negative rapid antigen Covid test. The individual does not need to mask upon return (unless a mandate is in effect).

• Have a VERY faint line on a rapid antigen test. The individual is required to wear a mask until Day 10 (regardless if there is a mandate or not), or a negative test between days 6-10, whichever comes first.

Symptomatic:

Symptomatic individuals may remain in their school or program if they have MILD symptoms, AND have a negative antigen Covid test. Symptomatic individuals are strongly encouraged to wear a mask until symptoms are fully resolved. DPH recommends a second antigen Covid test taken 48 hours from the initial test.

If the symptomatic individual is a day/homestay student, and cannot be tested immediately or have moderate to severe symptoms, they will be sent home. They are allowed to return to school if:

• symptoms are mild AND they test negative, -or-

• they have been fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication), AND symptoms are resolved, -or-

• if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis

Traveling

CDC recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated, because travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19 or other illness. If you travel, follow CDC’s recommendations for international or domestic travel.