MDPH CSHS All Regions Meeting: Schoolwide Planning for Responding to Medical and Behavioral Emergencies in Schools

February 14, 2024

The primary aim of this session is to prepare you to collaborate with district and school-based teams in the development of Medical and Behavioral Health Emergency Response Plans (MERPs). The recently amended (2022) State law (M.G.L. c. 69, § 8A) requires each school committee and Commonwealth Charter School board of trustees to adopt an emergency medical response plan, update it as needed, and submit it to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) every three years.

The 2022 amendment specifies that emergency response plans must address behavioral health medical emergencies as well as medical emergencies and must include protocols for informing parents/guardians and reporting to DESE when schools contact police, EMTs, or other non-behavioral health personnel to respond to a behavioral health crisis. DESE has provided model templates and information on their website and in webinars. A DESE representative will provide a brief overview of the mandate and DESE resources. Other presenters will discuss the operationalization of MERPs and how to develop a Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT). There will also be a brief presentation from the MDPH Chief Public Health Nurse on plans to develop the Public Health Nurse workforce. 

School Nurses are encouraged to invite one member of your district or school mental and behavioral health or administrative team to participate in this meeting. FREE nursing (NCPD) credits will be offered by the Boston University Center for Continuing Education (BU CCE).  

Target Audience

Massachusetts School Nurses

Learning Objectives

At the end of this activity, the learner or healthcare team should be able to:

  1. Describe requirements of the legislatively mandated Medical and Behavioral Health Emergency Response Plans (MERP) in Massachusetts Schools.
  2. Apply knowledge related to interdisciplinary collaborations in the development of school MERPs.
  3. Identify a process for the development of a Medical Emergency Response Teams (MERTs).
  4. Describe future public health nurse workforce development initiatives.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 2.00 ANCC
  • 2.00 Participation
Course opens: 
01/04/2024
Course expires: 
03/13/2024
Event starts: 
02/14/2024 - 1:00pm EST
Event ends: 
02/14/2024 - 3:00pm EST
Add to calendar: 
TimeTopicSpeaker
1:00 PM - 1:05 PMIntroduction and Welcome 

Shanyn Toulouse, DNP, MEd, RN, NCSN 

Northeast Regional School Nurse Consultant 

1:05 PM - 1:15 PMWelcome Message from MDPH SHU 

Karen Robitaille, MBA, MSN, RN, NCSN 

Director of School Health Services Unit, MDPH 

1:15 PM - 1:40 PMMedical and Behavioral Health Emergency Response Plans

Samantha Graham

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 

1:40 PM - 2:00 PMMedical and Behavioral Health Emergency Response Plans

John Crocker, MEd 

Director of School Mental Health & Behavioral Services, Methuen Public Schools 

2:00 PM - 2:50 PMDevelopment of a School Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) 

Cathryn Hampson, MSN, RN, NCSN, Nurse Leader 

North Middlesex Regional School District School 

President, Massachusetts School Nurse Organization (MSNO)

2:50 PM - 3:00 PMWrap Up 

Patricia Smith, BSN, RN, NCSN 

MetroWest Regional School Nurse Consultant

Zoom
United States

In support of improving patient care, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Nursing Contact Hours: 2.0 contact hours, 0 of which are eligible for pharmacology credit.

Available Credit

  • 2.00 ANCC
  • 2.00 Participation
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Disclaimer

THESE MATERIALS AND ALL OTHER MATERIALS PROVIDED IN CONJUNCTION WITH CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES ARE INTENDED SOLELY FOR PURPOSES OF SUPPLEMENTING CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.  ANYONE USING THE MATERIALS ASSUMES FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND ALL RISK FOR THEIR APPROPRIATE USE.  TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY MAKES NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS WHATSOEVER REGARDING THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, CURRENTNESS, NONINFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF THE MATERIALS.  IN NO EVENT WILL TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY BE LIABLE TO ANYONE FOR ANY DECISION MADE OR ACTION TAKEN IN RELIANCE ON THE MATERIALS.  IN NO EVENT SHOULD THE INFORMATION IN THE MATERIALS BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL CARE.  IN NO EVENT SHOULD INFORMATION IN THE MATERIALS REGARDING LAWS, REGULATIONS, OR LEGAL LIABILITY BE CONSIDERED LEGAL ADVICE OR USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CONSULTING WITH AN ATTORNEY.

Copyright

This material is copyrighted by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH).  MDPH grants permission for use of these materials for non-commercial educational use only, provided credit is given to the MDPH.  Modification of content is permitted only with prior approval of the MDPH School Health Unit.

Special Services / Dietary Needs

Boston University strives to be accessible, inclusive and diverse in our facilities, programming and academic offerings. Your experience in this event is important to us. If you have a disability, require communication access services for the deaf or hard of hearing, or believe that you require a reasonable accommodation for another reason please contact the BUSM-CME Office at least 3 weeks prior to event to discuss your needs.  For in person meetings with meals, we will work to accommodate dietary requests (including, but not limited to: kosher, vegetarian, low cholesterol, and low sodium) received in writing at least three weeks prior to the start of the conference.  Please contact us at cme@bu.edu