As access to student EHRs expands, so too does the role of school nurses

School officials and health systems are banding together to make sure students with chronic conditions receive comprehensive care, reports Kaiser Health News. Such partnerships, according to the article, let school health professionals gain access to students' electronic health records and/or specialists and other health system resources.

In Delaware, for instance, a partnership that dates back to 2011 enables school nurses to access read-only records for more than 1,500 students with complex conditions and special needs.

Still, many roadblocks impede school nurses from providing the most adequate care. For instance, according to the article, they are not always able to access up-to-date information about their young patients, and must obtain parental permission to contact a student's doctor. The initiatives under way will better integrate school nurses with the wider healthcare system. Article