Daycare vent

I'm REALLY ticked off at my daycare and I'm not sure how to handle it.

As most of you know, we found out a parent of a girl who is in Alex's class passed away over the weekend. On Monday the teacher in her class told us she passed of an aneuryism.

Tuesday I picked up Alex and the teacher assistant told me it was meningitis. Of course, I FREAKED OUT, and first thing yesterday I called the director.

She assured me over the phone that they were handling it, that everything was ok, and that the mother did not pass of a contagious disease. I pressed her to give me an EXACT diagnosis so I could go to my pediatrician and discuss it with him, but she told me she didn't have the information yet (ok, so, then, how can you reassure me it wasn't contagious if you don't know what it was? ). She PROMISED me that by the end of the day she would have a memo for the whole school. (Wouldn't it have been more appropriate to send out a memo first thing Monday telling us you're investigating instead of letting us rumor amongst ourselves?)

I go to pick up Alex yesterday at the end of the day, and guess what, NO MEMO. I was furious so I started yelling at the teacher and so she brought the director down. The director told me that the family isn't being helpful, and because of HIPPA laws, and because of the rabbi's instructions, they cannot send a memo around, but she is allowed to "verbally" tell me the situation, but again, reassures me it is NOT contagious.

So she takes me back and tells me the mother died of Streptococcus pneumonaie, which, ladies and gentlemen, IS contagious, though, rarely fatal. She informed me though that she contacted the hospital and the Board of Health and they all said that the school is fine and that they didn't need to do anything. She showed me an email from the Board of Health to that effect.

I'm so angry at how they've handled this - in my opinion, they should have sent out a memo first thing Monday morning informing us that a "parent" had passed away and that they were investigating the cause. Instead, they never told us ANYTHING and still aren't telling the parents, particularly the parents in the class with the little girl, UNLESS they ask. I also think that when they found out what it was they should have sent ANOTHER memo telling us what the diagnosis was, but without revealing any names - I don't see how that's a violation of HIPPA laws. At the very least, give us the opportunity to consult with our pediatricians!

Last but not least, I called my doc and first thing she asked - has the little girl been infected? I have NO idea, and I'm furious that they let her back to school on monday and tuesday without knowing this. They should have never allowed her back to school without a doctor's inspection and note.

I understand the family is greiving and we have to be sensitive to this, but at the same time, the director's role is to tend to the safety and well-being of all the children in the school, and we're possibly talking about an INFECTIOUS disease here...

Am I wrong? How do you think we should handle this?

Message edited 3/22/2007 7:56:10 AM.

Re: Daycare vent

I think I would bypass the school entirely and try to deal with the Board of Health directly. Are they aware that the child is back in daycare? Have they insisted that she be medically cleared??

Re: Daycare vent

The first thing that came to mind is I am sure the father has taken the child to the doctor already. he just lost his wife from this and i am sure he would want to make sure that his daughter was okay.

This is a horrible tough situation for all. I am sorry that you have to deal with this.

Re: Daycare vent

My child would not be going back unless and until I saw written proof that the little girl was checked by a doctor and pronounced free and clear of a potentially deadly, infectious disease. Everything now is rumor. No one knows for certain what occurred. I would contact the Board of Health and I would tell the daycare that I was doing so. I understand privacy laws. However, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one. All of these children could, potentially, be at risk. The daycare handled this very poorly.

Just as a side question, what does a Rabbi have to do with this and why do his instructions have to be followed?

Re: Daycare vent

I don't think you're wrong at all. They have handled this whole thing very badly. I'm really not sure what I would do if I were in your place. Obviously complaining to the director will get you nowhere. She seems to feel that they have done all they need to (a big fat nothing.) Can you go directly to the dept. of health or the agency that regulates daycare centers? Or tell the director how you feel and tell her that she really should have done what you said with the memo (even though she probably won't do anything will it make you feel better?)

It sounds like an awful situation all around.

Re: Daycare vent

Re: Daycare vent

Message edited 3/22/2007 9:19:50 AM.