Health Services

Health Services Hours are from 7:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

The school nurse is available to treat students who become injured or suddenly ill. If the nurse is not in the office, contact can be made via the Operator/Receptionist who can always reach the nurse with the Walkie Talkie.  The Health Services department can be contacted by

Emergency First Aid

The school nurse may administer first aid for injuries acquired on school grounds. A parent or person designated on the health form will be contacted to pick up the student when an injury requires further medical attention. In rare instances, an ambulance may be summoned if deemed necessary by the nurse. Every attempt will be made to contact a parent, guardian or emergency back-up person prior to ambulance transportation. A parental release for emergency transport is on each student’s Student Information form. All student health forms require that parents / guardians complete the space for health insurance information (carrier name and ID number) in case a situation requires referral to a hospital.

Sudden Illness

A parent will be contacted to pick up a student when there is persistent nausea or vomiting, elevated temperature (above 100), or a suspected communicable disease. The nurse (ext. 225) should be contacted directly about any communicable disease (e.g. chicken pox, pediculosis [lice], conjunctivitis [pinkeye]), or non-communicable disease a student contracts which may affect the school community. Additionally, it is highly recommended that a student who has had a fever be kept out of school until a normal temperature has been maintained for 24 hours.

Prior to a student returning to school after treatment for pneumonia, hepatitis, mononucleosis, or any hospitalization, the parent should inform the school nurse of the specific illness and provide a doctor’s note to the school nurse on the first morning returning to school.

Health Assessments

Every year, state mandated health screening assessments are conducted in the following areas: Hearing Screening (grades K,1,2,3,7 and 11), Vision Screening (grades K-12), Heights and Weights (grades K-12) and Scoliosis Screening (Grades 6 and 7).

A Health History Form for each student is required every year. The state mandates that new students entering the school have a physical and dental check up. All students must have a physical and all seventh grade students must have a dental check up. If parents have questions regarding their child’s participation in these assessments, they should contact the school nurse.  Forms will be updated and online in May of each school year.

Meet the Staff 

The Germantown Academy Health Services Offices is managed by Lori Dougherty Andress ’88, RN, ATC.  Lori earned her Bachelor’s degree from West Chester University and her nursing degree from the Dixon School of Nursing at Abington Memorial Hospital.  She is a certified athletic trainer and registered nurse.  She has been a member of the GA community for many years, dating back to her time as a student when she graduated from GA in 1988.  From 1996-2001, Lori served as the school’s full-time athletic trainer, and was then the part-time trainer until 2004.  Before returning to GA as the school’s lead nurse in September 2008, Lori spent three years as a nurse on Abington Hospital’s neurological floor.  Lori and her husband Mark have four children, Siobhan ’15, Caitriona, Alana and Matthew.

Health Services Staff:

Pamela Barrer,  RN
Robin Greenspon, RN
Lorraine Rodgers, RN