Yes, there are ways to better organize medical data while also addressing confidentiality concerns.
Current Structure
At present, there are two separate text fields in the medical tab:
These fields already allow allergy information to be separated from general medical information.
Separating Medical Information Further
While it is technically possible to add additional fields (such as separate entries for medications, medical conditions, or immunizations), we are not planning to add this feature at this time. Doing so would significantly increase system complexity without providing a meaningful compliance or security benefit.
Confidentiality & FERPA Compliance
Under FERPA (the federal privacy law that applies to schools receiving federal funding, including meal programs), there is no distinction between:
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Immunization records
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Medical allergies
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Medical conditions
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Medication information
All of the above are considered part of a student’s education record and must be protected in the same manner.
Because of this, medical information should be visible only on a “need-to-know” basis, regardless of how many fields exist or how the data is categorized.