New York State has a new law which does not allow students to have a cell phone in school without a doctor’s excuse. The following is the office policy until further notice.

• Patients who have an illness that requires instant cell phone access with a parent are almost always followed by a specialist. If necessary, it is the responsibility of the specialist to write the excuse for the student to have the cell phone.
• Most patients who are ill in school, should be seen by the school nurse.  School nurses, social workers, and therapists have the ability to help a student call a parent.
• Patients with diabetes (especially those whose phone is used to monitor blood sugar and control a pump) are exempted.  Their endocrinologist can write the letter.
• The specialists at Upstate agree with this policy.
• BHP providers will not be readily available to reply to parents about their requests.