Student Handbook - College of Medicine - Florida Atlantic University

N L H F E D C Aprotect the health and safety of FAU patients and staff. Persons with the following medical conditions will not beallowed patient contact without prior medical clearance: 1) active chickenpox, measles, German measles, herpeszoster (shingles), acute hepatitis, and tuberculosis; 2) oral herpes with draining lesions; 3) group A streptococcaldisease (i.e., strep throat) until 24 hours after treatment has been received; 4) draining or infected skin lesions (e.g.Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus aureus (MRSA); or 5) HIV/AIDS (refer to the HIV/AIDS Information and COMPolicy above).A student who has a communicable disease and is unsure whether he/she should participate in patient care shouldseek medical care by a private physician or a physician on staff at FAU Student Health Services. All students with acommunicable disease must receive written medical clearance by a physician prior to returning to clinical careactivities. A case-by-case evaluation of each infected student will be done by his/her physician to determine eligibilityto perform the duties required on the clinical rotation. Based on the recommendations of his/her physician, it is theresponsibility of each infected medical student to notify the College of Medicine Office of Student Affairs if he/she isunable to perform clinical work. Appropriate documentation is required. All such notifications will be kept strictlyconfidential.Prior to the start of clinical experiences, a student who has chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV), chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV) or HIV/AIDS is required to notify the Office of Student Affairs of his/her status. All such notifications will bekept strictly confidential. Prior to the start of any clinical experiences, infected students are required to seek medicalconsultation by a physician to determine his/her ability to perform the duties required of the clinical rotation. Medicalstudents are not obligated to answer patient questions related to their own HBV/ HCV/HIV/AIDS status, nor shall theyanswer such questions related to other students, other health care personnel, or patients. Serologic testing of medicalstudents for HBV/HCV/HIV antibody will not be performed routinely unless the person is seropositive. Testing isrecommended when there has been a documented needle or sharp instrument puncture or mucous membraneexposure to the blood or body fluids of patients, or when there has been a medical student-to-patient exposure. Referto the “Exposure at FAU,” “Exposure at a College of Medicine Affiliate Site Not Located on the Campus of FAU” andother policies and procedures in this Handbook.Students who are at high risk of infection from patients or other personnel because of their immune status or anyother reason are encouraged to discuss their work responsibilities and educational activities with their personal healthcare provider. If the health care provider believes that there are certain assignments the individual should not acceptfor personal health reasons, this should be discussed with the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs or designee.Accommodations may be available under the Technical Standards. Students should contact the FAU Office forStudents with Disabilities to see whether such accommodations are available. Medical students with HBV/HCV/HIVseropositivity shall have periodic physical examinations by their private physician or a physician on staff at FAUStudent Health Services. Written health clearance will be provided to the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs ordesignee, who will notify the student’s clerkship director of his/her ability to return to practice direct patient care. Allcorrespondence will be kept confidential and will not be used as a basis for discrimination.The greatest theoretical risk of medical student-to-patient transmission of HBV, HCV or HIV/AIDS involves invasive orexposure-prone procedures with manipulation of needles or other sharp objects not under direct visualization.Medical students who have HBV/HCV/HIV seropositivity may not perform invasive or exposure-prone proceduresunless such activity is approved in writing by: 1) an expert panel duly constituted to guide and review performance ofsuch procedures (see CDC guidelines below for definition of exposure-prone procedures and recommendations forexpert panel oversight); 2) the student’s personal physician (who may be a physician from FAU Student HealthServices); 3) the clinical clerkship director; and 4) and the Vice Dean for Medical Education and Student Affairs ordesignee.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for the Management of Hepatitis B virus-InfectedHealth-Care Providers and Students (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr6103.pdf) and the Society for HealthcareEpidemiology of America (Henderson DK et al. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 2010; 31 (3): 203-232.)suggest that medical students with HBV, HCV and HIV seropositivity can continue to attend classes and participate inclinical clerkships and preceptorships. For chronically infected HBV/HCV or HIV health-care providers and studentswho plan on performing exposure-prone procedures, an expert panel will be duly constituted to guide and reviewperformance of such procedures (see CDC guidelines above for definition of exposure-prone procedures and36