Policy Number: EC.12.06.170815
Applies to: Medical students
Date: 06/04/2024
1.0 Policy Statement
All medical students must undergo training in universal and specific precautions and infection control measures for pathogens and environmental hazards prior to patient contact. Training must be maintained and updated throughout students’ enrollment in the MD program.
2.0 Definitions
Airborne Pathogens
The relevant pathogens may be viruses, bacteria, or fungi, and they may be spread through coughing, sneezing, raising of dust, spraying of liquids, or similar activities likely to generate aerosol particles or droplets.
Bloodborne Pathogen
Infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
CastleBranch
National compliance management vendor contracted by the College of Medicine that accepts and approves immunization records for medical students. CastleBranch is also utilized by the College of Medicine to provide annual background checks, drug screenings, and OSHA and HIPAA training for medical students.
Environmental Hazards
Substances, states or events which have the potential to threaten the surrounding natural environment and/or adversely affect people’s health.
Infection Control
Infection Control is the discipline concerned with preventing nosocomial or healthcare-associated infection, a practical (rather than academic) sub- discipline of epidemiology.
Pathogens
Bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms that can cause disease.
Precautions
A measure taken in advance to prevent something dangerous from happening.
Universal Precautions
An approach to infection control to treat all human blood and certain human body fluids as if they were known to be infectious for HIV, HBV and other bloodborne pathogens.
3.0 Responsibilities
Office of Student Experience (Student Affairs)
4.0 Procedures
Each student shares responsibility for his/her/their health and safety in the clinical and educational setting. Medical students are required to take annual online trainings administered through CastleBranch which includes several required courses on universal precautions and prevention. Documentation of training completion are kept in CastleBranch for record management.
5.0 Related Policies
- Post Exposure Care Policy EC.12.04.170815
- Communicable Disease Exposure Policy EC.12.07.170815
- Student Vaccination and Health Screening Admission Policy EC.12.05.170516
6.0 Key Search Words
Biohazard, universal precautions, pathogen, infection control.
7.0 Revision History
Original Approval: 8/15/2017
Policy Number: EC.12.06.170815
Review/Revision: 04/10/2020, 06/04/2024