78 Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine (NSU MD) 2024–2025 Students who are at high risk of infection from patients or other personnel because of their immune status or any other reason are encouraged to discuss their work responsibilities and educational activities with their personal health care provider. If the health care provider believes there are certain assignments the individual should not accept for personal health reasons, this should be discussed with the ADASA or designee. Accommodations may be available under the Technical Standards. Students should contact NSU’s Student Disability Services to see whether such accommodations are available. Medical students with HBV/HCV/HIV seropositivity shall have periodic physical examinations by their private physician or a physician on staff at the NSU Student Medical Center. Written health clearance will be provided to the ADASA or designee, who will notify the student’s clerkship director of the student’s ability to return to practice direct patient care. All correspondence 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 or exposure-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 procedures unless such activity is approved in writing by 1) an expert panel duly constituted to guide and review performance of such procedures (see Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] guidelines for definition of exposure-prone procedures and recommendations for expert panel oversight), 2) the student’s personal physician (who may be a physician from the NSU Student Medical Center), 3) the clinical clerkship director, and 4) the ADASA or designee. The CDC guidelines for the Management of Hepatitis B Virus-Infected Health-Care Providers and Students (cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr6103.pdf) and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology 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 in clinical clerkships and preceptorships. For chronically infected HBV/HCV or HIV health care providers and students who plan on performing exposure-prone procedures, an expert panel will be duly constituted to guide and review performance of such procedures (see CDC guidelines above for definition of exposure-prone procedures and recommendations for expert panel oversight). Chronically infected HBV-infected health care providers and medical students are NOT required to 1) repeatedly demonstrate undetectable HBV viral loads on a greater than semiannual frequency, 2) prenotify patients of their HBV-infection status, or 3) submit to mandatory antiviral therapy. Standard precautions should be adhered to rigorously in all health care settings for the protection of both patient and provider. Education and Training All students initially receive general information pertaining to the prevention and transmission of occupational exposures during the orientation to the M.D. program of NSU MD. During this time, students will be required to receive immunizations against hepatitis B, meningitis and varicella, and tuberculosis screening if not documented on the history and physical exam form submitted prior to registration. More formal clinical information about the prevention and pathophysiology of all infectious diseases that might potentially be transmitted in a clinical care setting is provided prior to the start of clinical clerkships. This would include education regarding hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, varicella, influenza, meningitis, tuberculosis, and HIV. Students will be provided with education on universal blood and body fluid precautions during orientation sessions for first-year students, and prior to the start of the clinical clerkships. Students will also receive information on infection control and prevention of the spread of communicable disease. During the
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