Part 8 Subpart 8-9 Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Other Communicable
Diseases
Sec. 8-901. Academic Setting - Required Procedures.
The University's biological laboratories and clinics will establish procedures to
reduce the frequency of needlesticks and exposure to human blood, blood products,
or mucous secretions in order to reduce the risks of transmission of infectious agents.
Such risks are often highest during the professional training period. These procedures
shall include the following:
- No University laboratories or classes should draw students' blood except where drawing
blood is in integral part of the training process (medical technology, nursing, etc.)
or for health-related reasons in the Health Center.
- All clinic instruments which contact a person's blood or mucous membranes must be
appropriately cleansed, disinfected or sterilized between uses; or if disposable,
such instruments must be placed in a labeled container designed for such purpose.
Such instruments must never be left lying about.
- All needlesticks must be immediately reported to proper medical personnel for further
evaluation.
- Each University clinic and laboratory dealing with any body fluids (either directly
or indirectly) or microorganisms must post in the clinic or laboratory the aseptic
procedures to be followed in that clinic or laboratory.
- An occasional patient seen at a University clinic (Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting,
Optometry, Nursing Center) may have a health condition communicable through blood,
respiratory or mucous secretions. Such patients and their conditions may not be recognized
prior to receiving clinic services. Therefore, all patients should be treated with
the highest regard given to aseptic techniques and procedures as outlined in this
subpart. In addition, all clinic personnel must be educated with respect to the transmissibility
of certain infectious agents such as Hepatitis viruses and HTLV-III virus in order
to separate irrational fears from rational precautions.
- All University clinics reserve the right to reassign or deny treatment to any individual,
if it is determined that the individual could place a student or faculty practitioner
or other patient at undue risk.
- All medical information provided by a University student patient at any University
clinic will be available to the Ferris Health Center Medical Director.
Cross Reference:
Sec. 8-904. Student life.
Sec. 8-902. Education and Public Relations.
- The University, in its public service role as an institution of higher education,
will by various means provide for its students, faculty, staff, and administrators,
and for the residents of local communities, educational information concerning Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome ("AIDS"), its symptoms, the known means of transmission,
and precautions for avoiding or reducing the risks of contracting AIDS.
- A presentation for key administrative personnel will be held during each spring quarter.
The program will convey the standard information on AIDS, to be augmented by a summary
of the various position statements in this subpart. Invitations will include copies
of the American College Health Association's ("ACHA") folder, "AIDS, What Everyone
Should Know."
- Each campus residence hall will conduct an informational presentation on AIDS as part
of the resident assistants' programming. Health Center and Peer Outreach students
will serve as presenters. The presentations will be repeated every fall quarter, if
deemed necessary.
- A larger presentation will be held for all interested persons. In announcing the presentation,
it will be stressed that the purposes are to dispel misconceptions and to educate
the public concerning AIDS. The announcement also will be worded to invite faculty
and staff members and students residing off-campus, as well as local community residents.
- All University-operated clinic services and biological laboratories will implement
their own information presentations on AIDS to their students, consistent with this
subpart.
- All presentations, if possible, will be supplemented by audiovisual materials available
from ACHA. ACHA's AIDS folders will be on hand for distribution at presentations and
on stock at the Health Center. If need be, a written capsule summary of presentation
information will be carried in the FYI and the TORCH.
- In response to valid public inquiries on AIDS which concern University students or
employees, the Office of Public Affairs will consult with the Task Force members (especially
the Health Center Director and the University's General Counsel) before answering
the inquiry. ACHA's general standards in such handling such inquiries are as follows:
"In general, it is recommended that no specific or detailed information concerning
complaints or diagnosis be provided to faculty, administrators, or even parents, without
the expressed written permission of the patient in each case."
It should be noted, however, that every possible effort will be made to address valid
inquiries by explaining the extent of the University's educational programming and
health safeguards concerning AIDS.
Sec. 8-903. Employment.
- In coordination with a campus-wide educational effort regarding AIDS and similar diseases,
employees will be provided with factual information describing AIDS, how it is contracted,
its degree of communicability, and other appropriate information.
- If the University becomes aware of any employee who is infected with any serious communicable
disease, determinations respecting such person's employment status at the University,
or any modifications thereof, will be undertaken on a case-by-case basis. Such determinations
shall involve consideration of such factors as:
- The condition of the University employee and his/her ability to perform his/her job
duties.
- The probability of infection of co-workers or other members of the University community,
based on the expected interaction of the employee in the University setting.
- The possible consequences to co-workers and other members of the University community,
if infected.
- Possible reasonable modifications to the individual's job to take account of his/her
condition.
- Risk to the infected employee's health from remaining on the job.
- Other appropriate factors.
The determination with respect to any employee shall be made following consultation
with the Chief of Medical Services, the affected employee, the employee's treating
physician, if available, and other persons only as they need to be involved in such
a situation.
- The University generally will not disclose information concerning the health of individual
employees to co-workers. Such disclosure will take place only if deemed medically
advisable and legally permissible. The County Health Department will be informed of
all cases of diseases required to be reported under State or federal law.
- This section will be periodically reviewed in the light of the most recent medical
knowledge concerning the specific diseases to which it is applicable.
- This section will be communicated to the campus community.
Sec. 8-904. Student Life.
- Questions of a communicable disease involving a student's activities or restriction
thereof will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Such determinations shall include
consideration of the following factors:
- The probability of infection of fellow students or other members of the University
community, based on the expected interaction of the student in the University setting.
- The possible consequences to fellow students and other members of the University community,
if infected.
- The risks to the infected student's personal health from remaining in a campus life
environment.
The determination with respect to any student shall be made following consultation
among the Health Center Medical Staff Physician(s), the Director of the County Health
Department, and other persons only as they need to be involved in such a situation.
- The Health Center will notify the Mecosta County Health Department of all cases of
Hepatitis B, positive AIDS, and other diseases required to be reported under state
or federal law.
- The Health Center will establish procedures to reduce the frequency of needlesticks
and exposure to human blood, blood products, or mucous secretions in order to reduce
the risk of transmission of infectious agents. These procedures will include the following:
- An occasional patient seen at the Health Center may have a health condition communicable
through blood, respiratory or mucous secretions. Such patients and their conditions
may not be recognized prior to receiving clinic services. Therefore, all patients
should be treated with the highest regard given to aseptic techniques and procedures
as outlined in this subpart.
- All clinic instruments which contact a person's blood or mucous membranes must be
appropriately cleansed, disinfected or sterilized between uses; or if disposable,
such instruments must be placed in a labeled container designed for such purpose.
Such instruments must never be left lying about.
- All needlesticks must be immediately reported to the proper medical supervisor for
further evaluation.
- All Health Center medical staff shall be educated with respect to the transmissibility
of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B and HTLV-III virus.
- The Health Center shall use disposable needles which will be properly disposed of
immediately after use.
- The Health Center will make available testing for Hepatitis B virus, HTLV-III antibodies
and other communicable diseases.
- Counseling will be made available either with the Personal Counseling Department or
the County Health Department.
- The Health Center will observe strict confidentiality of any and all medical records.
No specific or detailed information concerning complaints or diagnosis will be provided
to faculty, administrators, or parents, without the expressed written permission of
the patient.
Cross Reference:
Sec. 8-901. Academic setting - required procedures.
Statutory Reference:
Family Educational and Privacy Rights Act of 1974, 20 USC §1232g
- This section will be periodically reviewed in light of the most recent medical knowledge
concerning the specific diseases to which it is applicable.
Prior Board Action:
Entire Subpart 8-9 included in October 19, 2001 Codification, Phase I.
Entire Subpart 8-9 included in October 22, 2004 Codification, Phase II.
