ROWAN UNIVERSITY POLICY

Title: HIV, HBV and HCV
Subject: Health and Safety
Policy No: HS: 2013:02
Applies: University-wide
Issuing Authority: Vice President, Health Sciences
Responsible Officer: Vice President, Health Sciences (signature)
Adopted: 10/15/13
Last Revision:

...

1/29/15

...

I.   PURPOSE

To set RowanSOM requirements for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus (HIV, HBV and HCV) testing, evaluation immunization, and impact on the allowed clinical activities of RowanSOM employees, faculty, housestaff and students who have or will have patient contact, contact with research subjects, or contact with potentially infectious materials during their employment or studies at RowanSOM.

...

I urge you to discuss with your personal physician, if you have not already done so, appropriate treatment or counseling regarding your medical care, including the advisability of obtaining a Hep A vaccine. You should also be thoroughly informed of the risks to your health from disease transmission through needle sticks or other injuries that may occur during the course of your [education/employment] and throughout your career. Moreover, because of your medical condition, you may be at a higher than normal risk for health problems in the event you are exposed to Hep A, or to the blood of patients with other blood-borne infectious diseases such as Hep C or HIV.
Please note that University policies are subject to change to reflect the most current scientific and medical evidence concerning transmission of HBV for a health care [worker/student] to a patient and vice versa. If changes are made to policies that impact your ability to continue [matriculation as a student/employment], a new evaluation of your ability to perform the essential functions of [your program of study/your employment] will be conducted. Although I cannot predict whether restrictions related to this will be necessary, you should be aware of the possibility that a future evaluation of the risk to patients or others may affect your [matriculation status/employment].

{For student letters only, where applicable}: Finally, while your current program of instruction does not require you to participate in CDC Category I procedures, your career choices as a [physician, Advanced Practice Nurse, etc., and where applicable] may be limited. Future [residency directors and] employers may review your candidacy to determine if your health status poses a threat to the health and safety of patients. We are all eager to see you succeed, so I strongly advise you to seek career counseling through your school's Office of Student Affairs. You are not required to disclose your HBV status to your School, however your career counseling will be more relevant if you do so. Also, if you change your program of study, you must notify me immediately so we can review your HBV status in relationship to your new program of study.

...

I have read and understood the contents of this letter and the attached policy, and I agree to any requirements expressed in this letter in all respects. I understand that if I do not comply with the requirements in this letter and/or the attached policy, I may be subject to [discipline, up to including dismissal/termination].



___________________________
Student /Employee Name (Print)


___________________________
Student/Employee Signature


___________________________
Date

ATTACHMENT E

CDC Recommendation -
Notification of Patients of HBV-Infected Health-Care Providers

There is no clear justification for or benefit from routine notification of the HBV infection status of a health-care provider to his or her patient with the exception of instances in which an infected provider transmits HBV to one or more patients or documented instances in which a provider exposes a patient to a bloodborne infection. Routine mandatory disclosure might actually be counterproductive to public health, as providers and students might perceive that a positive test would lead to loss of practice or educational opportunities. This misperception might lead to avoidance of HBV testing, of hepatitis B vaccination (if susceptible), of treatment and management (if infected), or of compliance with practice oversight from an expert panel (if infected and practicing exposure-prone procedures). In general, a requirement for disclosure is accepted to be an insurmountable barrier to practice and might limit patient and community access to quality medical care.

ATTACHMENT F

Excerpt from: SHEA Guideline for Management of Healthcare Workers
Who Are Infected with Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus,
and/or Human Immunodeficiency Virus
*(see: http://www.shea-online.org/Assets/files/guidelines/BBPathogen_GL.pdf)*

...