27.3.2. Infectious Disease/Environmental Exposures
The Department of Physician Assistant Studies is committed to protecting the health and well-being of students, faculty, staff, and patients. During the course of their education, students may encounter exposure to infectious and environmental hazards. This may include being exposed to human donors and preservative chemicals such as formaldehyde in the anatomy lab, latex/ other products such as gloves that may contain allergens, and exposure to communicable infectious disease which may be airborne or transferred via mucous membrane splashes or exposure to blood and body fluids in the clinical setting. Examples of bloodborne pathogens and communicable disease may include the flu, COVID, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Women of childbearing years may also have additional considerations, such as minimizing exposure to infectious diseases, possible teratogens, or chemical exposures.
Students should contact the Director of Clinical Education and MGH Occupational Health for guidance. For any exposure concerns, please contact 617-726-2217.
Students in the PA program are required to show proof of appropriate immunity, or documented immunization, as part of their matriculation requirements and that their immunizations are up to date throughout their matriculation in the program. Students are required to complete prematriculation coursework in universal precautions, infection control, and prevention of the spread of communicable disease through the Massachusetts General Hospital employee web-based training site, Healthstream. All students will be instructed on the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and fitted for N-95 respirator prior to the beginning of the clinical year.
Students are provided with safety policies to follow in the anatomy laboratory (Harvard Medical School). Allergy to formaldehyde and/or latex (previous and subsequent to enrollment) must be verified by a physician. Questions regarding exceptions to blood/body fluid protection are directed to the IHP Director of Accessibility Resources and Wellness. Instruction on care and treatment in the event of an exposure in the clinical setting is noted above. At any time, if a student has questions regarding these issues, they are instructed to bring the matter to the course coordinator, clinical site preceptor, or DCE for further instruction.
The student is financially responsible for any costs incurred secondary to infectious and/or environmental hazardous exposures as a result of their educational experiences. Acquisition of an infectious or environmental disease may impact student learning activities and outcomes. Students must be able to meet published health requirements at all times in order to continue matriculation in the Program and to provide care at all clinical sites. Based upon outcomes and degree of infectious or environmental hazard exposure, a student’s continued participation in classroom and/or clinical activities as part of the PA Program may be delayed or prevented. In the event that the student contracts a communicable disease which potentially poses a risk to patients or co-workers (e.g., tuberculosis), steps will be taken to prevent dissemination in accordance with public health agencies.
Preceptors should provide guidance to the student regarding the proper way to report incidents at the facility and the proper procedure to obtain the needed laboratories or treatment. In the event of a needle stick injury or other hazardous exposure to blood and/or body fluids, the student and preceptor will complete an incident report and submit it to the DCE. This report must include the student name, date, time, place, organizational process, and whether testing/counseling occurred.
Additionally, the clinical preceptor will advocate for the student as follows:
- Assures that the student received timely services and complies with the procedures in place at the host institution where the exposure occurred.
- Assures that testing and counseling are offered to the student.
- Reviews the incident with the student prior to the next clinical day to assure that undue risk is avoided in the future.