Communicable Disease Policy

Communicable Disease Policy

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE

* Definition: a disease that may be transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another.

Students in the Athletic Training Program (ATP) must demonstrate protection against communicable diseases before being allowed to participate in patient care. This includes completion of a comprehensive vaccination/communicable disease record and verification that the athletic training student meets the technical standards of the ATP. Verification of vaccination or verification of recovery from disease must include Hepatitis B, rubella, mumps, rubeola, varicella, tetanus/diphtheria, and tuberculosis. This record will be kept in the athletic training student's permanent file in the Program Director's office. Students must also complete yearly training in the handling of blood-borne pathogens and infectious agents as specified by the Occupational and Safety Health Administration and documented by the ATP.

The Xavier University ATP wishes to ensure a healthy and safe environment for all students, faculty members, preceptors and their respective patients. Therefore, in the event an ATP student contracts a communicable disease that could jeopardize other students, faculty, preceptors, or patients, the ATP student should:

1. Seek immediate medical attention for formal evaluation. Also, inform the attending physician that you are a student in an Allied Health Education Program and discuss if you should be restricted from interaction at clinical sites or with other students.
2. The student should have written documentation from the attending physician in regards to your ability to continue with classes and clinical experiences or if any restrictions are required.
3. The student should contact their respective Preceptor or the AT Program Director (PD) or Clinical Education Coordinator (CEC) immediately following evaluation and consultation with a physician to discuss the ATP student’s status.
4. In the event of prolonged illness from communicable disease, the AT PD or CEC will help facilitate discussion with the College Associate Dean in charge of students to appropriately document and remediate the situation.
5. As long as an ATP student is deemed to be contagious by a physician, that student will not be allowed to attend clinical experiences. By the student contacting their Preceptor or the ATP PD or CEC promptly, appropriate remediation will be allowed to the student.  In the event there is a prolonged communicable illness and the student cannot finish the required coursework or clinical experience requirements, a grade of “IP” (in progress) will be granted and the student will be allowed to make-up the work.
6. The student will not be permitted to return to the clinical experience until he/she has been re-evaluated by a medical practitioner.  A signed release from a medical practitioner must be filled with the PD in order for the student to return to the XU Athletic training facility or an affiliated clinical site.