University Policies, George Mason University

General Policies

University Policy Number 1116

Subject: Communicable Disease

Responsible Parties: The Medical Director, Student Health Services; Vice President of University Life; Vice President of University Relations; Assistant Vice President of Human Resources; Assistant Vice President of Safety; Dean of Students and the Chief of Police

Procedures: Not Applicable

All Federal, State and Local Policies and Programs governing the disclosure and containment of communicable diseases that may result in an epidemic or pandemic environment.

I. SCOPE

This policy applies all George Mason University employees, students, staff and faculty.

II. POLICY STATEMENT

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that George Mason University administers a uniform procedure in the event of an occurrence of a communicable disease on any of our campuses.

III. DEFINITIONS

“Communicable disease” is defined for the purpose of this policy as an infectious disease that is spread from person to person through casual contact or respiratory droplets, which may lead to an epidemic or pandemic situations and threaten the health of campus community. These diseases include but are not limited to: tuberculosis (TB), measles or German measles (rubella), certain strains of hepatitis and meningitis, as well as SARS and certain strains of influenza. Other potentially less serious infectious diseases, such as chicken pox and pneumonia will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

“Employee” means a person who works for the University full-time or part-time and is paid through the University’s payroll system.

“Faculty” means an employee who is appointed as a member of the instructional, research, or administrative faculty, including visiting faculty and post-doctoral fellows.

“Staff” means an employee who is not a member of the faculty or a student.

“Student” means a person who is officially enrolled in a course or program of study offered by the University.

IV. RESPONSIBILITIES

Confidentiality Statement: Every effort must be made by all parties to protect the identity of any individual who is the subject of such a report. Failure to maintain and individual’s privacy would place the University and/or specific individuals at risk in regards to liability and coverage under the Commonwealth’s insurance plans.

A. Policy Administrator: The Medical Director of Student Health Services is responsible for the administration of this policy. As the Policy Administrator, the Medical Director will review proposed changes and revisions for compliance with the provisions of this policy. The Medical Director will forward a copy of the revised policy to the Vice President for University Life for review and approval. The Medical Director will forward a copy of the revised policy to the University Council before submission to the Senior Vice President and Provost for approval. The Medical Director will also issue announcements to the University community when a new or revised University Policy is issued and notify responsible parties when this policy is scheduled for review and revision.

B. Responsible Parties: The heads of responsible offices named in this policy recommend, formulate and submit new requirements to the Policy Administrator for review. Depending on the recommendation, other individuals or groups may need to be involved in formulating and approving proposed revisions to this policy.

C. Vice Presidents, Deans, Directors, Department Heads, Students, Staff, Faculty, and other Employees: Shall expeditiously report all incidents of infectious disease (verified or suspected) to the Medical Director of Student Health Services (when students) and the Office of Occupational Health, Human Resources & Payroll (when employees are involved,).

D. The Medical Director of Student Health Services: After receiving a report of infectious disease, the Medical Director will initiate an investigation to determine the validity of the information. If the report is verifiable, and the Medical Director determines that the disease posses a serious threat to the health of the university community, the Medical Director will convey only the necessary information to the following individuals as appropriate:

(1) For illness involving a student: Vice President of University Life, Dean of Students, Vice President of University Relations, Safety Officer, Director of The Office of Housing and Residence Life (if student is a resident), the Director of Athletics (if student is an athlete), and the Chief of Police

(2) For illness involving an employee: Provost and/or Senior Vice President depending on the individual’s employment status, Vice President of University Relations, Assistant Vice President of Human Resources &Payroll, the Office of Occupational Health the Safety Officer, and the Chief of Police.

(3) The Medical Director will inform the appropriate county public health department and obtain the most current recommendations about the management and prevention of the specific strain of communicable microbe. The Medical Director may also request appropriate vaccines and/ or medications along with professional and administrative assistance as deemed necessary. The Medical Director will cooperate with local public health professionals with surveillance and outbreak containment measures, including administration of appropriate vaccines and medications.

All available health professionals will monitor the index cases, look for linked cases, and provide appropriate diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic measures to the affected individual(s). Although the route of transmission and degree of infection varies depending on the specific infectious disease, individuals with the following relationships to the index case will be educated about the disease in question to the extent possible respecting confidentiality: roommates, classmates, co-workers.

Students, faculty, and staff will be requested to report any signs and symptoms of the illness to their private physician or to the professionals at Student Health Services, where they can receive a confidential medical consultation, appropriate prophylaxis, treatment, and/or referral to community health organizations, as medically indicated.

E. Vice President for University Life: The Vice President of University Life has the overall responsibility for health issues affecting students and will coordinate actions among the various student service organizations to provide the most effective care for students. In conjunction with the Director of Student Health Services, the Vice President for University Life will prepare a letter to the parents of students to inform them of symptoms associated with the disease, clues to early recognition, who is at risk, prophylactic measures including vaccination, treatment procedures, and local sources for referral (Student Health Clinic, public health clinics, hospital emergency rooms, private offices, etc.).

F. Vice President for University Relations: The Director of Student Health Services will work with the Office of Media Relations to provide medical information concerning the communicable disease to the media, students, staff, and family members. Establishing a 24-hour hotline by using the GMU-HELP line may be advisable. When appropriate, such as in cases involving meningococcal meningitis, the Vice President will prepare a letter to the University community to inform them of the disease’s symptoms, clues to early recognition, who is at risk, prophylactic measures including vaccination, treatment procedures, and local sources for referral (public health clinics, hospital emergency rooms, private medical offices, etc.).

G. Assistant Vice President of Human Resources and Payroll and the Office of Occupational Health: The Assistant Vice President Human Resources and Payroll and the Office of Occupational Health, will coordinate efforts with departmental supervisors and Student Health Services staff to identify employees who have reported signs and symptoms of the disease or may have been exposed to the infectious agent. Working with the staff of the Student Health Services, the Occupational Health Office, and Department of Human Resources and Payroll will assist these employees with information on how they may obtain primary or prophylactic treatment, as appropriate).

H. Director of The Office of Housing and Residence Life: The Director of The Office of Housing and Residence Life will immediately notify the Director of Student Health Services or her designee, if any student living in University Housing has signs or symptoms suggestive of one of the above communicable diseases. These students will be seen at the Student Health Services clinics at the various campuses. In case of emergency, Campus Police should be called. The staff of the Office of Housing and Residence Life will work with the staff of the Student Health Clinic to identify and educate all students at risk for contracting the communicable disease. They will also assist the staff of the Student Health Clinic by working with all affected resident students in their compliance with the treatment and prophylactic directives, including isolation housing arrangements, if medically indicated. The staff of the Office of Housing and Residence Life will have contingency plans for students who depend on that office and food services for direct support.

I. The Provost: The Office of the Provost, or the appropriate Dean, will notify the Director of the Student Health Services, or his/her designee of any known cases of faculty member(s) who have contracted a communicable disease or have potentially been exposed to the infectious agent(s). They will work with the Student Health Services and the Office of Human Resources & Payroll to disseminate information about the university ‘s pandemic and ensure that faculty and employee have will receive appropriate treatment and/or prophylaxis, as well as follow up care prior to returning to the workplace.

J. Chief of Police: The University Police will be contacted for all emergency cases involving students, faculty, staff, and/or visitors, as outlined in the GMU "Emergency Response Plan" Policy and Procedures.

K. Assistant Vice President of Safety: The staff of the Safety Office will investigate the campus environment for a potential single source of the outbreak, and will assist the health professionals in determining the members of the University community who have been exposed and are potentially at risk.

L. Assistant Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics: The Assistant Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics, or his designee, will notify Student Health Services of any student athlete that has, or is suspected of having, any of the above communicable diseases. The Department will assist the Student Health Services medical staff by working with the affected student athlete(s) to ensure their compliance with all treatment and prophylaxis directives.

M. Individual(s) diagnosed with one of the communicable diseases: Before returning to work or school, members of the GMU community who have been diagnosed as having a communicable disease listed above must be medically cleared by the Student Health Services Medical Director or present written documentation from his/her treating physician or primary care provider documenting that the individual is medically cleared (i.e., is no longer infectious to others) and is able to return to school or work as of a specified date. This information must be presented to Student Health Services (for students) or to the Occupational Health Office, Department of Human Resources & Payroll, (for employees). All records regarding this medical information must remain confidential and be filed separately from all other general student records and/or personnel files.

V. EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPROVAL

The policies herein are effective May 29, 2006. This policy shall be reviewed and revised, if necessary, annually to become effective at the beginning of the University's fiscal year, unless otherwise noted.

Approved:

_______________________
Maurice W. Scherrens
Senior Vice President

________________________
Peter N. Stearns
Provost

Date approved: June 15, 2006