Medical Student COVID-19 Procedures

Rationale

The Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine (BSOM) shall create and enact evidence-based administrative controls, procedures, and guidelines necessary for the optimal prevention and control of the spread of the COVID-19 pathogen. The Boonshoft community seeks to empower each individual to manage their own health and wellness.

For information on the Covid Vaccine please review the BSOM Vaccination Policy at https://medicine.wright.edu/student-life/policies/immunization-requirements.

Student Responsibilities

Global COVID-19 epidemiological evidence is fluidly evolving. Therefore, COVID-19 related procedures, processes or guidelines are subject to change as additional evidence-based public health information is obtained from federal, state, and/or local government agencies. It is the student’s responsibility to read and understand published BSOM COVID-19 updates.

Student Health Maintenance

BSOM will continue to maintain a medical student COVID-19 exposure protocol led by an appointed BSOM faculty designee and working in conjunction with health agencies to help maintain health and wellness of our students. Health maintenance will be an interplay with students and their health professionals on symptom assessments, order referrals for necessary testing, and other medical advice regarding Covid, as well as other health issues. A summary of the current procedure is noted below.

The WSU/BSOM community seeks to empower each individual to manage their health and wellness. 

The following procedures are currently in place:

  • The CRT (COVID Response Team) has moved to inactive status. Any health concern or questions students can follow the process below. The CRT email is no longer active and will not be monitored.
  • Mask requirements will be communicated to all students faculty and staff based on the current infection risk status. 
  • We will no longer complete full COVID-19 contact tracing for our medical students. If a student, staff or faculty tests positive for COVID-19, then they should report it to please fill out our self-reporting form.
  • Students should refer to the CDC website for questions about COVID symptoms and will work with their PCP and WSU Student Health for health concerns

Below you will find a “What do you need to know/do” in three different situations:  

Case 1- I HAVE SYMPTOMS

If you have symptoms, you should: 

  1. Stay home from school/work
  2. Contact your course leadership to let them know you will be absent as follows:
    1. M1 & M2 - course director, Dr. Bell, Karen Bertke, Dr. Burke
    2. M3 – course/clerkship director AND coordinator, Dr. Bell (+ main contact at site you are working), Dr. Burke
    3. M4 - course director, department who sponsors elective
  3. Test for COVID-19 ASAP.  NOTE:  If you have a home test kit, test yourself before contacting course leadership to save everyone a step.  If you do not have a home test kit readily available, contact first, then find a test kit.  Testing options include:
    1. Student affairs has self-test kits that can be obtained during the hours of 8:30-5:00 M-F.  If after hours, they can be accessed in the mailboxes behind the stairs in White Hall (first two rows)
    2. Free rapid COVID test kits are available in the vending machine in the Student Union  
    3. Testing at pharmacy sites: CVS, Walgreens, etc.  Note: Not all are still testing so call first, but they do have antigen home testing kits.
    4. Call WSU Student Health for a virtual office visit, and they can order testing if you are enrolled as a student there.
    5. Contact your primary care healthcare professional.
    6. Go to Urgent Care.

If you are negative after testing with a rapid antigen home test, you should continue to isolate for 48 hours and retest.  If both tests are negative (now and 48 hours later), treat it as you would any other illness with regards whether to attend classes/work.  Discuss with the course/clerkship/elective leadership noted above. If you test negative using a PCR, you do not need a second test.

Case 2 - I TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID

If you test positive:

  1. Isolate for 5 days from onset of symptoms, then if CDC criteria are met (it has been at least 5 days since the onset of your symptoms, your symptoms have resolved or are at least significantly improved (keeping in mind that disturbances of taste and/or smell can persist for weeks-to-months after recovery from COVID), and you have not had temperature >/= 100.4 degrees for at least 24 hours without using antipyretic medications) you can return to work but must mask for an additional 5 days. This should all be communicated with the course leadership noted above.
  2. Notify any close contacts you have had.  The school will no longer be doing any contact tracing, so it is up to you to notify those close contacts.

Case 3 - I AM A CLOSE CONTACT OF A COVID POSITIVE PERSON

If you are notified that you have been in close contact with someone who is Covid positive:

  1. I AM ASYMPTOMATIC.  If you are fully vaccinated and/or had COVID within the previous 90 days AND are asymptomatic, you can continue full activity as long as you are fully masked.  The CDC recommends that if you remain asymptomatic, you should have post exposure testing done at 5-7 days (see above for testing options).  
  2. I HAVE (OR DEVELOP) SYMPTOMS. If you become symptomatic during this time, you should follow the protocol listed in “Case 1”.

Clinical Experiences

High-quality clinical care, including student and patient safety, must remain paramount during the educational training endeavor. Therefore, all trainees participating in the direct patient care must be educated regarding the proper application, removal and disposal of assigned personal protective equipment.  Every student must also be appropriately supervised when providing clinical services, including education related to the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) required in a particular clinical situation or location. In partnership with BSOM, sponsoring institutions will provide students with the appropriate level of PPE for higher-risk COVID-19 situations.

If a student is included in the provision of direct patient clinical services beyond the scope of their educational requirements, or is asked to participate in clinical services that are deemed to be at high risk of exposure to pathogens, it must only be done on a voluntary basis.  No student will be penalized academically for refusing to participate in a high-risk clinical experience. In accordance with LCME element 10.9, students are afforded the opportunity to request an alternative rotation assignment (see Doctoring Scheduling policy).