College of Medicine Pandemic Response Friday Round-Up – Week of April 26-30

From left, Dr. Leslie Parent, vice dean for research and graduate studies; Dr. Terry Wolpaw, vice dean of educational affairs; Dr. Charles Lang, associate dean for graduate studies; and Dr. Neal Thomas, associate dean for clinical research.

College of Medicine leaders updated faculty, staff and students on April 30 about the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

All College of Medicine Updates

Continue to follow guidelines for gatherings

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided new guidance for fully vaccinated individuals, including outdoor gatherings, masking and loosened quarantine requirements. However, the CDC guidelines — released April 27 — do not apply to the College of Medicine.

Within the walls and on the grounds of all Penn State Health and College of Medicine facilities, current policies and guidelines related to masking, social distancing and patient care protocols remain in place. Leadership will continue to assess state and federal health-care-specific guidance as it becomes available and revise policies and procedures accordingly.

To date, Penn State Health has administered more than 136,000 vaccines to employees, students, patients and the public at large. Vaccination is the best way possible to permit the return to many activities that stopped during the pandemic.

Research staff: Review safety guidelines to ensure compliance

When working on campus in your lab or with patients in patient care settings, please ensure you are practicing the following safety guidelines:

• Physical distancing policy (at least 150 square feet per person; at least 6 feet between individuals) is strictly adhered to.
• Employees are required to wear a mask at all times while on campus, except when eating or drinking. Review the mask guidance here.
• Eye shields or face shield must be worn when working with human subjects in clinical research studies.
• Eye shields or face shield must also be worn when working within six feet of another person in the laboratory or office setting.

All of these guidelines are still required regardless of the vaccine status of lab personnel.

Penn State Health’s vaccination site in Hershey now accepting walk-ins. Share with your family and friends.

Now that Penn State Health has ample supplies of COVID-19 vaccines, it has begun accepting walk-in appointments at its dedicated vaccination site at 30 E. Granada Ave. in Hershey. One hundred doses of the mRNA vaccines — Pfizer or Moderna — will be set aside for unscheduled patients each day. Employees and students are encouraged to share the news with their family and friends.

The public can also visit vaccine-scheduler.pennstatehealth.org or call 844-774-8883 to schedule their appointment, including same-day appointments, at any of the three dedicated vaccination sites:

• Berks County: 2400 Bernville Road, Reading
• Cumberland County: Holy Spirit Medical Center, 431 N. 21^st, Camp Hill
• Dauphin County: 30 E. Granada Ave. #200, Hershey

Not vaccinated?

Employees and students can visit the Employee Health COVID site to schedule their vaccination.

Changes to COM Student Health after-hours COVID-related coverage

Effective May 10, Student Health will return to its regular operating hours; after-hours availability will be discontinued. However, multiple alternative options to serve student needs remain available for students seeking assistance during off-hours. These changes are for students only and do not impact employee reporting.

Students experiencing COVID symptoms or other medical issues may seek assistance and care via any of the options outlined below:

1. Penn State Health/Hershey Medical Center CareLine:This service is available 24/7. Call 1-800-243-1455 and select option 1, followed by option 1. Students contacting this line will be transferred to nurse triage when necessary.
2. Penn State Health OnDemand:Students may schedule an urgent appointment via OnDemand at org/get-care-now/ondemand-care/penn-state-health-ondemand.
3. MedExpress Urgent Care:Located at 565 E. Chocolate Ave. in Hershey, three miles from the Hershey campus. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and can be reached by calling 717-533-4935. MedExpress Urgent Care offers in-person and virtual appointments.
4. Contact Student Health directly:Student Health checks voicemail messages each morning and throughout the day. Students may leave a message for Student Health, and their call will be returned by the next business day. Call 717-531-5998 or email Student_Health@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

COVID-19 testing for students and faculty attending graduation

As a reminder, all students and faculty attending commencement on May 15 will be required to have a negative COVID test prior to the ceremony. Instructions for obtaining a test have been sent out to students and the limited number of faculty who have been specifically invited to graduation. Please contact the appropriate Student Affairs office with questions. COVID testing will not be required for family and friends who will be in attendance.

PPE usage

Recently, there has been a marked increase in the use of PPE supplied by Comparative Medicine for animal research. All faculty, staff and students are reminded the PPE that is available in the animal facilities is solely for use within the animal facilities or satellite animal housing areas. PPE for use in the laboratory areas must be provided by the lab. Please do not take items from the supply rack in bulk (e.g., a box of gloves, several disposable lab coats).

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