College of Medicine Pandemic Response Friday Round-Up – Week of March 8-12
Newest federal COVID-19 safety guidance does not apply to health care settings. No changes at Penn State College of Medicine.
The recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance for fully vaccinated individuals does not apply to health care settings. Penn State College of Medicine leadership will continue to assess health care specific guidance as it becomes available and revise policies and procedures accordingly. At this time, nothing is changing within the walls and on the grounds of Penn State Health and College of Medicine facilities related to masking, social distancing and patient care protocols.
In addition, staff, faculty and student behaviors outside of work continue to impact work within the health system. Everyone should carefully review new guidance for fully vaccinated individuals and follow them in order to protect patients, colleagues and the community. The pandemic is still a threat, and the potential for resurgence is real. We do not want to reverse all our progress due to impatience or a misunderstanding about what is safe and what is not.
Penn State Health is making great strides in the distribution of vaccines, which is one of the key methods available to us to lessen the impact of COVID-19. Approximately 75% of our Penn State Health and College of Medicine workforce, students, contractors and volunteers have been vaccinated. Approximately 25% of our workforce who initially did not receive the vaccine are now securing vaccines. Employees and students who are still interested can visit the Employee Health COVID site for appointment availability.
The Penn State Health family has made considerable sacrifices and invested in every possible precaution to keep patients, colleagues, communities and families safe. Thank you for these efforts. Let’s continue to set the example in our communities.
Travel Guidance Updated
Penn State has developed comprehensive guidance for both personal and University-affiliated travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines have been developed with the health and safety of the entire University community in mind, in accordance with the latest information and requirements from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the governor’s office, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of State. All Penn Staters are being asked to follow these basic guidelines in the interest of their own health, and for the common good:
Employee Domestic and International Travel
Guidance for University-Affiliated Travel
Student Domestic Travel Guidance
Student International Travel Exception Documents
Remote Work from Outside the U.S.
Guidance issued from the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs states that, beginning with the calendar year 2021, remote work for an extended period of time from outside the U.S. by faculty members, postdoctoral fellows and staff will not be permitted.
NEW UPDATE – Vaccination of New Employees and Current Employees
Penn State Health and the College of Medicine are offering opportunities for employees and students to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Employees and students can click here to schedule their appointments. This scheduling link should only be used by Penn State Health and College of Medicine employees and students. Do not share it outside of the organization.
Check-In Process
Although the check-in tables at the College of Medicine main entrance and the BMR entrance have been removed, please continue to use the online check-in process daily, attesting that you do not have symptoms and listing where you will be in the College of Medicine for contact tracing.
CLINICAL RESEARCH UPDATES
Observational Research Allowed Starting Monday, March 15
On Monday, March 15, observational studies where subjects are entering campus for non-clinical or research-only reasons will once again be allowed. Studies that have been previously reviewed through the InfoReady process and do not have significant modifications since they were reviewed can move forward on that date. However, study teams will receive a request for a small amount of additional information. Studies without prior approval will need to be reviewed at both the College of Medicine and the University through the InfoReady process.
The only studies that are excluded from the InfoReady process are observational clinical research studies involving participants who are already on campus for a health care appointment and where all four of the criteria below are met:
- The study only involves limited sample collections, AND
- The participant remains in one location for both the health care visit and research visit, AND
- Interaction between study staff and subject is less than 15 minutes, AND
- The subject’s face mask is not removed at any time.
Clinical Research Staff Testing Positive for COVID Notification Process
As a reminder, if any clinical research study staff have a positive COVID-19 test (regardless of employment with Penn State Health or the College of Medicine), in addition to the requirements to report to Employee Health or Occupational Medicine, the PI must notify Dr. Neal Thomas and Ray Scheetz immediately at nthomas@pennstatehealth.psu.edu and rscheetz@pennstatehealth.psu.edu .
Study Teams Must Notify Employee Health if They Have a COVID-positive Study Participant
Additionally, if the study team is notified that a study participant has a positive COVID-19 test within 48 hours after a study visit, please ensure that Employee Health is notified of the exposure and that contact tracing of exposed study personnel is initiated. In addition, inform Thomas and Scheetz that this process has been completed.
STUDENT UPDATES
Summer Undergraduate Research Programs
The College is permitting the recruitment of undergraduate college students to its formally recognized research programs for summer 2021. We will accept college undergraduate students into such programs as SURP and AHA, while maintaining all safety guidelines and not limiting the research experiences of others in the lab. On campus summer research internships for individual college students and for all high school students are still suspended and will be reopened as soon as conditions in the community and College permit.
Clinical Shadowing
All questions regarding clinical shadowing by high school and college undergraduate students should be sent to AffiliationAgreements@pennstatehealth.psu.edu for assistance.
Classroom Instruction for Fall 2021
The University and College are working closely to ensure that as many classes as possible be held in person for fall 2021. This information is being evaluated to provide instructors, staff and students adequate time for preparation. We will share additional information in the coming weeks, but the expectation from the University is that we will resume in-person instruction for fall 2021 with few exemptions to teach remotely.
MISCELLANEOUS UPDATES
Mark Your Calendar for Penn State Health Town Hall on March 24
Penn State Health will host a virtual town hall on Wednesday, March 24, at noon. College of Medicine employees are encouraged to attend:
- Zoom link: zoom.us/j/93405262414
- iPhone one-tap: US: +16465189805, 93405262414#
- Phone: 929 205 6099
- Webinar ID: 934 0526 2414
COVID-19 Memorial and Vigil to Take Place at Hershey Medical Center
Penn State College of Medicine students are hosting a COVID-19 memorial in the chapel at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center from Monday, March 15 until Friday, March 19. Faculty, staff and students are invited to visit the chapel for quiet reflection and to write down their memories, other thoughts or to write messages to other staff members. In addition, there will be space for people to leave pictures, letters and poems. The memorial will conclude with a virtual vigil at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 19. Chaplains and medical students will offer selected readings and a moment of silence.
- Zoom link: zoom.us/j/94937189662?pwd=RmJpY0JZUW1qcnpnUFhVelpiMHROZz09
- One-tap mobile: +16465189805, 94937189662#, *821707#
- Meeting ID: 949 3718 9662
- Passcode: 821707
New Break Space Available at College of Medicine
In ongoing efforts to keep employees and patients safe, the College of Medicine has added a meal/break space. Lecture Room D, C-7619, which accommodates 38 people, is open daily from 5:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. until April 28.
The Ronald McDonald family room, Junker Auditorium and Lecture Room B, C5621, are no longer break areas. However, employees can take advantage of other designated meal/break rooms.
Many employee-positive COVID-19 cases have been linked to crowded break areas and dining without social distancing and masking.
Employees should follow room-occupancy mandates and social-distancing requirements of six feet or more. They also should wear masks when they are not eating and drinking.
COVID-19 Resources
See the latest policies, information and resources for both on-campus and remote working and learning by visiting med.psu.edu/coronavirus.
In Case You Missed It
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