Bryant Student Health Center Communicable Disease Response Policy

Objective & Purpose:

To establish a uniform notification and action procedure to prevent and/or limit a significant communicable disease outbreak on the campus of Pittsburg State University.

Definition:

A communicable disease is an infectious disease that is spread from person-to-person through casual contact or respiratory droplet exposure. A significant outbreak is the occurrence of 3 or more cases of one or more of the following communicable diseases:

• Pandemic Influenza
• Meningococcal meningitis
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Measles
• Mumps
• Hepatitis A
• Bioterrorism Event – using a communicable agent

Other less serious infectious diseases, such as chicken pox, influenza, and community acquired MRSA skin infections will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Policy:

The Operations Director of the Bryant Student Health Center (BSHC) shall be notified about all known or suspected cases of the above diseases involving any member of the PSU community (students, faculty, or staff).  

Upon notification of communicable disease case the Director will then notify the following:

• BSHC Medical Director
• External agencies and health care organizations
  • Crawford County Health Department
  • Kansas Department of Health and Environment
  • Centers of Disease Control
• Vice President of Student Life
• Notify Crisis Response Coordinating Team as deemed necessary 

A treatment and containment of infection plan will then be coordinated through the collaborating efforts of Crawford County Health Officer, Operations Director of Bryant Student Health Services, Medical Director of Bryant Student Health Services, and Vice President of Student Life.

Treatment Plan to include:

• Surveillance and outbreak containment measures
• Isolation and quarantine recommendations
• Treatment of patients and prophylactic treatments of contacts
• Necessary immunization of students and staff.

Procedure / Responsibilities

Operations Director of the Bryant Student Health Services  

• Will authorize implementation of the plan following consultation with the appropriate university and/or community entities.
• Serve as communication interface with University Communications for updated disease information and treatment postings to university websites.
• Collaborate with university administration and county /state health agencies to determine if isolation and/or quarantine are necessary.
• Assure compliance of state required documentation for disease notification and case investigation.
• Coordinate additional staffing measures and/or extended hours of operation of health services.
• Organize prophylactic treatment and immunization delivery as requested by Crawford Count Health Department.
• Assist in developing appropriate protocols or policies to allow affected students to return to university campus.

Medical Director of the Bryant Student Health Services

• Primarily responsible for coordination of all clinical services and coordination with all clinical constituents.
• Triage and/or facilitate medical transport for those patients whose medical needs exceed our scope of service.
• Communicate outbreak information to external health care agencies and local medical providers.
• Serve as primary spokesperson for medical information media releases as delegated from University                 Communications.

Vice President of Student Life

• Act as the campus response coordinator of all areas within Student Life.
• Activate appropriate campus notification of the disease outbreak to all students, staff, and faculty.
• Assist in providing relevant available information and organize needed services to those students and staff directly affected by the incident or impacted in ancillary ways.
• Facilitate isolation/ quarantine protocol of students within the residence halls.
• If deemed necessary, direct the implementation of a campus policy for re-entry of affected students, staff, and faculty to the university.
• Following the resolution of the incident, a debriefing session may be conducted by VP of Student Life to evaluate the response. 

University Communications:

• Coordinate all information released externally by the university associated with the incident and response for requests for information from media personnel.
• Use available campus media channels to ensure that all community parties have access to consistent, accurate and timely information.
• Revise university websites with updated disease information as provided by university medical staff and/or appropriate university administration.

Human Resources

• Assist in the coordination of directing affected faculty and student workers to receive the appropriate treatment and/or prophylaxis, as well as follow up care prior to returning to the workplace.
• Communicate staff and faculty personnel needs to university medical staff and/or appropriate university administration during the incident

University Housing

• Assist the Student Health Center staff in notification, identification, and education of all residential students at risk for contracting the communicable disease.
• Support all affected resident students in their compliance with the treatment and prophylactic    directives, including isolation housing arrangements, if medically indicated.
• Attempt to include any guests of residents in the affected student housing in the notification process.  

University Counseling Services

• Coordinate those services to assist students and staff with psychological support.

Environmental Health and Safety/Custodial Services

• Qualified personnel may assist with clean-up, or containment measures of potentially infectious materials under the direction of the appropriate local and federal officials.