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Clinical Education Sites
Policies Common to All Clinical Sites
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Clinical Education Sites Policies Common to All Clinical Sites
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You must read and understand these policies prior to rotating at clinical sites. Failure to abide by these policies may result in the student's removal from the clinical site, withholding of the student's evaluation or final grade, and other academic or disciplinary sanctions. |
Attendance
Attendance requirements for preclinical courses are determined by and may differ in each department. Failure to meet attendance expectations will be factored into final grades. Students should attend all classes and laboratories except in the case of illness or personal or family emergency. A need to be absent from examinations for illness or personal or family emergencies should be reported to the Course Director for courses to be missed. Makeup examinations will be scheduled at a mutually convenient time. Students at all levels should discuss the need for absences of more than three or four days with the Office of Student Affairs. That office can facilitate communication with course directors and, if needed, help with catch-up strategies.
The clinical years are the hands-on, experiential component of medical training, the time for demonstrating the acquisition of new information and its application to clinical reality. Full attendance is essential, and is the responsibility of the student. The ability to demonstrate knowledge gains, clinical reasoning, technical skills, teamwork and the professional attitudes which engender the collegial cooperation and interaction essential to the effective practice of medicine are all facets of performance which are evaluated. If a student finds it necessary to be absent from a required clinical retation, it is the responsibility of the student to contact the clerkship/course director. See the full policy regarding missed clinical time at: /handbook/AcademicPolicies.html#MissedClinical
Campus Security Act
As appropriate, in compliance with the amended Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act, a report of criminal activities can be obtained by written request to the Director, Office of Security at the respective facility.
Clinical Site Policies
Students are expected to comply with all applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the clinical site. Failure to do so, may result in the student's removal from the clinical site or other academic or disciplinary sanctions.
Acceptable Use of Network and Information Technology Resources
Students at each clinical site may be granted access to the hospital network at that site. Such access, both within the hospital itself and in student housing and other areas, is subject to the same Acceptable Use provisions[1] that apply to use of the Drexel and DrexelMed networks. In addition, each clinical site may have additional policies governing the use of their network and other information technology resources. Clinical site policies may impose additional restrictions on the use of their network, including limitations on access to various internal and external sites. Using or accessing the clinical site’s network in violation of any clinical site's policy or without proper authorization or attempting to access restricted sites is strictly prohibited and may result in disciplinary action or loss of network privileges.
[1] http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/policies/acceptableUse.html
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General Deportment
While in the institution, and always when in a patient care area or setting, a student should be dressed professionally in appropriate attire as required by the individual site policy. "Appropriate" attire is determined by societal convention and the expectations society has of the medical professional. Those students who are not engaged in patient contact must keep in mind that members of the professional community are obligated to maintain an acceptable professional standard. Good grooming and personal cleanliness are essential in a health care setting.
A manner which shows respect for all individuals and recognizes the rights of patients is fundamental to a physician's professional conduct. It is a professional obligation to respect the privacy of patients and the confidentiality of their records. Discussion of patients' problems in an inappropriate setting (for example, the elevator, the cafeteria) constitutes a serious breach of patient rights.
Issued/Borrowed Items
Students are responsible for all items that are issued to them or borrowed from the institution. The student is responsible for the replacement value of any item not returned at the end of the rotation. This includes, but is not limited to items such as beepers, keys, identification cards, and textbooks. The student's evaluation may be withheld until all items are returned.
Educational Housing Guidelines
At some of the sites, as a courtesy, housing is offered on a space available basis by the clinical site while rotating on a clinical clerkship, a required course or elective rotation. Authorized representatives of the clinical site may enter the housing facility at any time and for any reason, with or without advance notice to the occupants.
The physical layout of the housing will vary from site to site. You may have to share a room with another student of the same gender and/or share common facilities such as a bathroom, living room or kitchen with students of the opposite gender. If the housing offered by the site does not meet your needs, you will have to make alternative housing arrangements at your own expense.
No one other than the person(s) assigned is permitted. Do not "redecorate" by rearranging furniture or putting furniture in the hallway. Do not change rooms without specific permission.Room Assignments/Roommates
Gender-specific roommate assignments will be made. If your spouse is a medical student and on rotation at the same site, you may contact the specific site to see if they can accommodate you.
Guests/Visitors
No spouses, significant others, and/or visitors are permitted.
Pets
Pets are NOT permitted within any housing which is provided by clinical sites.
Telephone Utilization within Housing Provided by Clinical Institutions
If housing is provided at the clinical site, telephone availability/policy may vary. All charges related to the telephone usage are the responsibility of the tenant(s). See Telephone section within each individual site for more information.
Responsibility for Damages
You are financially responsible for any damages you cause to the housing facility. You may also be held responsible for damage caused by other occupants of housing if individual responsibility is not acknowledged.
Lost or Damaged Personal Property
Drexel University is not responsible for any damage or loss to your personal property that occurs at the clinical site's housing.
Housing Deposit
A clinical site may request a deposit to cover potential damage to housing.The following procedure will be followed if a student is accused of violating the DUCoM Educational Housing Guidelines or an institution’s more specific housing policy:
• The clinical site will notify the Vice Dean for Educational and Academic Affairs, Associate Dean for Student Affairs or Director of Clinical Education of the violation.
• The Student will be notified by the Associate Dean of the accusation.
• Student will be given opportunity to provide written response to the accusation within 48 hours to the clinical site and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
• The Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Director of Medical Education at the clinical site (or their designees) will meet with the accused student, either in person or by telephone conference call, to discuss the violation. This meeting will not take place until Student has submitted written response or 48 hours has passed, whichever is earlier.
• If the Associate Dean for Student Affairs determines that there is sufficient evidence that the student is responsible for the violation, he or she will determine the sanction which will be imposed.
• The Associate Dean for Student Affairs decision or sanctions may be appealed to the Vice Dean for Educational and Academic Affairs. The decision of the Vice Dean is final and no further appeal is possible within the College.
• If the misconduct violates other College of Medicine policies or regulations, the Associate Dean for Student Affairs may also refer the matter to the Honor Court or Promotions Committee for additional proceedings.
• In instances where the Associate Dean for Student Affairs believes the student’s presence in housing may pose a danger to self or others, the Associate Dean may impose a temporary ban or other restriction on the student for up to 72 hours.
• Students should be aware that if the sanction includes a prohibition on current or future use of clinical site education housing then the student will be responsible for securing housing on their own and at their own expense. A student’s rotation schedule will not be changed to accommodate housing needs.
• Nothing in these guidelines shall limit a clinical site’s authority to restrict a student from entering its property pursuant to its own policies and regulations.
See "HOUSING" section within each individual clinical site for more information.
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Weapons/Firearms
Weapons
No student shall keep, use, possess, display, or transport any rifle, shotgun, handgun, pellet or BB guns, stun gun, dangerous knives, billy-club, makeshift weapons, martial art weapons, or any other lethal or dangerous devices capable of casting a projectile by air, gas, explosion, or mechanical means on any property or in any building owned or operated by the University or clinical site or in any vehicle on campus. Realistic facsimiles of weapons are also specifically not allowed.
Telephone Utilization Within Clinical Institutions
Medical students are responsible for covering the costs of telephone calls they make from the College of Medicine or its educational sites. This includes the expense of facsimilies. All students are encouraged to have a telephone calling card or personal cell phone in order to facilitate handling the cost of any long distance calls they may make. Members of the staff in the Office of Student Affairs in Philadelphia, the Dean's Office in Pittsburgh, and the Offices of Medical Education at affiliated clinical sites may, upon a student's request, permit the student to make long distance calls to address a personal or family emergency, or to assist a student in handling selected school business. Such school business might, for example, include solving financial aid problems which are urgent, making calls to the Division of Clinical Education to arrange elective course schedules, or working with designated staff to find a residency position for those students not attaining a residency "match." Calls to other medical schools regarding elective or other medical study opportunities are the student's responsibility. Telecommunications policies for obtaining outside lines for local or long distance may differ at each clinical teaching site. It is the student's responsibility to learn the policy at each site and to respect that policy.
Meal Ticket Policy
Drexel University College of Medicine and its affiliates recognize the importance of providing a comfortable and cooperative environment for students. In this regard, students function and provide assistance to residents and staff during clinical rotations. Most clinical sites have agreed to provide a minimum number of meal tickets, or equivalents, for each medical student performing a clinical rotation at their site. Institutions may provide more than the minimum, based on administrative decisions and the functioning of the cafeteria system.
The minimum standards are as follows:
For those institutions within 30 miles of Philadelphia: One meal ticket, or equivalent, may be issued for each night a medical student is on-call, two meal tickets for each entire weekend a medical student is on-call. At some sites there are no meal tickets provided.
For those institutions farther than 30 miles from Philadelphia: One meal ticket per day (seven tickets per week), plus one meal ticket for each night a medical student is on call. At Allegheny General Hospital and Saint Peter's University Hospital only one meal ticket for each anticipated night a medical student is on call will be provided. At some sites there are no meal tickets provided.
The exact amount of the meal ticket is somewhat dependent on the cost of food at the individual cafeteria, and whether or not discounts are applicable for employees, residents, and students. The amount assigned to the meal ticket should be such that an acceptable lunch or dinner can be purchased.
INFORMATION: Identification badges are necessary to use meal tickets/cards. Dollar amounts attached to the meal tickets vary from site to site. If your selection is more than the amount of the ticket, you will be responsible for any additional cost of your meal. If your selection is less than the specified dollar amount, you will NOT be refunded any difference.
NOTE: Lost, stolen, or abused meal tickets will not be replaced.
Scrub Attire Policy
It is a student's responsibility to determine and to follow the policy regarding scrub suits at the various clinical training sites. Scrub attire is worn in designated areas for infection control and may not be taken from the premises unless the individual is in possession of an authorized property removal slip. Security officers are instructed to stop all individuals entering or leaving the hospital wearing or in possession of scrub attire. Names of students stopped for this infraction are reported to the Dean's Office.
Student Health Policy at Clinical Sites
(see also Exposure Instructions)Drexel University College of Medicine, Health Policy for Medical Students
College of Medicine Health Care Guidelines for Medical Students at Clinical Education Site
Exposure to Infectious and Environmental Hazards (see also Exposure Instructions)
Mandatory educational sessions on universal precautions for blood-borne pathogens are provided at the orientations for entering students and for students as they enter the core clinical clerkship year of studies. Information about safety and response to exposure to infectious agents or hazardous substances is presented online during the orientation programming for entering students and at entry into the second and third years of the curriculum. Each student is required to complete a review of the laboratory safety presentation and manual on line and complete the on-line survey for documentation Information is also provided during course orientations for those specific courses in which students may be exposed to infectious agents and/or toxic substances, and in the student manuals for those courses.Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure (see also Exposure Instructions)
Students who have been exposed to a blood borne pathogen, for example, a needle stick, must complete an incident report and go to Occupational Health Services at Hahnemann University Hospital (during office hours) or to the Emergency Department evenings, holidays, or weekends for evaluation. If the exposure occurs at an educational site out of the Philadelphia area, the student may choose to return to Philadelphia (If that decision could result in treatment, if necessary, within three hours.) or may be seen at that hospital, as per the policy of the institution.There may be some differences in the procedures after exposures to blood borne pathogens at each clinical training site. Students should learn the policy and procedure at each training site. Guidelines for action at the time of exposure are provided. See Exposure Instructions.
HIV Testing
HIV testing is not required. The HIV Testing Policy for health care workers, including students is provided in a manner that protects patient rights and is consistent with other relevant hospital policies and Pennsylvania ACT 148. No student will be tested without his/her consent. Some highlights follow:HIV Testing of Health Care Workers Who Are University Employees or Students:
Health care workers who are employees or students of the University who need to be tested will be referred to Hahnemann University Hospital Occupational Health Services during regular work hours or the Emergency Center after hours and on weekends or holidays.. The student will be assigned a random code number from a list of code numbers that will be kept in a locked file in Employee/Student Health. The confidential code will be listed on the health care worker consent form, which will be kept in the student/Health care worker’s record. The student/health care worker will have his/her blood drawn in Employee/Student Health and the sample will be delivered from Employee/Student Health directly to the lab for processing. The confidential code will be used in place of the health care worker’s name in registration, test ordering, specimen labeling and results reporting.Test Results
To provide confidentiality, written test results will be mailed (in an envelope marked "confidential") or given in person to the ordering health care provider. Results will not be given verbally, by phone or by fax.The HIV test results of exposed health care workers who are employees or students of the University who have been assigned a random code will be returned to Employee/Student Health, who will decipher the random code, assign the appropriate name to the result and record the result in the health care worker medical record.
The physician who ordered the test or his/her representative will inform the tested individual of the test result face-to-face, whether positive or negative, and provide post-test counseling. If the tested individual is to be discharged from the hospital before test results are available, this individual must be given a follow-up appointment with his/her primary physician or designee in the appropriate out patient setting for receipt of this information.
SEE ALSO
Immunization and Infectious Disease Surveillance Requirements for Drexel University College of Medicine Students
Vacations and Holidays
University-recognized holidays and vacation breaks for all students are listed on the academic calendar. Time off for those holidays and vacations for all students are listed on the academic calendar. Time off for those holidays which are not shown is provided at the discretion of individual department main campus Clerkship Director. Students with special needs should make arrangements with their Clerkship Director at the main campus or 4th Year Course Director (as listed in the Course Catalogue). Students having difficulty making such arrangements should notify the Office of Student Affairs.
Also refer to the guidlelines in the Student Handbook regarding Missed Clinical Time and time off for residency interviews.
Security Tips and Reminders
In order to enhance your safety/security, the following tips and reminders are recommended:
- DO NOT WALK ALONE OFF THE PREMISES, especially after dark. Use sidewalks and streets.
- Walk confidently and assertively. Survey your surroundings and walk at a normal, brisk pace. A confident appearance is very important to your safety.
- Walk facing traffic in the middle of the sidewalk and away from parked cars, doorways and alleys.
- Use the "buddy system" when walking. Walking in groups substantially reduces your risk of attack.
- When carrying a purse, keep it close to your body with the clasp facing you. Carry your shoulder bag over one shoulder across the body. Never dangle your purse from your forearm or fingertips.
- Use shuttles when possible.
- Park your car as close to the building as possible. Park in a well-lit area, take valuables out of your car and lock them in your trunk. Always lock your vehicle and make sure the windows are closed securely.
- Walk toward your car with keys in hand and look inside the car, especially the back seat.
- Use security escorts. Medical students who would like escorts may go to or call Security.
- Secure valuables. While at the hospital, keep belongings in a locked locker and avoid leaving money and/or valuables in lab coat pockets.
- Do not carry jewelry or large sums of money.
- Never flash your money. Keep some money in one wallet and the remainder in another compartment of your purse or pocket.
- If attacked or accosted, do not fight for your property. Immediately after the attacker is gone, call out for help or blow a whistle - anything to attract attention. Later, try to give the police as much information as possible.
- In the event a crime is committed outside the hospital, dial 911 for police assistance and report the incident.
updated 10/22/08