The policies outlined in this handbook apply to all students, staff, principal faculty, and the PA Program Director. PA students are expected to follow all policies of the university as delineated on the University of South Florida Student Catalog webpage. Students are also expected to follow the guidelines set out in this handbook.
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Dress Code and Professional Demeanor
PA students, at all levels of education and training, are expected to maintain a proper professional image in their behavior and personal appearance at all times. During the pre-clinical years, PA students are expected to wear clean, appropriate apparel (shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, etc.) and shoes to all academic functions and on the premises of USF (all campuses).
All students must wear short waist length with their name and MCOM Physician Assistant Program designation embroidered on their coat, and ID badges during the clinical training years, and/or any time students have contact with patients, or are in the patient care areas. Shorts are not to be worn at any time when there may be interaction with patients. Men should wear shirt and tie, and women should wear appropriate dresses or slacks and blouses, as well as closed toe shoes at times when there may be interaction with patients.
Business professional attire is required to be worn at all times. The following items are considered inappropriate:
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Didactic Courses - Year 1
Unplanned or Emergency absences for Personal Illness, Family Illness, etc.
The student must contact the Academic Director and course instructor by e-mail or telephone (see specific course syllabus) and the PA Program Office by e-mail or telephone (paprogram@health.usf.edu or 813-974-8926) to report his/her absenteeism on the first day of being absent. He/she should indicate if the reason is an emergency or unexpected illness. The student must also complete and submit the Student Absence Report Form . Specifics on planned and unplanned absences, as well as unexcused absences, are listed below. The completed Absence Report form will be kept as part of the student’s record.
If the student has an unanticipated unplanned absence on the day of an exam, he/she must contact PA Program Office by e-mail or telephone (paprogram@health.usf.edu or 813-974-8926) by 8:30 a.m. on the day of the exam. When the student returns to school he/she must fill out and sign the Student Absence Report Form . Documentation for the absence to be excused (e.g. physician’s note, accident report, etc.) will be at the discretion of the Program Director.
Students who miss an examination for any reason are required to contact the PA Program Office (974-8926) prior to returning to class to determine the date and time of the make-up examination. Dates and times of make-up examinations are determined by the Course Directors in consultation with the Academic Director.
In general, make-up examinations must be taken within 48 hours upon return from an unplanned absence. A second unexcused absence for a make-up exam will require referral to the Academic Performance and Professionalism Committee (APPC).
Planned Absence
Absence for attendance at a professional meeting or other educational or research related activity should be submitted via the Student Absence Report Form for approval to the Academic Director at least 3 weeks prior to the event. Each request for absence will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Personal travel plans should not be considered valid excuses for missing an exam.
To receive an excused planned absence for an exam, the student must submit a completed Student Absence Report from Exam Form to the Academic Director. The Academic Director or designee will make the final determination to grant or deny the request and will inform the student of the decision.
Supervised Clinical Patient Experiences - Year 2
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In addition to being a violation of state and federal laws, behavior involving unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature is incompatible with faculty, staff, and student status in the University of South Florida - Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies Program.
Dating current teaching faculty (i.e. physicians, residents, teaching assistants, PA faculty, etc.) is highly discouraged. This can be viewed as a form of sexual harassment. See policy regarding consensual relationships: http://regulationspolicies.usf.edu/policies-and-procedures/pdfs/policy-1-022.pdf
Further information regarding sexual harassment policies is outlined in the USF “Sexual Harassment” policy 0-008, Diversity and Equal Opportunity: Sexual Harassment
Students should contact the PA program director immediately if they have felt as if they have been harassed.
The student is encouraged to directly contact the USF Center for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention with any concerns.
Sexual Battery
Sexual battery is a crime under the laws of the State of Florida and will not be tolerated at the USF MCOM as defined in USF Policy 0-014, Sexual Battery. As an integral part of academic performance, medical students are expected to maintain the high standards of professional and personal conduct traditionally associated with the practice of medicine. Any act such as sexual battery is a violation of University Policy, which in the case of PA students, is viewed as professional misconduct and is a violation of academic standards. As such, any professional misconduct is subject to disciplinary action by the APPC.
MCOM PA students who are victims of actual or threatened violence can obtain assistance from the /wiki/spaces/MCOM/pages/19396592255. Additionally, PA students should refer to the USF Policy concerning Sexual Battery.
Center for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention
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Medical Health Administration Timeline
Annual Requirements are provided through Medical Health Administration (MHA) – PA students
All students must complete the following requirements prior to matriculation (April 1st of each cohort):
- Tuberculosis: Documentation of an initial “2-Step” Tuberculin Skin Test TUBERCULOSIS (TB) Screening: To meet the USF requirement, you must submit documentation of ONE of the following: 1. Results of NEGATIVE “Two-Step” TB Skin Testing (TST/PPD). The 2nd Test must be at least 1 week and no longer than 12 months from the initial testing. A current “Negative” TST within 6 months of visit to USF is also required. This current test result can serve as the 2nd Step if administered within 12 months of the previous test dateThis screening requires 2 separate TB skin tests administered at least one week apart but within 12 months of each other. The last TST must be within 6 months of your start date. 2. Lab Copy showing a “NEGATIVE” Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test (QFT or T-Spot) within 6 months of start date (accepted in lieu of the “Two-Step” TST). 3. Individuals with a history of a “Positive” TST/PPD skin POSITIVE TB skin test or IGRA blood test must submit documentation of a negative chest xboth of the following: a. Verification of a NEGATIVE Chest X-ray within 12 months of visit start date to the USF COM and a b. A current NEGATIVE Screening Questionnaire for signs/symptoms of TB.Rubella (German . A Questionnaire can be found and downloaded from the USF Medical Health Administration website at: http://hsc.usf.edu/medicine/internalmedicine/infectious/medicalhealthadmin/Forms.htm
- RUBELLA (German Measles): Serologic documentation of a positive Rubella immune titer OR immunization with at least one dose of live Rubella or MMR vaccine after 12 months of age.Rubeola
- MEASLES (10 day MeaslesRUBEOLA): Serologic documentation of a positive Rubeola immune titer OR immunization with two doses of live Rubeola or MMR vaccine administered after 12 months of age and separated by 28 days or more.
- MumpsMUMPS: Serologic documentation of a positive Mumps immune titer OR immunization with at least two doses of live Mumps or MMR vaccine after 12 months month of age.
- Varicella VARICELLA (Chicken Pox): Serologic documentation of a positive Varicella titer OR two Varicella immunizations (given 4 to 8 weeks apart). This requirement is satisfied only by a positive titer or the vaccine series.
- Hepatitis BHEPATITIS B “POSITIVE” QUANTITATIVE SURFACE ANTIBODY TITER (Blood Test): Serologic documentation of a positive Positive (QUANTITATIVE) Hepatitis B surface antibody titer following completion of that verifies IMMUNITY to the Hepatitis B vaccination series of 3 injections. You must provide documentation of the Vaccine series AND the Positive Antibody Titer to meet this requirement.
- Influenza Vaccination: Flu vaccination will be required each year. This vaccine will be provided for you at no cost beginning in October of each year through the USF Health Medical Health Administration office or from our clinical affiliates.
- Adacel™ or Virus. The TITER is required in addition to completion of the vaccination series. The results should be reported as “POSITIVE” or as a number. “REACTIVE” results will NOT be accepted.
- Adacel™or BOOSTRIX® Vaccine Booster: Documentation of an Adult TETANUS/diphtheria/acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine booster is required. Tdap was licensed in June, 2005 for use as a single dose booster vaccination (iie. e. not for subsequent booster doses). The current CDC recommendation states “Healthcare personnel, regardless of age, should receive a single dose of Tdap as soon as feasible if they have not previously received Tdap and regardless of the time since last Td dose”. After receiving Tdap, personnel should receive routine booster shots against tetanus and diphtheria by existing guidelines (every 10 years).Meningitis: Documentation of immunization with one dose of Meningitis vaccine OR a completed and signed USF Student Health Services Communicable Disease Prevention Certification & Physical Examination Verification Form (Block B #4, check box, signature) declining receipt of the meningitis vaccine.
- MENINGOCOCCAL Vaccination: Documentation of immunization with one dose of Meningococcal vaccine after 16th birthday OR a completed and signed USF Student Health Services Immunization Health History Form (Block 3, checkbox, signature) declining receipt of the Meningitis vaccine. The form is available at: http://www.usf.edu/student-affairs/student-health-services/documents/mandatory-imm-form-122014.pdf.
** ANNUAL TB Screening will be required during your entire program. This Screening will be provided at no cost to you through the Medical Health Administration (MHA) office.
** INFLUENZA VACCINATION will be required each year. This vaccine will be provided for you at no cost beginning in October of each year through the USF Medical Clinic/Medical Health Administration (MHA) office. - Note: Several affiliated hospitals require drug and alcohol screening with and without advanced notice
Student Health Services
As a student, one of the university base fees that you pay for is a "health fee." This fee health fee covers primary care services offered at the Student Health Center; third party insurance information is collected and is used to cover the cost of any additional charges such as procedures, treatments, medications or labs that take place during the course of the visit. Subspecialty services such as dermatology, nutrition, PT, etc are associated with small charges for students with no insurance and those with insurance will have their insurance processed for these services.
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An appointment with a USF Physicians Group physician can be arranged by calling the appointment line at 974-2201. Students should identify themselves as PA students when requesting an appointment. (There are a sufficient number of providers to ensure that students will not need to be seen by a provider who is also responsible for grading the student – thus avoiding any conflict of interest issues.If students have an emergent medical problem, follow the emergency procedures in your health insurance policy.)
Blood-borne Pathogen Exposures and Other Infectious Exposures to Communicable Diseases
Policies and procedures concerning blood-borne pathogen exposures and exposures to communicable diseases (e.g. tuberculosis, chicken pox) are in place at USF MCOM. and at each of the major clinical teaching facilities. During orientation of the program, as well as before beginning in a clinical facility, an overview of procedures is presented. Try to familiarize yourself with the policies and procedures of each clinical facility and carefully comply with all requirements in case you are injured or exposed to communicable disease.
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The employee health nurses at affiliated hospitals are provided to you before entering the clinical facility.
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- First-year PA students undergo Blood borne Pathogen Education/Training during the first week of school by MHA and Environmental Health & Safety
- Done at the beginning of the clinical year for PA students
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All PA students will be annually vaccinated during training beginning in October by MHA or USF MCOM clinical affiliates.
Student Exposures at the USF Affiliated Practice Sites:
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Exposures should be handled as follows:
- The student should report the exposure to his/her instructor immediately.
- The student fills out the employee section of the affiliated site’s Employee Incident Report.
- The instructor fills out the supervisor section of the Employee Incident Report.
- The student takes the completed incident report to Employee Health as soon as possible after the exposure. The student should bring the following information on the source patient: name, medical record number, diagnosis, and room number.
- Student reporting a needle stick/sharp injury from a patient must be evaluated within one to two hours for appropriate prophylaxis. In these cases, if Employee Health is closed, the student should contact the site’s nursing supervisor.
The student will be provided with the following evaluation:
- First aid treatment as necessary.
- Investigation of the source patient and HIV and hepatitis tests as necessary.
- Baseline lab work. Follow-up tests at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months will be offered. There will be no charge for the required lab tests.
- Employee Health will provide the appropriate prophylaxis.
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Students with an illness or medical condition that may be communicable to patients or staff should not be allowed patient contact.
If the student is unsure whether he/she should be in patient contact areas, please refer the student to Employee Health Servicesask the Clinical Director of the PA Program. If necessary, the student will be evaluated by staff at Employee Health to determine work status.
Persons with the following medical conditions should not be allowed patient contact without a medical clearance:
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