Purpose
The purpose of the Physician Assistant Student Exposure to Infectious and Environmental Hazards Policy is to promote the health, safety, and well-being of physician assistant students in the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program. This policy establishes college-level requirements for preparing, preventing, and responding to exposure incidents, and ensures the MPAS program adheres to accreditation standards for Canadian Physician Assistant programs.Principles
The MPAS program acknowledges that its faculty, staff, and students can be exposed to infectious and environmental hazards that may be atypical of other academic programs at the University of Saskatchewan. As such, the development and implementation of this policy is guided by the principles of preparedness and safety.
Definitions
Exposure Incident: refers to an injury or exposure to an infectious and/or environmental hazard.
Scope of Policy
This policy applies to all students registered in the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program at the University of Saskatchewan irrespective of the geographically distributed site/campus to which they are currently assigned.
Related college-level policies include: Bloodborne Pathogens Policy (MPAS).
Related university-level policies include: University of Saskatchewan - Health and Safety Policy
Related affiliated health care facility policies include: Guidelines for the Management of Exposures to Blood or Body Fluids (Saskatchewan Health Authority)
Related regulatory policies include: Blood-Borne Viruses: Screening, Reporting and Monitoring of Physicians/Medical Students (College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan)
Related Worker's Compensation Board procedures and forms: WCB - Student FAQs
Policy
1.0 Preparedness for Environmental Hazards
Students should be introduced to the concepts of infectious and environmental hazard, prevention, and control in their first term of studies in the MPAS program. Physician assistant students should be educated in universal precautions and techniques for infectious and environmental hazards prior to beginning clinical learning activities and experiences.
2.0 Prevention of Environmental Hazards
Students can be exposed to infectious and environmental hazards that may be atypical of other academic programs at the University of Saskatchewan. They are expected to take reasonable precautions to avoid environmental hazards and take appropriate preventative measures to protect themselves and others from infectious diseases.
It is the responsibility of all faculty, staff, and physician assistants to notify the Academic Director of the MPAS program in a timely manner of the existence of any infectious or environmental hazards that might affect MPAS students.
3.0 Exposure to Environmental Hazards
Physician assistant students who experience an exposure incident in a University of Saskatchewan facility should follow the reporting and follow-up requirements of the relevant University of Saskatchewan environmental health and safety policies in effect.
Physician assistant students who experience an exposure incident in an affiliated health care facility should follow the reporting and follow-up requirements of the affiliated health care centre’s relevant environmental health and safety policies in effect.
Physician assistant students who experience an exposure incident in a non-affiliated health care facility should follow the reporting and follow-up requirements of that institution’s relevant environmental health and safety policies in effect.
Physician assistant students who experience an injury as a result of an exposure incident during a clinical placement should follow the relevant WCB reporting requirements.
4.0 Reporting of Environmental Hazards
In addition to complying with reporting requirements at the University of Saskatchewan, an affiliated or non-affiliated health care facility, physician assistant students who experience an exposure incident should also submit an incident report following the USask process “How Students and Public Report an Incident”. The student must also send a copy of the incident report to the Academic Director and the Manager of the MPAS program.
5.0 Effects on Physician Assistant Learning Activities
Physician assistant students whose learning activity is interrupted as a result of an exposure incident should contact the Manager of the MPAS program as soon as possible. Upon verification, the Manager, in collaboration with the Learner Experience Coordinator, should communicate with related faculty regarding the student’s absence and, where necessary, to accommodate an alternative educational or clinical activity.
In the event of infection with a blood-borne pathogen that could potentially impact safety of patients or other health care providers, the student and Academic Director of the MPAS program will advise the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS), and restrictions on clinical practice during the educational program may be applied, as per CPSS Policy.
6.0 Financial Responsibility
Financial costs for post-exposure prophylaxis, should the consulting Infectious Diseases physician deem it warranted, are borne by the Ministry of Health, Government of Saskatchewan for students who have a Saskatchewan Health Services Card as residents of Saskatchewan. For students without Saskatchewan Health coverage, the student may have coverage through their home province or private health care plan, and if not, the costs associated with post-exposure prophylaxis will be the responsibility of the student. Similarly, ongoing costs of treatment of an infectious disease acquired as a result of exposure will be covered through provincial health coverage or private health insurance, as applicable.
Students who sustain an injury or illness because of an exposure during a work placement may be eligible for WCB benefits (such as treatment costs) as per the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board guidelines. Visiting elective students should contact their relevant provincial compensation board for coverage information.
Responsibilities
The Academic Director of the MPAS program is responsible for providing oversight to the overall administration of the Physician Assistant Exposure to Infectious and Environmental Hazards Policy.
The Manager of the MPAS program is responsible for the implementation, monitoring, maintenance, and evaluation of the Physician Assistant Student Exposure to Infectious and Environmental Hazards Policy. This includes the development and stewardship of the standard operating procedures associated with this policy.
Non-Compliance
The Academic Instances or concerns of non-compliance with the Physician Assistant Exposure to Infectious and Environmental Hazards Policy should be brought to the attention of the Academic Director of the MPAS program.
Procedures
Related university-level procedural documents:
University of Saskatchewan Incident Report Form
University of Saskatchewan: “How to Report an Incident” article
Related MPAS program procedural documents: Blood or Body Fluid Exposure Procedure
Saskatchewan Health Authority: Safety Incident reporting processes for Staff and Learners vary by former health region – refer to the SHA Safety Incident Reporting webpage to access the Incident reporting form appropriate to the Learner’s current geographic location.
Saskatchewan Public Health Manual: Guidelines for the Management of Exposures to Blood or Body Fluids
Contact
Dr. Trustin Domes
Academic Director, Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Program
Trustin.domes@usask.ca
Gayathri Manoharan
Manager, Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Program
Gayathri.manoharan@usask.ca