Respiratory Illness and COVID19 Protocols – Pre-Clerkship

The health and safety of patients, students, and faculty is our priority as we support students with their education as future physicians. Respiratory illnesses are common, and can pose risks to standardized patients, patients, classmates and staff during learning sessions. As developing health professionals, medical students are leaders and role models and are expected to exercise responsibility for personal health, to support their own well-being and the health of others.

Students are strongly encouraged to have all recommended vaccinations for health care providers, including up-to-date influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations, unless contraindicated

  • If acutely ill with respiratory symptoms, a student should stay home and not attend clinical or educational activities until the acute symptoms have resolved and they have been feeling generally well for 24 h. If returning to any learning activities in clinical settings, follow the SHA Heath Care Workforce Screening & Return to Work Questionnaire. Follow the Clerkship Attendance and Absence Policy to notify of illness.
  • Students should do a point of care risk assessment before every patient interaction, and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) based on risk of exposure to infection
  • Pre-clerkship students may observe or participate in care of patients who have respiratory illnesses including COVID-19 and influenza assuming appropriate clinical supervision and PPE are available
  • Fully immunized pre-clerkship students may observe or participate in aerosol-generating medical procedures (AGMPs) only if supervised directly by their preceptor and wearing appropriate PPE (including an N95 mask for which they have been fitted)
  • Pre-clerkship students should not engage in clinical learning on a unit with a respiratory outbreak, to limit risk of transmission to patients on other units
  • Students who experience symptoms of respiratory illness must follow the SHA Healthcare Workforce Screening and Return to Work Guidance to determine when they can return to clinical learning environments.

Patient Situation

Student Situation

Pre-Clerkship Student Involvement

Patient has respiratory symptoms

All pre-clerkship students, with appropriate PPE

 Yes 

Patient has respiratory symptoms and having AGMP

Fully vaccinated pre-clerkship students, with appropriate PPE including N95

 

Yes 

Clinical units with COVID-19 confirmed outbreak

All -pre-clerkship students excluded from outbreak units

 

No

This document provides guidance on protocols to follow related to respiratory illnesses for University of Saskatchewan medical students in pre-clerkship. It is informed by Public Health and SHA guidance, including:

Respiratory Illness and COVID-19 Protocols – Clerkship

The health and safety of patients, students and faculty is our priority, as we support students with their education as future physicians. Respiratory illnesses are common, and can pose risks to patients, colleagues and staff. As developing health professionals, medical students are leaders and role models and are expected to exercise responsibility for personal health, to support their own well-being and the health of others.

Students are strongly encouraged to have all recommended vaccinations for health care providers, including up-to-date influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations, unless contraindicated.

  • If acutely ill with respiratory symptoms, a student should stay home and not attend clinical or educational activities until the acute symptoms have resolved and they have been feeling generally well for 24 h, as per the SHA Heath Care Workforce Screening & Return to Work Questionnaire. Follow the Clerkship Attendance and Absence Policy to notify of illness.
  • Students should do a point of care risk assessment before every patient interaction, and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) based on risk of exposure to infection.
  • Participation in care of patients with respiratory illnesses, assumes that appropriate PPE and clinical supervision are available. Excellent hand hygiene is also critical. 
  • Year 3, 4 and 5 clerks are expected to participate in the routine care of patients who have COVID-19, influenza or other respiratory illnesses and may participate in AGMPs on those same patients where the opportunity arises in their clinical education.
  • Clerks who do not have up-to-date vaccinations against COVID-19 and influenza may be at increased risk when providing direct care (including AGMPs) for patients with COVID-19 or influenza. Clerks engaging in this care should exercise additional caution.  Clerks who may have limitations on provision of care due to inability to be vaccinated or other accommodatable reason may apply for accommodations through Access and  Equity Services (AES).
  • If any SHA protocols in a clinical unit (including during an outbreak) would preclude clerks’ involvement in the care of patients with COVID-19, influenza or other respiratory illnesses, those SHA protocols must be followed.
  • This applies to clinical learning in Saskatchewan; on visiting electives, policies at the medical school where the elective is being completed will apply.

Patient Situation

Clerk Situation

Clerk involvement in Care     (includes AGMPs)

(including AGMPs)

Patient has no respiratory symptoms

All clerks (Year 3, 4, 5)
regardless of vaccination
status

 

Yes 

Patient has respiratory symptoms or confirmed + for COVID-19, influenza or other respiratory illness

All clerks (Year 3, 4, 5)
regardless of vaccination
status. Clerks not fully vaccinated should be additionally cautious

 

Yes 

This document provides guidance on protocols to follow related to respiratory illness for University of Saskatchewan medical students in clerkship. It is informed by Public Health and SHA guidance, including: