Health Requirements
Health Record Requirements
Completion of pages 2 and 3 of Required Student Health Record Form, which includes:
1. Student Information
2. Physical Examination and evaluation by a health care provider (completed within
past 12 months).
3. Testing for Color Deficiency. (This may be administered in Lowell by the health
compliance personnel
in Pollard 301 or the administrative assistants in Pollard 308 or Derby 409).
4. TB testing:
Either two-step tuberculin skin test (TST) for Tuberculosis:
• 1st TB/PPD given, read and recorded
• If positive, see notes below
• If negative, repeat in 1-2 weeks (2nd TB/PPD given, read and recorded)
OR TB blood test (T-Spot or QuantiFERON Gold)
Notes:
• The TB Test must be done before entering the program and updated at least every
12 months.
• For the annual update of TB testing,
o Either a one-step Mantoux (TB/PPD) tuberculin skin test*
o OR TB blood test (T-Spot or QuantiFERON Gold) will be sufficient to meet the
requirements for the annual update.
*Students are only required to do the two-step Mantoux (TB/PPD) tuberculin skin test
upon acceptance into their health
program.
• Positive reactors to the skin test must submit the positive TB test report and a
report of a negative
chest x-ray performed within the past 5 years.
Immunization Requirements for Health Care Personnel:
Official Documentation of:
1. One dose of Tdap vaccination, with a booster (either Td or Tdap) every 10 years.
2. Two doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine, given at least 28 days apart
on/after12
months of age,
OR a positive blood titer report for all three - (1) Rubeola, (2) Mumps, (3) Rubella
(with original copy of lab results)
3. Completion of the 3 dose Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine series or the new 2 dose Heplisav-B,
4. Positive Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti HBs) blood titer report (with original
copy of lab results)
5. Two doses of Varicella vaccine given one month apart,
OR a positive Varicella blood titer report (with original copy of lab results)
6. One dose of MenACWY meningococcal vaccine administered on or after 16th birthday
for any newly
enrolled full-time student 21 years of age or younger.
7. COVID-19 Vaccine including manufacturer, expiration date, and lot number*
8. Due October 1 of each year- Annual flu vaccine including manufacturer, expiration
date, and lot
number*
9. Up to date with COVID-19 vaccine booster with bivalent vaccine*
*NOTE: Although currently the Massachusetts Department of Public Health does not require
these vaccines,
most clinical placements and all hospital-based placements do require these vaccines.
While a reasonable effort will be made to place you in a clinical facility if you
cannot have these, clinical placement cannot be guaranteed for those who have not received these vaccinations.
This may prevent you from being able
to successfully complete clinical/practicum courses and externships. CDC defines up to date with
COVID-19 vaccine and booster as having received updated vaccine and/or boosters that
were available after
September 2, 2022.
OSHA Requirements:
1. Color Deficiency testing (may be administered in Lowell by the health compliance
personnel in Pollard
301 or the administrative assistants in Pollard 308 or Derby 409).
2. Education for OSHA Blood-borne Pathogen Standard and Universal Precautions for
all health program
students prior to clinical placement.
Student Health and Medical Insurance:
All students enrolled in Health Programs are required to carry health insurance because
of the potential of
exposure to a variety of communicable/infectious diseases as well as contractual requirements
of some
affiliating agencies. The period of coverage must be current throughout students’
enrollment in the Health
Program.
Malpractice Insurance:
Malpractice/Liability Coverage of one million dollars per incident and three million
dollar aggregate is
maintained for all students in health programs. This insurance only addresses a claim
arising from
activities required by the student’s program.
Health Clearance for Participation in the Clinical Area:
All enrolled Health Program students, new and returning, will be expected to have
completed the Health
Records, Immunization and OSHA (Color Deficiency Testing) requirements prior to participation
in any
externship placement or clinical experience.
All students should submit documentation of these requirements to CastleBranch as
directed in the admission acceptance package. CastleBranch is an online resource that
allows health program students to submit and track their health records with the College.
The documentation will be reviewed and depending upon completeness of the record,
the program coordinators will be notified regarding health clearance status for students
enrolled in their specific program. Students may not participate in the
externship or clinical experience until all records are successfully submitted and
they are cleared.
Students are also responsible to update any requirements (e.g. annual TB/PPD test,
CPR, Tdap) in order to continue their participation in the externship or clinical
experience if any requirement expires before the end of the externship or clinical
experience. CastleBranch reminder alerts start 21 days before due date, and repeat
weekly thereafter.
Medical Clearance for Return to Class/Clinical after Illness/Injury or Change in Health
Status:
1. Students are responsible to notify their course faculty/clinical instructor and
their Department
Chair/Program Coordinator/Director within 24 hours of any change in health status,
including but not
limited to:
• exposure to a reportable disease requiring isolation/quarantine
• symptoms/disease
• accident/injury
• any circumstance that may change health status (i.e. after delivery of a baby)
2. The Department Chair/Program Coordinator/Director will provide the student with
a copy of a clinical
clearance form to submit to the student’s health care provider.
3. Students will not be permitted to return to classes or the clinical area until
documentation from the
health care provider is returned to the Department Chair/Program Coordinator/Director
and the student
is cleared to return.
4. The Department Chair/Program Coordinator/Director will notify the appropriate course
faculty/clinical
instructor that the student is cleared to return, and send the original of the clinical
clearance form to the
Health Compliance personnel.