Student Clinical Rotations in UMMS Facilities During COVID-19

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, UMMS and our colleagues at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) have worked closely together to make collaborative decisions regarding student clinical rotations and other in-person experiential learning activities. The Guidance on Student Clinical Rotations in UMMS Facilities During COVID-19 was put into place for the safety and protection of our patients as well as all clinical care providers – from the most tenured professionals to those in training – as we work to minimize the risk for exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

This guidance has been updated periodically to gradually increase – as the situation has warranted – learning opportunities for students pursuing clinical rotations, clinical shadowing/observation activities, research projects, and other scholarly activities in UMMS facilities. The guidance was again updated on March 10, 2021, to include the following changes:

• Removal of requirement for students to minimize direct patient care or interactions with patients who are suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19
• Amended requirements for students notifying Employee Health and Student Health following possible exposure to COVID-19 – students are now required to notify Employee Health and Student Health following any contact with an individual who is suspected, not just confirmed, to have COVID-19
• Addition of the requirement for students to contact facility management if they test positive for COVID-19 so that proper contact tracing can take place

Click here to view the Guidance on Student Clinical Rotations in UMMS Facilities During COVID-19.

FAQs

How was the decision made to resume student clinical rotations?

Program leaders from UMMS and UMB have remained in close contact and have continuously monitored the COVID-19 crisis. They agreed that student clinical rotations can resume safely with a number of safety and infection control measures in place.

What infection control measures have been implemented?

Students who are working, training, shadowing or observing in our health care facilities are required to comply with all UMMS System-wide COVID-19 policies as well as those policies established at the local facilities where they work. This includes utilizing masks and wearing eye protection (preferably a full face shield during patient interactions), upon entry and for the duration of their time on-site.

What happens when a student is sick or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms?

Any student who is sick or experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19 should not report to their clinical/research site. Anyone who reports to the hospital under these conditions is sent home immediately. These individuals also must notify their school health clinic and seek guidance from a health care provider or the hospital’s Employee Health department before they return to our hospitals.

Is UMMS monitoring the impact of student clinical rotations on our PPE supplies?

Maintaining an adequate supply of PPE is critical to our COVID-19 response. We are monitoring PPE supplies to ensure that student utilization does not compromise our ability to maintain sufficient inventories and reserves. If at any point it is determined that student PPE use is too significant, the institution may choose to limit clinical rotations as a means of conserving available supplies.