GENERAL POLICIES

Please refer to the following website for a more complete listing of various college policies: <http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcam/ugme/policies/index.html>

PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR AND DEMEANOR:

Students must acquire the characteristics of professional physicians during their medical school experiences. At the same time, students must recognize that they are junior colleagues of the faculty and staff physicians and must act under their supervision at all times. Students must not identify themselves as professional physicians nor act in that capacity.

CLASS ATTENDANCE:

An altruistic commitment to the care of patients is essential to the practice of medicine. Therefore, attendance at and participation in all M2 exercises involving patients or surrogate patients will be mandatory. In addition, certain group activities, which foster the teamwork typical of the modern practice of medicine, will also be mandatory. Moreover, attendance at all other M2 exercises is highly encouraged. Mandatory course components may be graded on a pass/fail basis or as a fraction of the overall course grade; passage of individual course segments can be an absolute requirement for satisfactory completion of the entire course. Expectations concerning attendance and participation will be clearly delineated at the beginning of each M2 course by the course director. Unexcused absences can result in a reduction in the course grade and will necessitate corrective action on the part of the student to remedy the deficiency caused by the unexcused absence. Prior approval from the course director is required for all planned absences and notification of the course director and the Office of Medical Education and Evaluation is required in emergency situations.

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS:

Any student who is unable to attend classes or participate in any examination, study or work requirement on a particular day because of religious beliefs may be excused from such activity on that day. The student must notify the Office of Medical Education and Evaluation (Room S319, x5590) as far in advance of the day in question as possible and no later than two weeks prior to the schedule conflict. The student will be given an opportunity to make up the examination or work that is missed, provided that the make-up work does not create any unreasonable burden upon the University, the College of Medicine, teaching hospital or other patient care site. No person is required to participate in a medical procedure which is contrary to her or his religious beliefs, and refusal to participate in such procedures is not grounds for dismissal, censure, or harassment.

MEDICAL LIABILITY:

It is the policy of the College of Medicine that medical students can diagnose or treat a patient only under the supervision and control of a licensed clinical faculty member. Students are not to act beyond the scope of the instructions given them by a faculty member. If in doubt, students must ask the faculty member for clarification.
The College of Medicine endeavors to select students carefully, to evaluate students thoroughly, and to provide adequate supervision in the clinical setting. Clinical faculty members must supervise and evaluate students appropriately. It is the right and obligation of a faculty member to define and, if appropriate, curtail an individual student's activities consonant with the student's abilities and trainee status.
All students must wear name tags, clearly designate their student status and are to be introduced to patients as trainees. However, the trainee status of a medical student does not allow delivery of substandard care.

All medical students, upon becoming aware of any alleged injury, incident, claim or suit involving themselves, must notify the Office of Student Affairs in the College of Medicine immediately. Failure to do so may jeopardize any insurance coverage otherwise available.

Students are provided liability coverage only while officially registered as students; it is not provided during vacations, leaves of absence or other periods of non-student status. Coverage does not extend to activities undertaken outside of the educational program. Any questions concerning liability issues involving patients should be directed to the Office of Student Affairs.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES:

Physicians and medical students have a long and honored tradition of caring with compassion and courage for patients afflicted with infectious diseases. That tradition is highly valued at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, and its students and faculty will continue to uphold it. The faculty and affiliated hospitals do care for such patients in a competent, ethical, and humane manner. Failure to accept responsibility for the care of these patients, moreover, is contrary to the ethics inherent in the philosophies of the medical professions.
The College of Medicine provides education in the biological, clinical and psychosocial aspects of infectious diseases, including those which are life threatening, and students are taught to use precautions that should avoid or minimize risk. In their educational program, students participate in the care of infectious patients and must be aware of the risks stemming from contact with the blood or secretions of such patients.

Students are expected to participate with appropriate safeguards in the care of every patient whose care and condition is within the students' current realm of responsibility and competence, even though the patient may be infectious. Students are not expected to learn procedures that carry some inherent hazard on patients known to present some unusual risk. Students should advise their supervisors when the combination of their level of expertise and the disease state of the patient constitute a greatly increased level of risk to themselves or their patients.

Students who have contracted a communicable disease have a responsibility to their patients, peers, staff, and faculty to take all steps to prevent the spread of the disease. These individuals must obtain the care of a physician who is qualified to treat the disease and its complications. These individuals must identify themselves as medical students to the physician and explain the extent of their responsibilities for patient care. These individuals should also report their disease state to the University Family Health Center and Doctor Phillip Fulkerson, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The College of Medicine holds this information in strictest confidence but may not allow the student to care for patients when such contact might place patients at risk. It is the responsibility of the student to follow the advice of their physician and the College of Medicine and to follow all current guidelines for health care workers provided by the Center for Disease Control.

IMMUNIZATION RECORDS:

In order to assure that all students are protected against preventable communicable illness, several requirements had to be met prior to registration and remain in effect.

Medical students do encounter certain exposure risks when caring for patients with infectious disease. Medical students can also expose patients, some of whom have compromised immune status, to infectious diseases. Therefore, the College of Medicine has adopted an additional requirement - an annual tuberculin test. Your immunization history has been forwarded to Rockford and will be maintained in the L. P. Johnson Family Health Center.

A copy of your immunization history has been retained in the Office of Medical Education and Evaluation in order to provide easy access to students who need to document immunization for extramural clinical experiences and residency applications. It is the responsibility of the student to make certain that their immunization history is up to date and that the OMEE has the latest records.

HARASSMENT:

Toward maintaining the tradition of high standards of personal conduct of the medical profession and in recognition of the extensive role modeling that occurs in all phases of medical education, the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford decries any action on the part of its faculty, staff or student body that may be considered, whether intentional or not, to be personal abuse of a student, i.e., inappropriate comments or behavior, or sexual harassment, etc. Therefore, an avenue is provided for students, who consider that they have experienced any form of abuse, to seek help and guidance. The Rockford site policy is based on the UIC campus policy and procedures concerning sexual harassment (brochure available from the Office of Student Affairs).

The procedure to implement this policy offers several alternative and progressive steps.

The first step, especially in cases generally perceived as mild, is for the student to discuss the issue with the individual responsible for the abuse. The student may want to seek advice from a faculty advisor or administrator with whom s/he is comfortable. In most cases, this may be all that is necessary since the incident may have been entirely unintentional and unrecognized as such by the individual responsible.

The second step, if the first step is unsuccessful, or if, for whatever reason the student is reticent to speak directly to the person involved, is for the student to meet with a member of the academic affairs staff. They are for the Office of Academic Affairs...Dr. Fulkerson, the Office of Student Affairs..Dr. Kashima, or the Office of Medical Education and Evaluation...Drs. Bettice or Winegarden. This step provides that the student with an opportunity to discuss the incident with an uninvolved person who can both advise the student and may be able to take some action to resolve the conflict or prevent a recurrence of the situation, i.e. staff member may represent the student. This step provides the opportunity for the student to be advised on whether the incident has been resolved or can or should be addressed under the campus code, and if so, on the particular steps that should be taken.

The third and final step, in the event that the second step fails to provide relief for the student, is to put the issue in writing and bring it to the attention of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Phillip Fulkerson. The Associate Dean will decide what action should be taken within the College and/or clinical site and who will insure that the student is fully aware of grievance procedures that are available with the campus code.

SAFETY AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS:

Students matriculating in and graduating from the UIC College of Medicine must be able to fulfill the essential functions of the academic program and must not pose a threat to the well-being of patients, other students, staff, attending physicians, or themselves. Therefore, candidates for graduation must have abilities and skills of five varieties:

1. Observation: The candidate must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences including, but not limited to, physiologic and pharmacologic demonstrations in animals, microbiologic cultures, and microscopic studies of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states. A candidate must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand. Observation necessitates the functional use of the senses of vision and somatic sensation. It is enhanced by the functional use of the sense of smell.

2. Communication: A candidate should be able to speak, to hear, and to observe the patients in order to elicit information; describe changes in mood, activity, and posture; and perceive nonverbal communications. A candidate must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients. Communication includes not only speech but reading and writing. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written form with all members of the health care team.

3. Motor: Candidates should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers. A candidate should be able to do basic laboratory tests (urinalysis, CBC, etc.), carry out diagnostic procedures (proctoscopy, paracentesis, etc.) and read EKGs and X-rays. A candidate should be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients. Examples of emergency treatment reasonably required of physicians are: cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the administration of intravenous medication, the application of pressure to stop bleeding, the opening of obstructed airways, the suturing of simple wounds, and the performance of simple obstetrical maneuvers. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and function use of the senses of touch and vision.

4. Intellectual - Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: These abilities include measurement, calculations, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of physicians, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, the candidates should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures.

5. Behavioral and Social Attributes: A candidate must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgement, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients. Candidates must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and function effectively under stress. They must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest and motivation are all personal qualities that will be assessed during the admissions and education process.

THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA):

The American with Disabilities mandates that the UIC College of Medicine make reasonable accommodations for disabled individuals who are able to carry out the essential functions of the program. The College has constituted an ADA Committee to coordinate compliance with the Rehabilitation Act and ADA.

Accommodations can only be made for students who "self" declare a disability. Members of the faculty and administration may not ask a student about a disability unless it has been "self" declared by the student. Students who "self" declare a disability

The College ADA Committee evaluates the student request along with supporting documentation to determine if the individual qualifies as a disabled student and to determine if the disability precludes the disabled student from fulfilling the essential functions of a medical student as detailed in the College statement on technical standards. The Committee identifies reasonable accommodations for qualified disabled students.

The Assistant Dean for Medical Education and Evaluation will oversee implementation of recommended accommodations. Information concerning an individual's disability is made known only to those who need to provide the accommodation.

PROMOTIONS POLICIES

A brief description of the guidelines for promotion from the M2 to the M3 year are included in the M2 Year section of this handbook. A complete copy of these policies is available on the UIC Student Affairs web-site: http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcam/ugme/policies/index.html.