Flu Plan

Mount Aloysius College Flu Plan

Introduction

This plan has been developed in accordance with the most recent CDC and ACHA recommendations. At this point in time, emphasis is on identifying "influenza like illness" as opposed to testing for the H1N1 virus. With this approach, individuals with upper respiratory symptoms and a fever of 100 degrees or higher are treated as if they have a flu virus and appropriate containment measures are employed. The CDC, along with the Cambria County health authorities, continues to emphasize prevention activities including vaccinating as many individuals as possible with the seasonal flu vaccine. The most recent information regarding the H1N1 vaccine indicates it should be available in mid to late October. High risk persons will have first priority for this vaccine. High risk groups are identified on www.flu.gov.

Pre-Incidence of Influenza Like Illness (ILI) on Campus

Communication and Education

Prevention information to employees in the Mount Messenger.
Letter to all students with prevention and procedure information.
Letter to parents on web and e-mail.
Prevention message and procedure information in the Bell Tower.
Hand washing posters in Residence Halls.
Clean Campaign in Residence Halls.
Review of current policies and procedures regarding class coverage and missed classes with Academic Affairs personnel.
Review by HR director of relevant HR policies including, but not limited to, sick benefits, FMLA, and emergency closing.
Review of CDC and ACHA recommendations with director of HR.

Prevention Support Activities

Hand sanitizing stations throughout campus with additional acquired for a total of 33 stations on campus.
Review of Metz and Aramark prevention procedures and pandemic plans by College officials.
Metz and Aramark employees have reviewed their companies' prevention policies and procedures regarding personal hygiene and heightened cleaning procedures.
Review of cleaning procedures in athletic/recreation areas.
Seasonal flu immunizations available at Student Health Services.
Students and employees encouraged to receive the seasonal flu vaccine on campus or in the community.
Student Health Services pre-registered to provide H1N1 vaccine with state health department.
Monitor CDC and ACHA updates.
Communication and coordination activities with Cambria County Public Health Department in preparation for a flu outbreak.

Academic Preparations

All academic divisions have encouraged departmental faculty to think through alternate plans and assignments and provide them electronically so they can be accessed by students who are required to miss classes.
Nursing and Health Studies reviewing clinical policies and monitoring clinical site H1N1 planning.

Level 1: Initial and Limited Occurrence of Influenza like Illness on Campus

Students

Individuals with flu-like symptoms and a fever of one hundred degrees or higher should contact Student Health Services as soon as possible after the onset of fever, even if they intend to seek medical care from a family physician. Students with these symptoms will be asked to go home until they are free of fever without the use of fever reducing medication for 24 hours. Residential students who are unable to go home will be temporarily relocated to a quarantine space. The director of Student Health Services and Residence Life professional staff will monitor the condition of students in quarantine. RA's will maintain daily electronic contact with quarantined resident students. Flu buddies will be identified for each quarantined student to deliver meals. These "buddies" will be provided with surgical masks as required.

Student Health Services will use current procedures to notify appropriate faculty regarding a student's absence from class. Students must also follow established policies and procedures for notifying clinical instructors and agencies if they are going to be absent. All students are responsible for contacting their instructors regarding missed classes even when Student Health has notified the instructor.

Athletic Teams: Student athletes will be asked to go home or quarantined as with other students. The AMCC Commissioner will be informed immediately if illness on a team risks forfeiture of a conference contest and/or NCAA requirements for minimum contests. Current NCAA provisions regarding H1N1 will be followed and additional information sought from the NCAA as necessary.

Employees

Employees with flu-like symptoms and a fever of one hundred degrees or higher will also be asked to stay at home until they are free of fever without the use of fever reducing medication for 24 hours. Employees will follow current sick leave policies and procedures. Staff role coverage will be arranged within individual departments. Faculty course coverage will also be arranged under current procedures within departments/divisions.

Metz and ARAMARK employees with flu-like symptoms will be sent home. Coverage for operations will be arranged by each vendor utilizing current company procedures to maintain services to the College. Both vendors will monitor the need for temporary assistance from other Metz or ARAMARK locations. They will also closely watch their inventory and supply chains. Essential employees will be identified at this level, to continue services at levels II and III.

Communication

Campus wide communication to confirm presence of influenza like illness on campus and deliver a reinforcing message regarding prevention practices.
Updates on website regarding influenza like illness on campus and reassurance to parents.

Level II: Increased Incidence of Influenza like Illness on Campus

Students

At this level, an increased incidence could begin to affect entire cohorts of students on campus, i.e., an athletic team, all students in a clinical site, or a Capstone seminar.

Actions will depend upon the affected cohorts. In clinical disciplines, existing policies regarding missed courses and regulatory agency requirements will need to be reviewed and utilized as appropriate. In athletics, determinations regarding a team's season will be decided in concert with appropriate institutional personnel, the AMC conference commissioner and the NCAA. Each affected area will need to determine with their PEC member the appropriate responses to their particular situation with students.

Employees

At this level, work productivity is being impacted as multiple one and two person offices are uncovered due to illness. Faculty coverage of missed classes may be strained as multiple course sections require coverage. Adjunct faculty and qualified administrative staff may be tapped to substitute in certain courses. Department chairs in consultation with their division chairperson will determine whether a class may be canceled. If they have influenza like symptoms, clinical instructors should consult with their department chairs who will work with agencies and hospitals regarding covering the clinical and/or canceling the clinical session.

The HR director will monitor and review the number of employees out sick and ensuing departmental coverage arrangements.

Operations

Identification of any departmental operation impacts which are critical to the overall college functioning.

Ongoing review by PEC and communication regarding operational impacts, which may be localized but serious, in individual departments.

Metz and ARAMARK also anticipate service impacts at this level and will utilize temporary employees for extended absences. Both vendors will confer with College officials regarding possible service impacts and planned resolutions to address any impacts.

Metz will review and limit communal serving areas within the dining hall. ARAMARK staff will be provided with personal protective equipment for entering common areas with a high risk of transmission of the influenza virus (i.e., residence halls).

Communications

Campus e-mail updates and use of other media will be necessary to convey any operational impacts and temporary resolutions.

Level III: Widespread Incidence of Influenza like Illness on Campus and Surrounding Community

It is possible at this level that the Cambria County Health Department will move to their pandemic response plan. This plan includes qualified college personnel and clinical program students assisting with widespread vaccinations and possibly, large quarantine sites.

Review by institutional leadership of campus operations and decisions regarding continuation of classes and campus services. This review would be informed by the County's public health pandemic assessment and pandemic plan strategies.
Metz and ARAMARK will review their operations in conjunction with the College and the County's public health assessment.