Program Policies and Procedures

Clinical Assignments

Students will be assigned to a clinical affiliate by the Program Director. Factors considered in assigning students will include:

1. Geographic distance between the students home and the various clinical sites.
2. Availability of the clinical site to accept students.
3. Student preference.

Student Service Work

Students perform service work only under the direction of the clinical site instructor during scheduled practicum hours agreed to be the student and instructor prior to the beginning of each semester. Service work by students outside the scheduled clinical hours is not permitted. Students are assigned during regularly scheduled shifts and may not be paid for their work.

Students are placed only in clinical settings where activities such as phlebotomy are not part of the histology laboratory operations and where current staffing levels are adequate to insure that students will not be used to replace trained technicians.

Student Health Policies

Prior to the beginning of clinical training, each student must provide the Program Director with the following:

1. Completed Physical Examination form signed by a physician.
2. Evidence of PPD test within the past 6 months.
3. Evidence of an immunization series for Hepatitis or a signed waiver form. Immunization is strongly recommended.
4. Evidence of other immunization as may be required by the assigned clinical affiliate.
5. Evidence of an up-to-date Tetanus immunization.
6. Students are strongly encouraged to have active health and accident insurance.

Emergency Medial Procedures

In case of an injury during a clinical rotation, the student is to notify the clinical coordinator immediately. An incident report will be completed for any accident or injury and a copy of that report will be included in the students practicum folder.

Should it be determined that emergency medical treatment is needed, the following policy shall be in effect.

In case of an accident or injury, the hospital will furnish medical care or first aid, at the standard charge for injuries or minor illnesses of the Student until the Student is transferred to another facility for continued care. The Hospital assumes no financial responsibility for the care or treatment of the Student. Bills for services rendered shall be forwarded to the Student for payment.

Should an injury occur during the clinical training, the student is to notify the Harford Community College Security Office (410) 836-4272 as soon as possible, and complete an accident report within 10 days of the occurrence.

Dress Code

1. The student will adhere to the dress code of the assigned clinical affiliate.
2. The student must wear shoes that are not of a cloth or canvas material. These shoes must be of a closed toe and heel variety.
3. Laboratory coats and other personal safety equipment will be provided by the clinical affiliate.
4. Students who wear contact lenses should notify the clinical coordinator at the assigned clinical affiliate at the beginning of the clinical experience. Where possible the wearing of contact lenses should be avoided.

Acceptable Behavior

General Behavior

The student will comply with all safety and employee policies of the assigned clinical affiliate.

Confidentiality

Students will respect patient confidentiality. A breach in patient confidentiality will result in the immediate suspension of the student from the clinical affiliate.

Attendance

Student attendance and punctuality are mandatory. Students are required to be in the laboratory 20 hours per week.

Absences

1. Students are allowed two excused absences per semester. Additional time must be scheduled with the clinical coordinator to make up for these absences. Additional absences may result in removal of the student from the clinical portion of the program.
2. In the event of an absence, the student must notify the clinical instructor at least one hour before the beginning of the assigned shift.
3. The student will adhere to the college's inclement weather policy. Time missed because of college closing will not be counted as an absence. Students are encouraged to arrange with the clinical coordinator to make up any time lost due to inclement weather.

Inclement Weather

When severe weather conditions threaten travel and other activities, the following stations will broadcast College announcements:

• WAMD- Aberdeen (AM 970)
• WASA- Havre de Grace (AM 1330)
• WBAL- Baltimore (AM 1090)
• WBFF-TV-Channel 45 (FOX)
• WHFC- HCC (FM 91.1)
• WJZ-TV-Channel 13
• WLIF- Baltimore (FM 101.9)
• WSBA- York, PA (AM 910)
• WXCY- Havre de Grace (FM 103.7)

HCC telephone number (410) 836-4322 may be called to obtain pre-recorded inclement weather announcement.

Off-campus Locations: Closing of an off-campus location (APG, public schools, etc.) will result in the automatic canceling of scheduled classes at the particular location. Therefore, College personnel and students are not expected to attend classes. Off-campus classes and activities will also be cancelled if the College announces it has officially "CLOSED".

Clinical Grievance

Should a conflict occur in a clinical affiliate the following steps should be followed:

1. All conflicts or complaints should be discussed with the clinical coordinator. The discussion should be primarily of a verbal nature and no formal written report is required.
2. If the conflict cannot be resolved with the clinical coordinator, the student or clinical coordinator may contact the educational coordinator. The educational coordinator will act as a neutral mediator to resolve the conflict. These discussions should be primarily of a verbal nature and no formal written report is required.
3. If resolution cannot be achieved by the educational coordinator, any party may contact the program director. The program director will resolve the conflict through the use of the College's student grievance policy. Written documentation of this process will be included in the student's practicum file.
4. The student academic grievance policy will remain in effect throughout the practicum experience.