COVID-19 Updates for Medical Education
Dear students,

We hope this email finds everyone staying healthy and in good spirits during these challenging times. We enjoy being able to interact with everyone on the large group Zoom meeting check-ins we have been having, and hope you are all continuing to find those useful.

We are writing to keep you updated and informed about guidelines and best practices at our institution related to your participation in the clinical environment during this ongoing time of COVID-19.
Updates on COVID-19
Many Bay Area counties have begun a staged approach to lifting shelter-in-place orders. Most counties have gone to a “Phase 2” approach and are considering when they will move to lift restrictions further.

At UCSF, we continue to have low numbers of patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19 (<20), and low numbers of tested patients who are positive for COVID-19 each day (<10). The case positivity rate at UCSF remains low (about 1-5%, depending on the site under consideration). A similar case positivity rate has been observed amongst UCSF employees, with the majority having been found to be community acquired.
Updates on Entering the Clinical Care Environment
Based on the information above, many clinical departments are starting to resume activities, and clinical sites are starting to engage again with learners. Our guidance for the appropriate reintroduction to the clinical environment is as follows:

1. Before you enter into the clinical environment:
  • Sign up for the screening questionnaire in order to gain access to UCSF Health sites (you can text “SCREEN” to 83973 to get a link to the website)
  • If you have been traveling, you should touch base with Student Health to see if there is additional screening needed before you start
  • Additional information will be forthcoming as a group is considering screening practices for those in the healthcare environment
  • If you have left the Bay Area, you will be required to take a test for COVID-19
  • Make sure you are up-to-date with your fit testing mask requirements, per the UCSF Office of Environment, Health and Safety

2. In the clinical environment:
  • All students must wear a hospital-provided surgical mask ALL DAY when inside a clinical care building
  • Remember that you should not be involved in the direct care of patients with known COVID-19
  • You should also not be involved in the care of someone whose suspicion of having COVID-19 has placed them on enhanced precautions (e.g., Novel Respiratory Virus Isolation)
  • You are allowed to participate in the care of other patients, including those who have PPE requirements for concerns other than COVID-19

3. In general:
  • Remember that we must all be healthy in order to protect our patients. This means that we must truthfully report our symptoms in symptom screening
  • If you have symptoms, check with Student Health about what procedures you should follow. Remember our school’s attendance policies enable students to miss course/clerkship rotations due to illness. Please contact your Student Experience Advisor if you anticipate a long absence.
  • F2 Absence Request Form and Eligibility
  • Career Launch Absence Request Form and Eligibility
  • In public, please keep up with and role model current public health guidelines for your communities; our current guidelines require staying at least six feet away from others and wearing a cloth mask
  • And lastly, as restrictions are gradually lifted, remember that we should continue to take our roles in prevention seriously, and protect ourselves from exposures where possible

We will be working with all of our course and clerkship directors, and our clinical sites, to ensure that we stay in close contact as additional sites slowly allow the return of learners to their clinical environments.

In the meantime, please continue to stay safe, and look after yourself and loved ones.
Warm Regards, 

John Davis, MD, PhD
Associate Dean for Curriculum
UCSF School of Medicine