Schulich Flu Updates
Schulich Flu Information
This website is a central resource on H1N1 and pandemic planning for faculty, students, staff and trainees at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. If you have further questions about the information below or require assistance related to pandemic planning, please email flu.questions@schulich.uwo.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a partial list of questions and answers. More will be added as information becomes available. Check back regularly for updates.
H1N1 General Information
What is the H1N1 virus?
The H1N1 virus is a respiratory disease caused by type A influenza viruses.
What are the signs and symptoms of H1N1?
Similar to seasonal influenza: fever, runny nose, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills, etc…
How does the H1N1 virus spread?
Similar to seasonal flu viruses, H1N1 is spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing and touching of contaminated objects or surfaces.
What should I do if I think I have H1N1?
If you feel unwell while attending work or school, go home and rest. Do not come to work/school if you are feeling sick. Limit contact with others. You can return one day after you are symptom-free.
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick and/or avoid spreading the virus?
- Wash your hands frequently or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- If you cough or sneeze use a tissue or your elbow. Throw away tissues immediately.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- If possible, avoid sharing objects or having close contact with individuals who are sick.
- Health care professionals are encouraged to wear N95 masks in interactions with individuals suspected to have H1N1 (See hospital guidelines on Protective Equipment)
Will Schulich students, staff and faculty be told they must take the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines when they are available?
Western employees and students, and in particular those in health care settings, are encouraged to get vaccinated however at this time vaccination is not mandatory. If you are located off-campus, please check with your individual intistution's guidelines.
Are medical students considered part of the high-risk group for vaccination?
Clinical year students will be immunized by the hospitals based on priority for the clinical setting they are in. The hospitals in London have promised the health unit that they will be immunizing only the clinical students and staff to ensure that there is adequate vaccine in the community for the high priority groups.
Preclinical students are not considered front-line health care workers and have been advised to follow the same advice as the rest of the population. If you fall within one of the priority hgh-risk groups for vaccination, attend one of the public clinics. If you are ill, stay home till you have recovered, you will be granted sick leave as appropriate.
Absenteeism
How do I report an absence from school/work due to suspected H1N1?
If you are absent for any reason, you or your department supervisor/administrator are required to log in using your/their Western login ID and password and include reasons for the absence. Individual departments may choose whether faculty and staff will self-report or if absences will be recorded by a designated administrator.
STUDENTS: A self-reported tracking system is being implemented to record absences from class or other required academic activities due to influenza-like illness. The tool will only be used for influenza-like symptoms and will replace the student requirement of providing a medical certificate for absences in these instances. All other illness will require a medical certificate as per normal procedures. You can login to report an absence at https://student.uwo.ca/psp/heprdweb/?cmd=login.
RESIDENTS & CLINICAL FELLOWS: Residents and clinical fellows are required to report to their Program Director's office by 0900 daily if they are unable to work due to a respiratory illness. Please note, you must report to your Program Director office regardless of your training location. This information will then be collated on a program by program basis and reported at noon each day.
How do I record absences for my department/unit in the global absence notification system?
Administrators seeking instructions or assistance to access the system for department or unit reporting are asked to contact Connie Zrini, Associate Director HR at ext. 86422 or connie.zrini@schulich.uwo.ca.
Are clinical faculty required to report absences?
Within Schulich we have not had an opportunity to discuss with the clinical departments/medical affairs/associate deans of the medical education programs the use of this system by/for medical clinical faculty. At this time it is anticipated clinical faculty and community dental faculty will not be required to report absences though the Western system but clarification on this is forthcoming.
I need to stay home to look after my children/my parents. Is Schulich/Western making accommodations for this type of absence?
When staff members are required to stay home to take care of ill relatives, the absence would be deducted from an individual's vacation time and/or any accumulated overtime. Within Schulich, Leaders/Supervisors can determine if other alternatives are possible, however this will depend on each specific circumstance; an example might be to allow the individual to make up the time in the near future.
If the Leader/Supervisor determines that the time cannot be made up, and vacation or overtime is unavailable, then the absence from work would be considered an unpaid leave. Because of the differences within roles, the determination of whether or not a staff member can work at home during these absences is dependent upon a number of factors specific to the role in question. Some individuals can perform their roles, or significant components of their roles at home, while others cannot. It is the Leader/Supervisor who should determine if this is an alternative.
I am worried about catching H1N1 – is the University considering academic accommodations if I miss class or other required academic activity?
Western is not planning to provide special accommodations to students who are worried about contracting H1N1. Students with no symptoms of illness are expected to attend classes as normal until instructed by the University to do otherwise.
Has Western recommended an amount of time to take off if you suspect you have H1N1?
Individuals with flu-like symptoms are asked to stay home until one day after fever has disappeared. Health care workers in direct patient contact, including those in patient-care settings and others such as those involved in clinical research with patients, are asked to stay home for seven days or until their fever is gone, consistent with Health Unit and Public Health Agency of Canada recommendations. NOTE: London hospitals have implemented a reporting system for safe return to work through Occupational Health & Safety. Please refer to your institution's requirements.
Will there be a ‘waving’ of the requirement for a doctor’s note re: flu-related absences for re-admission?
Western has implemented a process for students who have contracted H1N1 or influenza-like illness to self-report absences and make it easier to seek academic accommodation. This policy has been created in consultation with Associate Deans from each of Western’s faculties.
Does Western have a policy regarding attendance at national exams, international Conferences and similar events requiring travel?
No specific policy has been identified at this time.
Can I work from home if necessary? How?
Schulich has a number of procedures already in place to allow an individual to access email and network files from home. You may continue to use these tools to work from home where permission has been granted by your supervisor. Individuals who identify a particular critical function within their responsibilties and require remote access to their desktop computer during a potential shutdown will be asked to establish a secure connection through Western's ITS department. Further information regarding connecting from home is forthcoming from Schulich's Information Services team.
Planning
How do I know if I have to come up with a Pandemic Plan?
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry leaders have been involved in creating an overall pandemic plan for Research, Education and Administration. Committees for research and education have identified activities considered critical functions and communication has been made to Department Chairs and Administrative Officers (AOs) to distribute within their departments. For further details see the October 15 memo to Department Chairs and AOs.
What is the definition of ‘critical function’?
The Levels of Criticality for functions as defined by the University are as follows:
- Critical Level 1: must be continued at normal or increased service load; cannot pause; necessary to life, health, security.
- Critical Level 2: must be continued if at all possible, perhaps in reduced mode. Pausing completely will have grave consequences.
- Critical Level 3: may pause if forced to do so, but must resume in 30 days or sooner.
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Deferrable: may pause, resume when conditions permit.
What is a 3D contact list?
A list of telephone numbers and email addresses for:
1. Primary person performing a job function or in position of authority.
2. 1st back up to that person.
3. 2nd back up.
London Health Sciences Centre and
St. Joseph's Health Care London Resources
(Intranet access required)
Attached Files
Social Media
Accessibility at Western
