03/16/2020
Dear Student,
Coronavirus Preparedness
Medical Health Centers is here for you.
With coronavirus impacting our communities, we want you to know it won't impact our commitment to serving you. We're well-prepared for managing situations like the current one, while ensuring the same high level of service you've come to expect from us.
During this time:
Your health and safety are our top priority. That's why in addition to following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), we have implemented enhanced hand washing procedures at our hospitals and offices. As always, wash your hands before and after seeing a patient. Wash your hands when you get home. Using soap and water is the best way to wash your hands! Hand sanitizer should be used when soap and water is not available. This is rarely the case for students in rotations.
Coronavirus knowledge is essential.
Please take the time to read the following link:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
Remember: you can always call MHC from 9am to 4pm Monday through Friday if you would like to discuss any concerns.
We're here to answer your questions. Representatives are available at 630-568-5627
Be assured.
For years, Medical Health Centers has developed and tested comprehensive plans to effectively manage through circumstances like this. We are well-prepared and ready to serve you.
ALL rotations will continue as scheduled. All current rotations will also continue. As a future Physician, please arm yourself with knowledge.
Our current Hospital status:
ONLY John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County has asked us to stop rotations. This impacted only one student in Anesthesia. This is only for the month of March. As news comes in for April and onward, we will notify students and reschedule them elsewhere.
ALL other Hospital:
NOT impacted. They are NOT asking students to stop rotations at this time.
How will this impact you:
If any of the hospitals decide to not have non-essential staff come in, MHC will be notified and we will, during that time work with your preceptor to make sure your rotations continue as best as possible without any interruptions. YOU WILL CONTINUE WITH ROTATION AT THE CLINICS IF THE HOSPITAL INFORMS MHC THAT IT NO LONGER WANTS STUDENTS THERE. PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTION OF YOUR PRECEPTORS DURING THIS TIME UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. As of this moment, all rotations are scheduled to continue at West Suburban Medical Center.
Remain calm:
Do not panic. Do not spread rumors. This is the time to show your strength and courage. Be kind to one another. Assist each other with knowledge so you can better inform and treat your patients. Continue to study and prepare for your boards. Cancelling your rotations will postpone your graduation and we highly advise against it as it is not necessary.
Travel:
Do not travel to Europe during this time. We suggest not traveling outside of the USA during this time as well as you may not be allowed to enter again. WE highly encourage everyone NOT to leave the USA. YOU MAY NOT BE ALLOWED BACK IN. We feel that it is risky to travel since there are so many unknowns at this time.
What to do if you are feeling sick:
If you are sick, please notify your preceptor that you will not be in. Calling in sick for more than 2 days will require you to see a physician and get a doctor’s note for days missed, which will be excused. You will also need the note to document that you are free to go back to rotations confirming you are no longer ill.
Option to Pause rotations:
Please speak to your University and MHC if you would like to pause your rotations. Normally this would not be allowed, but given the recent circumstances your University and MHC will work with you on this option should you choose it.
MHC encourages all students to use common sense and remain calm.
If you are worried and would like to leave, that is your choice. However, we ask those to consider their career choice. As physicians, we must comfort the sick, dying and diseased. We cannot run from illness, infections, or any disease, and must always run to those that need help. We cannot run from the hospital when there is a hurricane or any natural disaster. While others run from circumstances like this, we must care for those that cannot care for themselves without abandonment. The storms will always pass, it is the way we handle circumstances like these that define who we are as a society.
Having said this, if you would like to “pause” your rotation please CALL MHC first, notify your University and MHC in writing via email AS WELL.
Sincerely,
MHC TEAM
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China.
