Clinical Practice Screening for Staff

It is a requirement of the enabling Agreement that allows students to undertake clinical placements in health facilities that staff and students are screened for and vaccinated against the following conditions.

Information about the conditions is from the Australian Immunisation handbook 9th Edition 2003 (NHMRC) available online and in the Robertson Library in Level 2 Reserve and on Level 6 (614.470994).

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) clearance is also required if a staff member has been a patient, or has worked, in any hospital or residential care facility outside Western Australia in the 12 months before working in a Health Department facility.

As well as offering protection to patients and clients, these requirements support the University's commitment to take all reasonable steps for the protection of students and staff from dangerous communicable diseases.

Condition of practice

It is a condition of practice that you are screened for and vaccinated against contracting these conditions BEFORE working in any Health Department facility. Some vaccinations, such as polio and hepatitis B, need mutiple innoculations over a period of time before immunity is achieved so that screening and vaccination should be planned early.

On-going screening/vaccination

The influenze vaccination is required each year you are working in a clinical facility. MRSA screening is required if you have worked, or been a patient, in any hospital or residential care facility outside Western Australia in the 12 months before working in a WA facility.

Screening/vaccination objection

Screening and vaccinations are available from Curtin's Health Services or another health service. An appointment is necessary. Curtin has to advise a health facility if you refuse, on the basis of conscientious objection, to be screened and/or vaccinated against the above conditions. If there is a risk that patient safety may be compromised, you may be refused access to the facility.

Costs

Screening and vaccination costs for staff will be covered by your School. Receipts should be forwarded to your School administrator.

Records

You are strongly advised to keep a record of your screening/vaccination history in a safe place. One strategy may be to keep a photocopy of each completed form in this folder.

Policy

The Faculty of Health Sciences policy related Infection Control is located within the Intranet (staff only).