Medical Surveillance Policy

Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), in its commitment to the health and safety of its personnel and visitors, has established a medical surveillance program to address workplace hazards, including exposure to biological, chemical, and physical agents. The medical surveillance program includes healthcare workers at risk of acquiring or transmitting communicable diseases to patients, visitors, and colleagues because of their exposure in the workplace. The program provides for an assessment of health risks associated with certain positions and a determination of appropriate medical testing and recommended vaccines. Medical surveillance will be required in certain positions, and additionally, in some instances, mandatory testing, immunizations, or other preventive procedures may be necessary. Medical surveillance will be performed at Workforce Health and Safety (WHS) at the time of hire or transfer into a position with such hazards.

Further surveillance may be performed periodically as required. Medical Surveillance clearance is required for everyone working in NYP space and must be obtained before their start date, as mandated by the Joint Commission. There is no cost to the employee for this service.

Applicability

This policy applies to faculty, staff, and long-term visitors who routinely work or interact with certain hazardous biological, chemical, and physical agents, including employees who work with patients, laboratory animals, bloodborne pathogens, other infectious agents, formaldehyde, xylene, class 3b or 4a lasers, and those whose work requires the use of a respirator. Job descriptions and postings will identify positions requiring participation in the medical surveillance program.

Procedure

Personnel and long-term visitors in identified positions will be scheduled for medical surveillance by their department. Columbia Students should not be scheduled for medical surveillance appointments. Instead, they should be referred to their respective Student Health Services Office:

• CU: Columbia Health (212)854-7426
• CUIMC: Student Health on Haven (212)305-3400

Evaluations

Please click on the links below for the details of the evaluations that can be selected for an individual by their department:

• Medical Surveillance for CU Personnel Having Contact with Patients and/or Human Subjects
• Medical Surveillance for CU Personnel Potentially Exposed to Bloodborne Pathogens
• Medical Surveillance for CU Personnel Potentially Exposed to Known Infectious Agents
• Medical Surveillance for CU Personnel Potentially Exposed to Biological Toxins
• Medical Surveillance for CU Personnel Who Work in Autopsy, Gross or Anatomical Pathology, DermatoPathology or Anatomical Gift Morgue
• Medical Surveillance for CU Personnel to Wear N-95 Respirator
• Medical Surveillance for CU Personnel Wearing Half/Full-Face Respirators or Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses
• Medical Surveillance for CU Personnel Wearing Half/Full-Face Respirators or Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses in Pathology/Dermatopathology 
• Medical Surveillance for CU Personnel to Wear a SCBA/Half/Full-Face Respirator with a Written Recommendation from EH&S
• Medical Surveillance for CU Personnel - Facilities and Operations Access to ICM Facilities
• Columbia University Health History for Students and Personnel with Animal Contact
• Medical Surveillance for CU Personnel Working in Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) Laboratories
• Medical Surveillance for CU Personnel/Students Working with Macaques

1. Registration: Managers/Supervisors must register Columbia University personnel using this online form. To gain access to the form, managers and supervisors should send access requests to cumchr@cumc.columbia.edu. Once access is granted, managers and supervisors can access the form and schedule medical surveillance appointments for their staff. Appointments should be scheduled as close as possible to the employee's start date, but no more than 90 days in advance. Please keep in mind that medical clearance is required before the employee's start date.
2. Confirmation: After completing and submitting the form, a confirmation email with links to important documents will be sent to the submitter and the individual for whom the appointment is made. The individual must bring the confirmation email with them to their appointment. 
3. Clearance: Upon clearance by WHS, an email will be sent to the supervisor and CUIMC Human Resources Department, except for the respiratory clearance form, which will be administered directly to the employee to deliver to their supervisor. The supervisor must contact Environmental Health and Safety to schedule the fit testing.
4. Periodic Surveillance: When indicated for a job title, periodic follow-up may be necessary. The supervisor will notify the employee when a periodic evaluation is needed.
5. CUIMC ID: Personnel must bring their CUIMC ID badge or photo ID with them to WHS.

For questions please contact: CUIMC Human Resources at cumchr@cumc.columbia.edu