Licensed Practitioners - Health Screening Requirements
Are non-employed physicians and other licensed practitioners included in the health requirements specified in IC.02.03.01? Do we need to screen them for TB infection as well as immunity to other diseases?
Any examples are for illustrative purposes only.
For IC.02.03.01 EP.1, the standard requires that screening "is available". For employees, and others to whom the HR standards apply, health screenings are a requirement under HR.01.01.01 EP.5. For non-employed physicians and other licensed practitioners, screenings must be made available, but each organization may decide whether these screenings are mandatory.
For IC.02.03.01 EP.2, referral is initiated if the organization becomes aware of any individual, including non- employed physicians and other licensed practitioners, " When licensed practitioners or staff have, or are suspected of having, an infectious disease that puts others at risk".
For IC.02.03.01 EP.3, referral is initiated if the organization becomes aware of any individual, including non-employed physicians and other licensed practitioners, "when licensed practitioners or staff have been occupationally exposed to an infectious disease". Active surveillance is not required and action is needed only if the organization becomes aware of such an exposure
When making a decision as to how to address these issues, organizations are encouraged to consider the following factors:
For IC.02.03.01 EP.1, the standard requires that screening "is available". For employees, and others to whom the HR standards apply, health screenings are a requirement under HR.01.01.01 EP.5. For non-employed physicians and other licensed practitioners, screenings must be made available, but each organization may decide whether these screenings are mandatory.
For IC.02.03.01 EP.2, referral is initiated if the organization becomes aware of any individual, including non- employed physicians and other licensed practitioners, " When licensed practitioners or staff have, or are suspected of having, an infectious disease that puts others at risk".
For IC.02.03.01 EP.3, referral is initiated if the organization becomes aware of any individual, including non-employed physicians and other licensed practitioners, "when licensed practitioners or staff have been occupationally exposed to an infectious disease". Active surveillance is not required and action is needed only if the organization becomes aware of such an exposure
When making a decision as to how to address these issues, organizations are encouraged to consider the following factors:
- Physicians are specifically included by the CDC in the documents entitled "Immunization of Health-Care Workers" and "Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health-Care Settings, 2005". IC.01.05.01 EP 1 requires "When developing infection prevention and control activities, the organization."
- Many states require such screenings for all healthcare workers, including physicians and licensed practitioners.
- Biologically, all persons providing services in healthcare organizations are equally capable of transmitting disease.
- Legal and ethical considerations exist related to potential outbreak situations.
Manual:
Nursing Care Center
Chapter:
Human Resources HR
Last reviewed by Standards Interpretation: November 23, 2022
Represents the most recent date that the FAQ was reviewed (e.g. annual review).
First published date: April 11, 2016
This Standards FAQ was first published on this date.
This page was last updated on January 04, 2023
with update notes of: Editorial changes only
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