Ozarks Technical 
Community College

Procedure for Individuals with Bloodborne Infectious Diseases**

1. Ozarks Technical Community College is obligated to maintain standards of healthcare and professionalism that are consistent with the public's expectations of the health profession. The following guidelines are established and practiced by all Dental Programs personnel (faculty, staff, and students) while as an employee, volunteer, or student with the Dental Programs.
2. All dental personnel are obligated to provide patient care with compassion and respect for human dignity, respecting the rights of privacy and confidentiality of patients with infectious diseases.
3. Dental personnel will not refuse to treat or discriminate in any way against a patient solely because the patient has an infectious disease or is at risk of contracting an infectious disease. This includes any disease process such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), or hepatitis infections. The one exception to this policy is the patient with active tuberculosis. Those individuals will not be treated in the dental clinic or assigned to clinical procedures until treatment is completed and a clearance is given by the medical doctor responsible for the TB management.
4. In the event that a student and/or employee contracts an infectious disease, it is the intent of the college by means of this policy to strike a balance between the right of a student and/or employee having an infectious disease to an education and/or continued employment and the right of students and college employees to be free from the risk of exposure to an infectious disease which may affect their health, safety, and/or welfare.
5. Ozarks Technical Community College is obligated to protect the privacy and confidentiality of any faculty member, student, or staff member who has tested positive for an infectious disease. Dental personnel who pose a risk of transmitting an infectious disease must consult with appropriate healthcare professionals to determine whether continuing to provide professional services represents a material risk to the patient.
6. Each incident of infectious disease shall be dealt with on an individual case-by-case basis and the determination of the course of action to be taken by the college will be made by a team consisting of appropriate healthcare professionals (board of health and/or physician), appropriate college personnel, and with current federal, state, and/or local guidelines.
7. Ozarks Technical Community College will facilitate the testing of faculty and staff that are employed by the college. Furthermore, the college will make available the hepatitis B vaccine and appropriate vaccine follow up to employees in accordance with OSHA regulations.
8. Students are aware, through orientation procedures, that they are responsible for themselves and must demonstrate proof of immunity which includes MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), tetanus, and TB skin test.
9. All dental personnel must demonstrate proof of immunity to hepatitis B, be immunized, or formally decline in writing the immunization. Dental personnel will adhere to the established protocol for infection control and bloodborne pathogen training that is provided at initial employment and/or admission and through periodic updates. These protocols are in compliance with current OSHA and CDC guidelines and meet current federal, state, and local guidelines.

**This procedure is based upon the American Association of Dental Schools Policy Statement III (Delivery of Care) C (Infectious Diseases). 1996.