• Overview & Mission
• Programs
• Terms & Policies
• New Resident Resources
  • » Orientation Schedule
  • » Pre-Employment Health Clearance Policy
  • » Pre-Employment Health Clearance Form
  • » Lab Coat Order Form
  • » Washington, DC Links
  • » Candidates for Residency-Fellowship
• Current Resident Resources
• Graduating Resident Resources
• Visiting Resident Resources
• Alumni Resident Resources
• Program Directors-Coordinators

Pre-Employment Health Clearance

The Employee Health Office for residents is located in the GW Hospital on the ground floor, room 1092. The phone number is (202) 715-4275.

District of Columbia law states that each individual who is involved in direct patient care must have a medical clearance no more than three (3) months prior to the starting date of clinical care, and then annually thereafter. The medical clearance should include a history, physical examination, and clearance of infectious risk.  Clearance forms can be filled out by any licensed physician.

We must be strict about compliance with this regulation in order to comply with D.C. law. It is each resident's responsibility to ensure that this medical clearance is completed within the requisite time frame.   All new Residents are required to obtain medical clearance prior to coming to GWU as a resident.  Medical clearance for new Residents will not be accepted if it is older than three (3) months prior to the start of the residency. New Residents who do not have their health clearance completed will not be permitted to begin their training program.  All returning Residents are required to renew medical clearance annually.  All returning Residents must complete the requisite annual medical clearance by September 30 of the academic year or they will be suspended from clinical duties until medical clearance is obtained.

PPD/Chest X-ray Requirement
Tuberculosis is of particular concern here in the District of Columbia. Our goal is to be sure that our providers and patients are protected from and appropriately treated for this highly communicable disease.  A CXR report will be accepted only with a previous history of a positive PPD.  OSHA requires that the skin test performed on new residents must include a two-step test unless the resident has a documented negative test within the last 12 months.  If the resident does have written documentation of a negative PPD within the past twelve months, s/he will need to undergo an additional PPD test during orientation.  If the resident is unable to show written documentation of a negative PPD test from the past 12 months, s/he will have two PPD tests performed between 1-3 weeks apart.  This prevents us from interpreting an old prior infection as a recent conversion when you are tested annually.

• PPD # 1:  Needs to placed within one year of your GWU hire date
• PPD # 2:  Needs to placed within three months of your GWU hire date

Immunizations
In 1988, GWUMC developed regulations to further reduce the possible spread of communicable diseases such as measles (rubeola), mumps, and German measles (rubella) within its community.  Immunization records or proof of immunity by a blood test are required of each resident.

Mumps:  Proof of immunization (the last immunization given in 1980 or later) or proof of immunity by blood test is required.

Measles (Rubeola): Proof of immunization or proof of immunity by a blood test is required. Measles vaccine should have been given on or after your first birthday and a second one given in 1980 or later. Measles vaccine should be repeated if this is not the case.

German Measles (Rubella): Proof of immunization or proof of immunity by a blood test is required. Two immunizations should have been given since birth. The last immunization should have been given in 1980 or later. Rubella vaccine should be repeated if this is not the case.

Chicken Pox (Varicella Zoster): Proof of two varicella vaccines or immunity by blood test.  If the titer is negative, the resident will receive the vaccine (a series of two injections) unless contra indicated. If a resident is exposed to the virus and has not received the vaccine, he/she will be excluded from duty from the 10th day of exposure to the 21st day and this time off will be charged against your sick/annual leave.

Pertussis (Tdap):  Proof of immunization with Tdap vaccine.  Tdap vaccine is recommended for health-care personnel in hospitals or ambulatory care settings who have direct patient contact .  An interval as short as two (2) years from the last Td vaccination is recommended, but shorter time intervals may be used.

Residents must provide proof immunity or be immunized.  Immunization requirements will be waived on receipt of written certification from a physician or public health authority that they are medically contraindicated.  A requirement of blood tests will be substituted.

MEDICAL CLEARANCE FOR SUBSEQUENT YEARS:
D.C. Law requires each resident to complete an annual medical clearance.  Returning residents must complete the annual medical clearance by September 30 of the academic year or they will be suspended from clinical duties until medical clearance is obtained and recorded to the satisfaction of the University Hospital.