The Maricopa Emergency Management System (MEMS) team is actively following a number of issues. Here you will find updates on these topics of heightened awareness
Novel H1N1 (Swine Flu) Q&A
- Q1) Adjunct faculty do not accrue sick time. Will there be options for them so that their pay is not docked if they get the H1N1?
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A1a) Adjunct faculty and temporary employees—who do not accrue sick time—should contact their immediate supervisor to discuss their options.
A1b) Employees who do accrue sick time will follow existing procedures. For extended absences and absences that qualify under Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), employees should follow procedures outlined in the Compensation Department at http://www.maricopa.edu/hrweb/benefits/leaves_of_absence.htm, or by calling the Leave of Absence Hotline at (480) 731-8448. These provisions for employees were contained in a memo emailed to all employees on Oct. 1, 2009. For more information, see the message in its entirety at http://www.maricopa.edu/hrweb/benefits/short_term_comp_lve.htm.
- Q2) What will happen to those students who are identified as possibly being infected with H1N1? Will they be sent home until they can prove they no longer have H1N1?
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A2) Students who exhibit flu-like symptoms, whether it’s been confirmed H1N1 or not, should be encouraged to stay home until they are well. The course attendance policies for ill students should continue to be followed.
- Q3) Many of our students do not have medical insurance and don't feel they can go to a doctor? Is there a student medical insurance option? Where do they go to find out more?
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A3) More information on student medical insurance options is available by visiting the Risk Management department’s web pages at http://www.maricopa.edu/legal/rmi/.
- Q4) Is student or employee personal information used in data collection?
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A4) Student names—or employee names, for that matter—are not part of the data collection. We purposely do not ask for names to make sure we honor all privacy laws. Information to be collected is contained in the Response Procedures Checklist, located on the district web site at http://www.maricopa.edu/mems/H1N1%20Response%20Procedures%20Checklist.pdf.
- Q5) If a student notifies their instructor that they are sick, should it always be reported on the H1N1 form?
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A5) Yes, but only if they have flu-like symptoms.
- Q6) What is the period of probable contamination, and what are the symptoms?
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A6) For the latest information, visit the Centers for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm, or the Maricopa County Department of Health at http://www.maricopa.gov/public_health/hottopics/h1n1flu/.
- Q7) If I need further information about the swine flu, where can I go?
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A7) The Maricopa County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control are two of the best resources, and recommendations from both organizations are followed closely by the Maricopa Community Colleges’ MEMS (Maricopa Emergency Management System) team in its preparations for swine flu. The CDC’s extensive Q&A document is located on their web site at this location: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm.
A complete list of H1N1 resources provided by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health is available here: http://www.maricopa.gov/public_health/hottopics/h1n1flu/
A downloadable H1N1 Response Procedures Checklist and H1N1 Flow Chart are designed to outline and facilitate important communication and reporting mechanisms.
The MEMS team is working with District PIO’s and Wellness Coordinators to distribute factual and consistent information on prevention.
Additional resources
