31.3 Facility Requirements
Students must meet all health, safety, and any other requirements of the fieldwork site, in addition to meeting those of the MGH Institute, prior to beginning any fieldwork experience.
Most fieldwork education facilities require students to meet and submit documentation for specific immunizations and/or health status screenings prior to beginning a fieldwork experience; these requirements may differ from those of the MGH Institute. For example, a fieldwork site requiring a negative TB test will also determine how recent the test must be to be acceptable – the present variation among fieldwork sites’ policies on TB tests is 3 months to 1 year. Some sites also require current certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) techniques and completion of mandatory training on Universal Precautions and HIPPA. Students, working with the MGH Institute Office of Compliance, Director of Clinical Education, and Genetic Counseling Program Manager should ascertain whether documentation of participation in Institute training on these topics is acceptable or whether the facility requires its own process.
In addition, certain facilities and agencies require that a criminal background check (CORI or other similar process) and/or finger-printing and/or drug screening be completed prior to participating in the provision of client care. In some cases, the CORI performed by the Institute upon admission is not sufficient. In such cases, students must submit to and pay any required fees for a criminal background check, finger-printing, or any other screening required by the fieldwork site and meet facility requirements prior to participation in that fieldwork education placement.
Any information regarding the specific requirements of a given site that is communicated to the Genetic Counseling Program - Director of Clinical Education (DCE) by the site is included in the student's confirmation of placement. Students with the assistance of the DCE are responsible for verifying and complying with the specific requirements of each fieldwork site to which they are assigned. The DCE will notify the students of the timeline in which they have to complete the specific requirements for each fieldwork site.
Please note that students are responsible for providing the facility with any requested evidence of compliance with health and safety requirements according to the timeline established by the facility. Students are advised to maintain their own copies of all health history and immunization records, CPR and other certifications, documentation of physical exams, etc.