Health Information for Students

UT Health Services

Students have a variety of options for non-emergency Health Care.

UT Health Services
7000 Fannin St., Ste. 1620
Houston, TX 77030

Conveniently located across the street from the METRO Transit Center at the corner of Fannin and Pressler in the Texas Medical Center. The building offers five floors of parking (to be paid by the student) and is just minutes away from bus and rail stops.

Clinic Hours

7 a.m.-4 p.m., including the lunch hour.

Contact Person

Maria Sandoval (email for appointments, billing, and paperwork assistance)
UT Health Services
Office 713-500-3253
Room UCT-1620

Needlestick Information

All students are REQUIRED to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, AT ALL TIMES, regardless of the laboratory policies in Laboratory Medicine or at our Clinical Affiliate sites. If a student is found to violate this policy, disciplinary action will be taken up to and including dismissal from the program. During clinical rotations, we will make unannounced visits and correspond with clinical instructors to ensure this policy is being enforced.

• In the unfortunate event that a student is exposed to blood or body fluids, the following steps should be taken immediately:
  Wash needle sticks or cuts with soap and water, flush splashes to nose, mouth or skin with water, and/or irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigants for 15 minutes.
• Notify the supervisor in the assigned area.
• If the exposure occurs during a clinical rotation:
  • Notify Program Director or Education Coordinator. Both sites will complete an Incident report.
  • The MD Anderson Student will call UT Health Services at 7000 Fannin Street, Suite 1620, Houston, TX 77030.
    • Clinic Hours: 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Phone: 713.500.3267, Option 1.
    • After Hours: 1 (800) 770-9206
    • An answering service operator will get callback information, then page a provider to return the call promptly.
  • The clinical affiliate site will be responsible for testing the source patient.
  • UT Health Services will perform testing on the student and advise on prophylaxis and follow-up.
  • Students should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Prophylaxis, if indicated, should be started within 2 hours.

Counseling

School students seeking counseling should contact The University of Texas Employee Assistance Program (UTEAP) office, which provides students access to a variety of resources. Limited services are also available for students' dependents.

University of Texas Employee Assistance Program (UTEAP)
7000 Fannin St., Ste. 1670
Houston, TX 77030
713-500-3327 or 800-346-3549

AIDS, HIV and HBV

UT MD Anderson recognizes the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) as serious public health threats. It is the policy of this institution to minimize risk to our patients and to provide the highest quality patient care. It is also the policy of this institution to make reasonable accommodations when disabilities limit the capacity of otherwise qualified applicants and employees, as outlined in the institution's Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) policy. Any student or employee infected with HIV or HBV will not be permitted to perform exposure-prone procedures unless and until an Expert Review Panel determines that it would be medically appropriate to do so.

The existence of HIV or HBV infection will not be used by UT MD Anderson to determine suitability for admission to an educational program unless the program requires performance of exposure-prone procedures as identified by UT MD Anderson's Expert Review Panel. No employee or student will be denied benefits or provided reduced benefits under a health plan offered through The University of Texas System based on a positive HIV test result. A person with HIV or HBV infection shall not be denied access to UT MD Anderson because of HIV or HBV infection. A complete copy of the institution's policy regarding AIDS, HIV and HBV is available in the Office of the Dean.

Educational Materials Concerning AIDS/HIV

Reference the Reporting of Notifiable Conditions and/or Communicable Diseases Policy (Institutional Policy #CLN0431).

Contagious Diseases and Immunization Requirements

In the event that a student contracts or is exposed to a communicable disease, the student must notify the program director so that patient contact limitations are considered. All institutional policies regarding infection will be observed. Copies of these policies are available in each Program Office and in the Office of the Dean.

Federal regulations require that:

• Students who are at risk for exposure to body/ blood fluids must be informed of the potential danger of contracting the hepatitis B virus and other infectious materials.
  
  
• The School must show documentation that each student has:
  
  • been informed of the standard exposure precautions to be followed when working with patients,
  • has received the hepatitis B vaccine or has declined the vaccine but understands the risk incurred by so doing, and
  • has completed the Immunization Form at the time of registration.

Bacterial Meningitis

April 2011 rule update:

Effective for incoming students as of Jan 1, 2012

The University of Texas System has issued a policy statement (docx) regarding Texas Meningitis Laws, Education Code Chapter 38 Section 38.0025 and Chapter 51 Section 51.9191,92 that applies to students under the age of 30, requiring a meningococcal (bacterial meningitis ) vaccine or "booster" dose during the five years before but no later than ten days before the first day of the first semester students will enter that institution.

Policy Revision

Effective October 1, 2013:

• Students 22 years of age or older are not required to submit evidence of meningococcal meningitis vaccination.
  
  
• Affidavit forms for exceptions to vaccination for reasons of conscience, such as religious or philosophical belief, can only be issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
  
  
• The exception form from DSHS must be signed and notarized no more than 90 days prior to the first day of classes to be valid.

Information about Meningitis

The School provides all new students with information about bacterial meningitis, including:

• Symptoms
• How the disease is diagnosed
• How it is transmitted
• Consequences of the disease
• How it can be treated

All students must acknowledge receipt of this information during Onboarding.