2020 Health Screening and Occupational Health Clearance

IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM BWH OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH DURING COVID 19:

BWH OHS will notify Trainees and Program Directors regarding the 2020 schedules and plans for orientation and OHS visits once we have additional details.

Trainees should continue providing immunization records and health care requirements to BWH OHS. Please email your documents to BWHOCCHealthResidentScreening@partners.org.

All incoming Residents/Fellows must submit documentation to meet the infection control requirements of BWH and receive Occupational Health Service (OHS) Medical Clearance on or by the start date of employment. 

Interns (Residents (June Start Date):  Please submit your records by April 17, 2020 to BWHOCCHealthResidentScreening@partners.org.

• Submitted documentation will be reviewed. You will be notified when you have satisfied the OHS Health Screening Requirements.

Residents/Clinical Fellows:  Please submit your records by May 1, 2020 to BWHOCCHealthResidentScreening@partners.org.

• Submitted documentation will be reviewed and you will be emailed your OHS Medical Clearance.

Many Trainees can complete screening without an appointment, providing the Health Screening Forms are fully completed and submitted prior to the deadlines.

Required Documentation Forms

Please submit the forms listed below to OHS prior to your health screening visit or the due dates specified above. 

2020 BWH Health Screening Form (revised)

• This form is completed and signed by your primary care provider or school health department. It will not be accepted as proof of documentation unless signed by your provider or school. You may not sign your own form!
• A computerized copy of your immunization record and TB screening may be substituted for this form.
• The BWH Infection Control Standards are listed on page 2 of the Health Screening form.

Interactive Respirator & Medical Eval Questionnaire

• Please answer all questions for safe use of a N95 mask at BWH.
• Fit Testing for use of the N95 mask are currently being done Monday through Saturday 6am-12midnight (NO Sundays) at BWH Tower Mezzanine
• Fit Testing for use of the N95 mask is scheduled for June 19, July 1, and July 31 by appointment only.
• All staff (including returning Residents/Fellows) are required to be Fit Tested by BWH Environmental Affairsannually. (Fit Testing of any onboarding GME trainee who has been fit-tested with a 3M N95 within the last 12 months, will be accepted.)
• Please complete questionnaire and submit with your records.
• Email/scan records to: BWHOCCHealthResidentScreening@partners.org

PLEASE do not send these forms or your immunization records to BWH Provider Services in your Credentialing packet.

At the time of your OHS visit or when all requirements have been met, you will receive a “2020-21 Health Clearance sticker” for your ID badge. This indicates that staff rotating to other institutions meet OHS Clearance Requirements.

Please note that if you are a current BWH/MGH Resident or Fellow and your OHS record meets the infection control standards, including up to date annual TB screening, you may contact the BWH OHS clinic at 617-732-6034 - Option 4 (leave a message with your name and call back number; someone will return your call within 24 hours) to facilitate health clearance prior to your new start date.

Rotating and Returning Residents and Clinical Fellows

Rotating Residents and Clinical Fellows

At the time of your OHS visit or when all requirements have been met, you will receive a “2020-2021 Health Clearance sticker” for your ID badge. This indicates that staff rotating to other institutions meet OHS Clearance Requirements at:

• All Partners Healthcare affiliates: Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, Mass General, Newton Wellesley, North Shore Medical Center, McLean, Spaulding, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Wentworth Douglass Hospital
• Dana Farber Cancer Institute
• Beth Israel Lahey Health
• Tufts Medical Center
• Boston Children’s Hospital

Returning Residents and Clinical Fellows

Please note that if you are a current BWH/MGH Resident or Fellow and your OHS record meets the infection control standards, including up to date annual TB screening, you may contact the BWH OHS clinic at 617-732-6034 - Option 4 (leave a message with your name and call back number; someone will return your call within 24 hours) to facilitate health clearance prior to your new start date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question:  What Tuberculosis Testing will BWH accept?
Answer:    Either a 2 Step TB skin test or an IGRA (QFT or T-Spot) blood test is accepted.  The IGRA must be within 3 months of the date of screening. 

Question:  What is 2-step TB testing and why do I need 2 TB skin tests?
Answer:    2-step TB testing is documentation of 2 negative TB tests within the year prior to your start date as recommended by the CDC for healthcare workers. The second TB test needs to be within 3 months of start date or at the start/screening date. 

1. First tuberculin skin test (TST) given, read and recorded in mm
2. If first TST is positive -- no further testing and chest xray required to r/o disease
3. If first TST is negative -- repeat TST after at least 7-14 days

Question:  My school/hospital will only do one TB test per year so how can I meet the requirement?
Answer:     If you are not able to complete 2-step testing prior to your arrival, a TST will be done at your BWH OHS visit.

Question: Where can I have my Color Vision tested?
Answer:    If your school/hospital or primary care physician is not able to screen Color Vision with a 6-plate Ishihara test, this will be completed at the time of your OHS visit.

If you have any additional questions, please call 617-732-6034 between 7 am and 4 pm or email BWHOCCHealthResidentScreening@partners.org

Page updated 5/12/20.