City Tech Reopening Plan

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Attachment D. Re-opening Radiologic Technology Floor

Plan for Re-opening the Radiologic Technology & Medical Imaging Department

Academic Building, 4th Floor, North Side

Prepared By: Prof. Evans Lespinasse, Chair

Key Considerations

Presently in this current public health crisis, SARS-CoV-2 the etiology of the COVID-19 disease, is challenging us to re-think the existing infection control processes to mitigate any risk of potential transmission in the radiologic technology department and its lab settings. According to the CDC, SARS-CoV-2 is primarily transmitted through the respiratory system. Therefore, modifications to the existing infection control practices will include strategies to minimize exposure to respiratory or airborne droplets. According to current guidelines, the best practices to control the transmission of this virus is to decrease the exposure to respiratory particles from the respiratory system and frequent hand washing.

Steps in the following pages will be implemented in the department to minimize the risk of cross transmission of the virus. Additionally, strategies to minimize the virus landing on fomites/environmental surfaces in the lab setting may be a potential source of transmission although it is considered to be in the low risk category. (www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html. On a positive note, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is easily killed with soap and water on persons and Tuberculocidal-level disinfectants on environmental surfaces, utilizing washing and disinfection practices are already standard in the medical imaging profession. Until social distancing is lifted in the near future, the non-pharmaceutical measures (social distancing/face coverings, and frequent hand washing) will be used to reduce the risk of transmission. While the SARS-CoV-2 is easily transmissible in people in close contact, its transmissibility decreases with social distancing. Facemasks/eyewear and social distancing have proved effective at reducing viral transmission.

Rationale for re-opening the NYCCT Radiologic Technology Lab

  • The standard infection control procedures have demonstrated reduced risk of disease transmission in the health care setting.
  • The Radiologic Technology faculty are all highly knowledgeable and practice excellent infection control measures.
  • The Radiologic Technology students have had infection control training and are closely monitored to ensure they maintain asepsis.
  • The modifications of the infection control practices can be implemented to decrease the risk of infection with SARS-Co-V-2.

Reopening Plan

Capacity to Maintaining Physical Distancing PPE Supply Screening of arriving students & Staff Protecting Vulnerable Population Hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting

a.Traditional classroom teaching
Traditional classroom teaching (face-to-face) with 100% enrollment capacity will not adequately provide the space required for maintaining physical distance of 6'.

All lectures will be presented to students virtually via Zoom, or WebEx, or Blackboard Collaborate. Instructors who choose to present their lectures synchronously will maintain the specific scheduled time the course meets in order to avoid any conflicts with students' class schedule.

Similarly, faculty office hours or student advisement will be conducted virtually to maintain physical distancing.

 N/A N/A The virtual classroom will ensure all who are vulnerable to the virus are protected. N/A

b.Lab sessions
Physical distancing must be maintained at all times. Lab sessions will be delivered in a mix of remote delivery and in-person for conducting lab experiments.

In the remote delivery, lab instructors will provide instruction videos that demonstrate biweekly lab experiments. These will be made available to students on Blackboard where students can access them asynchronously.

For the in-person mode, the schedule will be staggered into biweekly format with 50% capacity in attendance at a time. Each week, those in attendance will carry out experiments for two weeks in order to complete the required objectives and learning outcomes for the semester.

Before COVID-19, Radiologic Technology students used to be broken into groups of 4 per energized lab room. The staggered schedule with 50% capacity will allow only 2 students per room. With the reduced number, more experiments can be carried out while maintaining social distancing.

b. Lab coats, acceptable face coverings, and gloves must be worn in the lab at all times.

Disposable gloves must be worn in the lab while handling the equipment and/or instrumentations to prevent any cross contamination.

 b. All personnel, students and visitors must pass a thermal scan temperature check upon entering the lab.

b. All personnel and students must undergo a refresher training on infection control to ensure that all the COVID-19 prevention of transmission procedures are incorporated to the daily Radiologic Technology areas.

Anyone with a temperature, or signs of respiratory symptoms will not be permitted in the lab/department/building even if facial covering is worn.

Temperature ≥ 100.4 F, person doing thermal scan will be identified to security and will not be permitted in the labs and public spaces where students gather in the building.

b. All must wash their hands upon entering the labs.

Before and after each use, the lab instructors must ensure that students disinfect the equipment and surface areas in preparation for the next class.

Auto-dispensing hand sanitizing stations in both the radiology and computer labs will help maintain hand hygiene. The 4 sinks will also be stocked with auto dispensing soap for hand washing.

Sani-wipes will be provided to wipe the surface of the equipment after use.

c.Clinical Internships
At the hospital or clinical site, or at the Advanced Science Research Center at City College (for the BSRS MRI sections), clinical instructors and students will follow the hospital guidelines on social distancing, temperature checks, hand washing, and PPE requirements, etc.

c. Students are required to present themselves in clinical uniforms set forth by the program. Lab coats must be worn at all times.

Students will present themselves with face coverings to start their shift. Any additional PPE supplies and other materials needed at the clinical site must be provided by the clinical affiliate.

c. Clinical instructors and students must take and track their temperatures before and midway through their shift. They may use their own thermometers and if they don't have one, they may use the hospital's screening area.

Temperature ≥ 100.4 F, person will be not be permitted to remain at the clinical site and must follow the guidelines and/or hospital policy re COVID-19.

c. The program will assure that the clinical instructors and student are healthy before starting rotation at the hospital. Documentation of medical clearance will be required in order to resume any clinical (in-person) activities.

All will attend a mandatory clinical orientation to ensure awareness that it is their professional responsibility tonot come to clinical if they are sick and if so to inform the department and the site; to receive the latest guidelines on COVID-19; infection control; social distancing; PPE requirements; CDC guidelines; program policies and procedures etc.

If a clinical instructor or student should fall ill at the clinical site, hospital procedures must be followed and the department must be informed.

All faculty, staff, and students are required to stay home when feeling poorly and if exposed to COVID-19 must quarantine for 14 days according to the CDC guidelines.

 At the hospital or clinical site, clinical instructors, clinical coordinators, and students will follow the hospital guidelines on hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting, etc.

d.Reception Desk and Faculty Office
Floor markings of 6 ft distance from the desk will help maintain physical distance. Additionally, acceptable facial coverings are required by personnel, students and visitors.

When a line is formed by the reception desk, there will be markers on the floor to show students where to stand in order to maintain social distancing.

 d. All personnel and students must wear face covering, and gloves when physical contact with paper, pen or any object is necessary.

d. Temperature check will be required before entering the office space.

Security will be contacted should someone have a high temperature, and the individual will be asked to exit the building and contact his/her physician.

All hallway doors to the suites will be kept closed to prevent anyone from walking in unexpectedly while not wearing face covering and or fail to maintain 6 ft distance from personnel or students.

d. Auto-dispensing hand sanitizing station by the office entry way will help maintain hand hygiene.

Sani-wipes will be provided to wipe the surface of the desks.
e.Common Areas
Waiting room, quiet room, bathrooms etc. are required to have floor markings of 6 ft apart in order to maintain social distancing.		 Face covering must be worn at all times. N/A N/A e. Bathrooms must be equipped with soap and paper towel dispensers.

Monitoring Plan

Determine testing frequency Define early warning metrics Work with state and local health departments on contact tracing
Body temperature must be monitored at least once daily;
upon entering the building/department.

Early signs:

  • Thermal scan body temperature of 100.4 or higher.
  • Fever or chills
  • Flu symptoms
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Shortness of breath
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Nausea or vomiting

All positive results will be reported to the college, state and local health departments.

Contact tracing will immediately follow with anyone who tests positive.

Containment Plan

Identify how to isolate positive cases and quarantine contacts Determine plan to disinfect exposed areas Develop plan to communicate protocols

If anyone should test positive for fever or COVID-19, the following protocol will be activated:

  • The person will be immediately isolated in an attempt to contain the spread.
  • The case will be reported to Campus Safety
  • The case will be reported to local health departments.
  • The person will not be allowed to return for in-person interactions until such time after the disease has run its course and the individual is no longer contagious.
  • Through contact tracing, anyone who was exposed to the individual who tested positive must be quarantined for 14 days.
 All areas where a person with COVID has been will be closed off until thoroughly disinfected.

A containment policy and procedure will be posted in all areas of the department.

All students, faculty and staff will be made aware of the containment policy and procedure during orientation.

The office will be made aware of any positive case whereupon the policy and procedure will be activated.

Shutdown Plans

Identify operations that will be reduced or shutdown in case of significant outbreak Determine plan for students to safely depart campus Develop plan to communicate shutdown process
In the event that a significant outbreak should ensue, the department office space, the computer lab, and the radiology lab would have to shut down.

All students, faculty and staff will be urged to exit the building and to strictly use the escalator to navigate between the lobby and the 4th floor, while remaining at least 6 feet apart.

If a student demonstrates signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and is unable to exit on his/her own, the department would then contact the Safety in order to send the student home safely or to the emergency room based on the nature of the case.

Shutdown plans will be communicated to the communities of interest as follows:

  • By email to all students and personnel
  • Postings on the department website
  • Posting of physical signs in the department
  • Through the department social media network