Public Health Response Team
- Responsible Office: Safety and Risk Management, Division of Administration
- Current Approved Version: 04/19/2021
- Policy Type: Administrative
Public Health Response Team
Responsible Office: Vice President for Administration
Initial Policy Approved: New
Current Revision Approved: 02/19//2021
Policy Statement and Purpose
The university authorizes and maintains a group of public health experts for the purposes of reviewing infectious disease outbreaks affecting the university community. This group, known as the Public Health Response Team, will make recommendations to university administration regarding appropriate courses of action regarding outbreak mitigation and response.
The purpose of this policy is to demonstrate how this group functions within the university and outline the representation of expertise among the team members.
Noncompliance with this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. VCU supports an environment free from retaliation. Retaliation against any employee who brings forth a good faith concern, asks a clarifying question, or participates in an investigation is prohibited.
Table of Contents
| Who Should Know This Policy | |
| Definitions | |
| Contacts | |
| Policy Specifics and Procedures | |
| Forms | |
| Related Documents | |
| Revision History | |
| FAQ |
Who Should Know This Policy
All college, school and departments heads are responsible for knowing this policy and familiarizing themselves with its contents and provisions.
Definitions
Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP)
The CEMP provides the VCU structures and processes for coordinating incident management activities for natural and human caused emergencies and disasters. Following the guidance provided by the National Response Framework (NRF), National Incident Management System (NIMS), and other supporting documents, the CEMP creates an umbrella configuration for existing department emergency and incident management plans.
Incident Coordination Team (ICT)
Consisting of senior management from various operating disciplines across the university, the ICT governs and manages the response to emergencies covered by the CEMP.
Contacts
The vice president of administration officially interprets this policy. The assistant vice president of safety and risk management is responsible for obtaining approval for any revisions as required by the policy Creating and Maintaining Policies and Procedures through the appropriate governance structures. Please direct policy questions to the assistant vice president of safety and risk management.
Policy Specifics and Procedures
The Public Health Response Team (PHRT) will offer medical, epidemiological, and health care guidance and recommendations to the university administration via the Incident Coordination Team (ICT) as it relates to outbreaks of infectious disease. *Note: The ICT evaluates the institutional effects of an emergency, determines business recovery and resumption priorities overseen by the ICT leader.
1. PHRT Membership: Membership is based on the nature of the infectious disease and may change or be expanded at the discretion of the chair(s) or the ICT.
· The PHRT is co-chaired by the Director of Student Health Services and the Director of Employee Health Services.
· Membership shall include the following at a minimum:
- Epidemiologists familiar with infectious disease
- A representative of the local health district of the Virginia Department of Health
- A representative of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety or Safety and Risk Management
- A representative from the VCU Health System
· The univeristy ICT reserves the right to appoint new chairs and expand the membership in the event of wide-spread community transmission of infectious disease or other unique or emergent need.
2. Meetings Frequency: The PHRT will meet at the discretion of the co-chairs.
Forms
There are no forms associated with this policy and procedures.
Related Documents
VCU Policy: Emergency Notification, Response and Evacuation
VCU Policy: Business Continuity Management
VCU Policy: Environmental Health and Safety and Risk Management
Revision History
Approval/Revision Date Title
None – New Policy
FAQ
There are no FAQ associated with this policy and procedures.