Provost ends stipulation of doctors’ notes

Pete Yee

STOPPING THE OUTBREAK Officials want people with flu-like symptoms to remain at home — a reason that notes are no longer required for absences.

In a contest of academic integrity and personal safety, University administration has cancelled the requirement for supporting medical documentation of student absences in any case where a student is exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

The action, undertaken by University Provost and Vice President (Academic) Carl Amrhein, will even include missed exams. The requirement suspension, the first of its kind in University history, was made at the consultation of the University’s Public Health Response Team, the Provincial Chief Medical Officer of Health, and the University Health Centre.

“The problem is that the flu is about a seven-to-ten day illness. The current policy says you must have a sick note within 48 hours of missing the exam, and doctors usually won’t give those notes out after the fact. If you come in and say, ‘I was sick last week, doc,’ those notes are hard to get,” said Donna Cave, interim director of the University Health Centre.

“Given the fact people are deathly ill, we shouldn’t be dragging them in. It’s not good for their health, and it’s not good for the health of the people in waiting rooms or LRT cars with them.”

The UHC made its recommendation based on increases in the number of flu-like cases being seen through the Centre. Since the start of October, the UHC has seen approximately 500 cases of flu-like illness, up from around 80 at the same time last year.

“The reason to prompt the action is an anticipation level of a number of cases. We don’t want students who have been ill to find themselves waiting in rooms full of other people who are currently ill,” said Gerry Kendal, Vice-Provost and University Registrar.

Concerning the potential for academic dishonesty that could result from removing medical documentation requirements, Kendal said that trust had to be placed in students to not abuse the freedom being offered to preserve their health.

“In a population of over 37,000 students, we’re going to find lots of situations of dishonesty, but students are responsible adults, and we expect they’ll operate like that,” Kendal said.

Students’ Union Vice President (Student Life) Nick Dehod echoed Kendal’s trust for students, and recognized that tactics like self-isolation and avoiding doctors’ offices are currently recommended by provincial health practitioners.

“I think that students understand the main reason this is being implemented is so the University can make sure that you can take the proper medical precautions to make sure you keep yourself and others healthy without being penalized,” he said.

Although the University isn’t offering immunization to the student body at large, students working in health care faculties, and health care workers are now able to receive a seasonal flu vaccination — which doesn’t include vaccination against H1N1 — and can check clinic schedules at www.h1n1.ualberta.ca.

And it seems the action has already begun to take effect on the flow of traffic to immunization clinics on campus.

“We’re still busy, but we’re no longer seeing people just for notes. We’re seeing people who need medication or real answers about whether or not they’re sick, but largely, this has been keeping people home where they belong,” Cave said, after admitting that the number of patients with flu-like symptoms has dropped precipitously since reaching nearly 100 patients on October 26, which was the first day of seasonal vaccinations on campus.

Cave went on to explain that although a drop in the number of patients moving through the centre was a positive considering current self-isolation recommendations, it was still wise to endure line-ups to attend either the University’s clinics or combination H1N1/seasonal clinics being run by the
provincial government.

“It doesn’t make sense for people to be going to the university clinics and the H1N1 clinics. People need H1N1 immunization now,” she said, adding a disclaimer against fears of vaccine dangers.

“This vaccine is as safe and effective as any other vaccine from what we can see. We’ve been vaccinating in the States now for a couple of weeks and haven’t seen anything more drastic than normal.”