Recorded presentation

Gale A. Spencer, RN, PhD, Decker School of Nursing, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, 607-777-6003, gspencer@binghamton.edu and Linda MacKenzie, MS, RN, Univesity Health Service, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000.

In early summer of 2003 at the beginning of the SARS Pandemic, the administration of a public university in upstate New York decided to be proactive and get a head start in developing a campus wide SARS protocol. Because the university has a high proportion of foreign students who come from countries that were considered to have a community transmission of SARS, and who come to campus during the summer before starting their educational programs; and because the faculty of the university often travel to the countries that were considered to have community transmission of SARS; the administration decided to put together a SARS committee charged with developing the campus protocol. The purpose of this presentation is to describe the development of a SARS Protocol for a public university from beginning to completion. This presentation will discuss the development of: the interdisciplinary committee composed of faculty and professional staff; the protocol for students and faculty returning to campus from countries with community transmission of SARS; and the protocol for new international students preparing to come to the university. This presentation will also discuss the concept of developing an isolation suite; the decision process for selection of the site of the suite; and the preparation of the suite to meet health codes. Finally, the presentation will conclude with a description of a test case, which actually was able to put the protocol into action and test its practicality.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the process of creating a SARS protocol for a university campus.
• Explain the rationale for developing an interdisciplinary SARS committee.
• Discuss how the test case tested the practicality of the SARS protocol.

Keywords: Special Issues, Communicable Disease

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation