COVID-19 Informed Consent
Informed Consent for In-House Practical Hours
During COVID-19 Public Health Crisis
Updated 5/26/2021
This document contains important information about our decision (yours, our staff’s and the Institute’s) to conduct in-house practical hours (practicals) in light of the COVID-19 public health crisis.
Please read this carefully and let us know if you have any questions.
When you sign this document, it will be an official agreement between us. We offer this document to keep you safe and to outline our policies for each of our locations to ensure the highest protective measures possible.
Decision to Meet Face-to-Face
You have requested to attend practicals during a global pandemic and we have consented to offer the training if the following items are agreed upon and taken into consideration. Should there be a resurgence of the pandemic or if other health concerns arise, we reserve the right to change our schedule to ensure the safety of our staff and students. Concerns about meeting in-person should be addressed as soon as possible. Those who are immunocompromised, who have underlying health conditions, or who are at all concerned about the risks of practicals should consult with a physician before attending or simply choose to postpone attendance until they feel safe.
IIH Official Policy On Masks And Social Distancing For In-Person Practicals (updated 5/26/2021):
The CDC has updated its guidelines for Institutions of Higher Education to include continued caution when meeting in groups. Please click the following link to review these updated guidelines. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/colleges-universities/considerations.html
In light of these guidelines, IIH’s official policy is to continue to adhere to the practices that minimize the most risk and create the most safety for our students and staff. Therefore regardless of vaccination status, all students are asked to abide by the following requirements.
MASKS: You will be required to wear masks during all of practicals and the mask must cover your nose and mouth. Instructors may remove masks from time-to-time to project their voices to the entire room from a safe distance away from others. If you feel uncomfortable wearing a mask during practicals then it is best for you to postpone practicals until you feel safe.
SOCIAL DISTANCING INSIDE OF PRACTICALS: To ensure the safety of our students we are adhering to the CDC recommendation of 6 sq ft per person of social distancing space. However, there will be times when you might be closer to others than 6 feet. If you feel uncomfortable with the idea that people might end up closer to you during these events, then you should postpone practicals until you feel safe.
Risks of Attending In-House Practical Hours
You understand that by coming to any location where we hold practicals, you are assuming the risk of exposure to the Coronavirus (or other public health risks) via our staff, other students, the space itself, someone in the building, any of the building facilities including the halls, the restrooms, elevators and stairwells and doors, or simply out on the street. This risk may increase if you travel by public transportation, airplanes, cabs, or ride-sharing services. In agreeing to attend in-house practicals, you also understand and agree to the following:
DAY OF TRAINING WELLNESS CHECK: If you are not feeling well now, please honor yourself and do what you need to do to take care of yourself first, even if this means not attending the training or rescheduling. If you become ill during the training, please notify your instructor immediately and protect others by not attending or leave as soon as you become aware of any symptoms of any illness that might compromise another. Please let us know if your decision necessitates rescheduling or switching classes. We want everyone to have a first-rate experience and leave with only memories, new skills and excitement about this journey.
- On each day of practicals, prior to leaving for class, verify your wellness. You can use the assessment tool at the following link: https://covid19symptomchecker.spectrumhealth.org/welcome
- The results will advise whether it is safe to visit in person or better to self-isolate and / or consult a medical practitioner.
- If you feel that it is not safe for others to be around you in a group setting, then please contact your instructor and / or the school at 800-551-9247 and we will discuss future arrangements with you to complete your training in a safe manner.
ALWAYS ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION: If at any time prior to practicals, you are concerned or feel like you may have any symptom including but not limited to runny nose, fever, lack of taste or smell, nausea, headache, or cough then please do not hesitate to let us know and we can reschedule you for a future class.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING OUTSIDE OF PRACTICALS: We are only conducting practicals in rooms that allow for 6 feet or more of social distancing. Before you arrive for practicals and even entering into our buildings, there is a chance of encountering people not wearing masks or not social distancing. If you feel uncomfortable being around others who may not be able to keep their distance or may not be wearing masks, then you should postpone practicals until you feel safe.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE USE OF MASKS OUTSIDE OF PRACTICALS: Many Counties are under Mandatory Mask orders while in public and we support this practice. Please travel to and from practicals wearing a mask. Please also always wear a mask while in the building including the restrooms, hallways, waiting areas, stairs, and elevators.
BUILDING HVAC SYSTEM: Many buildings share a common HVAC system. We have no way to ensure other people in the building are not releasing into the air something that may travel through the HVAC system into our spaces. If you feel uncomfortable with this, then it is best for you to postpone practicals until you feel safe.
CLEANING / HAND SANITIZER: We will follow CDC guidelines for keeping our spaces clean. The hotels we use are ensuring high safety standards as well. Please bring hand sanitizer, wash your hands often, and point out any issues that could be improved upon. Remember that we are all in this together and we must all act to keep each other safe.
RESTROOMS. You might not able to maintain a 6-foot distance from another person in certain restrooms. We have no way to ensure building management is properly cleaning or maintaining the restrooms to CDC standards for COVID-19. Should you use the restroom prior to or during practicals, you must put your mask back on while in the restroom and while traveling to and from the practicals room. You must properly wash your hands before leaving the restroom and hand sanitize before entering back into the practicals rooms.
TISSUES: The work we do is quite emotional. There will be tears and nasal discharge as a function of crying. Tissues will be provided and collected in disposable bags that you will remove from the practicals rooms and dispose of in the restrooms or outside of the building upon your departure. If you feel uncomfortable packing out your own used tissues, then you should postpone practicals until you feel safe.
Your Responsibility to Minimize Your Exposure
To attend practicals in person, you agree to take certain precautions which will help keep everyone (you, our staff, and our families, other building tenants and patrons, and the general public) safe from exposure. If you do not adhere to these safeguards, it may result in serious consequences for many people and the long-term postponement of in-house practical hours.
- You follow the “Day of Practicals Visit Wellness Assessment” process outlined above prior to each visit and if have any symptoms of COVID-19, you agree to contact us as soon as possible to reschedule until you know that you are safe to be around others.
- You will use alcohol-based hand sanitizer prior to entering practicals.
- You will wear a mask in all areas of the building.
- You will keep as much of a distance as possible while around others and there will be no physical contact between you and others (e.g. no shaking hands, no hugs, no physical anchors, no hypnotic processes that involve touch.)
- You will make your best effort to avoid touching your face or eyes with your bare hands. Tissues will be provided and disposed of properly as described above.
- You will take steps between practicals to minimize your exposure to COVID-19.
- If you believe you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you will let us know immediately.
- If a resident of your home tests positive for COVID-19, you will immediately let us know and we will make decisions accordingly.
- If you test positive for COVID-19 at any point during your active enrollment in the school, you will notify us immediately so we may take appropriate steps.
We reserve the right to modify the above precautions at our own discretion and in response to additional local, county, state or federal orders or guidelines as published. At such time, we will discuss the impact of those changes on your education with us. If you feel uncomfortable agreeing to any of these terms, then you should postpone practicals until you feel safe.
Our Commitment to Minimize Exposure
We are committed to keeping you, our staff, and all of our families safe from the spread of COVID-19. You have our pledge and commitment that we have taken steps both personally and professionally to minimize the risk of contracting and / or spreading COVID-19 in our homes, offices, and practical locations, and will continue to do so as long as necessary. We are happy to share these additional measures with you upon request. Informed Consent
Your signature below acknowledges your acceptance of these terms and conditions and the risks associated with in-house practical hours, as well as your agreement to assume all liability.
If you feel uncomfortable agreeing to any of these terms, please do not move forward with in-house practical hours. Do not sign this form and instead, contact us to make other arrangements.
