COVID-19 Care and Testing Protocols

COVID-19 Care

COVID-19 Testing

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the scope of its impact are expanding. Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) asks for your assistance in minimizing risk and utilizing resources in the most efficient manner.  

Your well-being is a top priority, and we want to provide you with as much information as possible to allow you to make informed decisions about your needs and continued clinical care.

Online scheduling has been re-enabled, but we are still not taking walk-ins. We are screening patients for in-clinic appointments only. We have launched telehealth as a measure of providing care while also following public health guidance on social distancing and are launching a process for nurse phone/video appointments.

Please observe care-seeking protocols regarding the following scenarios :

The best advice right now is to stay at least 6 feet apart from people who do not live in your household. Only leave your home for essential activities. Get more information on social distancing, including sanitation.

COVID-19 Testing Requirements

Required COVID-19 testing for new and select returning students

For students involved in clinical care, please follow UCSF Continue to Work-Return to Work Guidelines and call the Student Health Nurse at (415) 476-8736 for COVID-19 assessment and testing recommendations.  

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New Student COVID-19 Testing Instructions:

  1. If you are required to be on campus for any reason, and you DO NOT have an appointment scheduled for COVID-19 testing, please contact 415-476-6407.  Be prepared to provide Program Name and the Program Start Date (e.g. MEPN 06152020).
  2. Due to limited staffing, UCSF will make one attempt to reach you. If the call is missed, please contact 415-476-6407to complete scheduling.
  3. All International Students are required to self-quarantine for 14-days AFTER arriving in the Bay Area.  Contact your educational program for instructions if the first date you are scheduled to be at UCSF is less than 14 days of your arrival.
  4. If you are unable to complete testing at UCSF three (3) days prior to your first day onsite, you will need to arrange for outside testing at your own cost.  

The following information MUST BE provided to UCSF Student Health:

  • Testing MUST BE ordered by a licensed U.S. medical provider 
  • Test date must be 3 to 7 days before you are required to be on campus
  • Test results MUST HAVE the following information:
  • Student Name and Full Date of Birth (DOB)
  • Ordering Provider’s Name and License Number
  • Type of Test (NP or NP/OP Pooled)
  • Date the swab was collected (00/00/2020)
  • Test result
  • Test result date (00/00/2020)

If you have an outside COVID-19 screening result please login to MyHealthRecord and go to the “Immunization Upload” section on the left menu bar, choose “Add immunization record” and press “Save”. Your record will be verified by the nursing staff.

COVID-19 clearance is required before coming to any UCSF onsite location. Your clearance letter will be available on the patient portal after verification by the nursing staff within three (3) business days of receipt.

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Returning/Continuing Student COVID-19 Testing Instructions:

Effective August 15, 2020, Returning/Continuing students who have been away from UCSF campus sites for an extended period will be required to take a baseline COVID-19 test before re-entry. 

  • Returning student is resuming registration after a leave of absence.
  • Continuing student is not new or returning.
  • UCSF Campus Sites are Parnassus Heights, Mission Bay, Mount Zion, and UCSF Affiliates – Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, San Francisco VA Medical Center, Zuckerberg SF General.

Please carefully read the testing criteria and follow the instructions below.

Who should take a baseline COVID test?

Required

Returning/Continuing students who have been away from UCSF campus sites for greater than 30 continuous days between Jun 1, 2020 and Aug 14, 2020.

Exempt

  • Returning/Continuing students who have remained on UCSF campus sites.
  • Program is 100% remote and student will not be expected to come onsite in 2020.
  • You tested negative for COVID after August 1, 2020 and results are filed with UCSF SHCS. You may upload test results at SHCS Student Portal.
  • Students deemed exempt may opt in for a one-time test; exemptions are approved by the education deans in the schools and Graduate Division.

Asymptomatic COVID Testing Procedure

How do I schedule a COVID-19 test?

Initiate a call to UCSF COVID Central Scheduling at 415-476-6407 and give the code “RETURN/CONTINUE STUDENT” to book an appointment. 

  1. Give the scheduler the first date your program expects you to be onsite and provide the code, “RETURN/CONTINUE STUDENT”
  2. Scheduler will calculate your testing window (3 to 7 days prior to your “first date onsite”) and book a testing appointment. 
  3. If your “first date onsite” changes or is incorrect, correct the date and the scheduler will recalculate your testing window and book a testing appointment.

If you are unable to arrange testing through UCSF, you may arrange outside testing at your own cost or at a State of California free testing site, SF pop-up site or Bay Area free testing site.Students must upload proof of negative COVID-19 test 3 days prior to your “first date onsite”; select “Document Upload” from the left menu on the SHCS Student Portal. 

Where do I get my COVID-19 result?

If your COVID test result is negative:

  • Obtain negative COVID test results on your UCSF Health MyChart and on the SHCS Student Portal. Results may take up to 72 hours.
  • Educational programs will be notified of COVID testing compliance.
  • Students may upload test results to the SHCS Student Portal for verification if needed. 

If your COVID test result is positive:

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