title: Student health policies of U.S. medical schools.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical students are at risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens, yet few data are available about U.S. medical schools' policies to protect students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of the student affairs deans at the 126 U.S. medical schools was conducted in May 1994. A confidential questionnaire inquired about policies regarding vaccination for hepatitis B virus (HBV), blood and body-fluid exposures, universal precautions training, and health and disability insurance for students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 108 (86%) of the schools participated in the survey. Most (99, 92%) required either HBV vaccination, evidence of immunity, or a signed waiver refusing vaccination. Nearly all (94, 87%) required health insurance, and almost all (101, 94%) offered a plan (at a mean cost of $690 annually), but fewer schools (69, 64%) offered disability insurance. The schools frequently held students responsible for the costs of HBV vaccination (73, 68%), postexposure serologic testing (22, 20%), and treatment of training-related medical problems (43, 40%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most medical schools comply with current recommendations for preventing training-related exposures to bloodborne pathogens, illness, and injury, but students face a substantial financial responsibility for these services at a time when many have large debts. Many schools do not have disability insurance readily available for students. Medical schools should review their student health policies to protect students adequately.
authors.affiliation: Maine Medical Center, Portland, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Diekema
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Albanese
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Densen
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Doebbeling
mesh_terms: D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016134:Organizational Policy; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States