From the Crow Wing County Public Health Department:
For the latest information on H1N1 Influenza, please call our 24 hour phone hot line at 218-822-7022, or check our website at www.co.crow-wing.mn.us

January 20, 2010

CLC Community:

National health officials and the Minnesota Department of Health are predicting that a third wave of H1N1 will start in February 2010.  To help minimize the impact of the outbreak, both organizations are encouraging everyone to get their H1N1 vaccination.  By getting our H1N1 shots, we have the potential to shorten the event and create less of an impact on our medical facilities.

Campus Health Services has available vaccine for employees and students who are over the age of 18.  There is no charge for the vaccine through Campus Health Services. 

Campus Health Services schedule is:

If you have questions, please let me know.  Thanks.

Kari Christiansen
VP Administrative Services
Central Lakes College

Central Lakes College News:

Employee Notice from Administration: 

 As we approach the flu season and consider the guidance that both the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Minnesota Dept of Health (MDH) are providing regarding the necessity to stay home if you have flu-like symptoms, we felt that we should clarify the sick leave and attendance issues that we may be experiencing. 

 1) The current CDC guidelines indicate that persons that have the H1N1 flu should stay home until their fever has been gone (without medication) for 24 hours.  The typical H1N1 flu lasts 4-7 days.  This is a time when we really must insist that people stay home if they are sick with flu-like symptoms.  Typically, if an employee is out sick for three days or more, they must submit a doctors slip verifying the illness and FMLA applies.  With the H1N1 flu, people are being advised NOT to go to the doctor's office unless they are experiencing more severe symptoms.  Because of this recommendation, we are advising CLC employees that if they are sick with flu-like symptoms, they should stay home and report their absence to their supervisor/dean, but they do NOT need to provide a doctor's slip.  If employees are sick with any other type of illness for 3 or more days, they must continue to provide a doctor's slip and FMLA will apply.  We are not changing our leave policies, but we are providing flexibility by not insisting on a doctor's slip if employees are home with the flu. 

 2)  We are asking supervisors and faculty to be flexible if employees or students are sick with the flu.  We understand the importance of attendance for classes and work, however, in the case of the H1N1 flu, we need to support employees and students staying home.  We encourage faculty and supervisors to talk with their students and employees about the importance of attendance, but also discuss with them how you will work with them in the event they are staying home with the flu.  We need to be flexible and adaptable during this time to ensure the health of our entire college community.

 3)  We have started conversations with supervisors about essential services that need to be performed across the college.  The H1N1 flu has the potential to cause high rates of absenteeism and we need to be prepared to keep CLC open and operational.  We have asked supervisors to discuss with their staff cross training and also to develop a list of temporary help that could be trained to help in critical services.  If we experience high rates of absenteeism, we may be asking staff to work outside of their normal job responsibilities.

 4)  The Deans will be contacting faculty to develop and maintain a sub list for each academic discipline/department. 

 5)  Judy Richer, Dean of Students, will follow up this e-mail with an e-mail to students indicating that CLC will be flexible in working with students on class assignments, etc. should a student be out ill for a period of time.  We would ask that all faculty think about methods to assist students in keeping up with their course work, assignments, etc., have this discussion as a department (where applicable), and also with their students.

 Thank you for your assistance, and please contact us with questions or concerns.  Please anticipate additional conversations with your dean and/or supervisor. 

Kari, Nancy and Suresh

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities:

MnSCU is advising that requests for health care related assistance be directed to the Minnesota Responds Medical Reserve Corps at https://www.mnresponds.org/index.php

MnSCU System Web-Site:  http://www.chancellor.mnscu.edu/employee/pandemic/index.html

State of Minnesota

Department of Health: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/flu/h1n1/

U.S. National Web-Sites:

Center for Disease Control:  http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/

CDC Podcasts:  http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/browse.asp?topic=swine%20flu

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Seasonal Flu Basics (pdf)

How to Manage Influenza Symptoms (pdf)

H1N1 Basic Facts (pdf)

Hand Hygiene (pdf)

Take 3 Steps (pdf)

Cover Your Cough (pdf)

Pandemic Individual & Family Planning Checklist (pdf)

http://www.flu.gov/know.html

Self-evaluation tool for H1N1