Information for Barry University Supervisors

Attention All Barry University Supervisors:

On August 20, 2009 Human Resources sent out important communication regarding the Novel H1N1 flu virus infection (formerly known as swine flu). H1N1 can cause a wide range of symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with novel H1N1 flu. Like seasonal flu, novel H1N1 flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe.

As supervisors you may need to be more lenient with absenteeism policies if a faculty or staff member is experiencing flu symptoms. As stated previously, the health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff is our top priority, and Barry has been working diligently to help our campus community stay healthy.

If you or any of your staff members are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please follow the CDC guidelines below:

Please do not come to any Barry University campus or satellite site while you are experiencing symptoms. CDC recommends that people with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100° F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.

If you or someone in your department has been diagnosed as a confirmed case of novel H1N1 you must notify Delia Gorrita in Human Resources via telephone at (305) 899-4906. You will be required to give the name of the person infected, date of diagnosis, department, building and room location. The above notification procedures to HR should be followed for any communicable infection/disease. (i.e. novel H1N1, Seasonal Flu, MRSA, etc.) Please know due to privacy laws concerning protected health information Human Resources will not disclose any private health information about an employee to others on campus. Please know we may be required to notify the Public Health Department.

If you are a faculty or staff member and know of a student who has been diagnosed as a confirmed case of novel H1N1 or any communicable infection/disease you must contact the Student Health Center via phone at (305)899-3750. Please know due to privacy laws concerning protected health information, the Barry Student Health Center staff cannot notify faculty or staff members about a student's illness unless they receive a signed release of confidentiality from the student.  Please note notification of illness will only be sent to professors if the student is seen and diagnosed in the Student Health Center.

IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT TAKE IT UPON YOURSELF TO NOTIFY OR COMMUNICATE TO ANYONE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, SCHOOL OR OFFICE (regardless of location on or off campus) IF THERE IS A REPORTED CASE OF H1N1. THE UNIVERSITY HAS STRICT GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING ANY CASES OF H1N1. COMMUNICATION WILL ONLY BE SENT BY THE STUDENT HEALTH CENTER FOR STUDENT INFORMATION OR HUMAN RESOURCES FOR FACULTY AND STAFF.

Faculty, Staff or Students are not required to obtain any special permission to return to work or school. Many individuals who are infected are allowed to return to school or work after they are symptom free for a 24 hour period without the use of fever reducing medications. In addition, not all individuals with flu like symptoms need to be seen by a health care practitioner. Further communication regarding self triage will be distributed by the Student Health Center.