Just heard that a student passed away from Swine Flu

[bluebayou]

<p>

it is likely a state or federal agency WILL give us information as to whether the student had underlying health problems putting him at higher risk.

</p>

<p>Nope. Federal law is really clear. Legally, they can’t even do that if it enables us to figure it out for that specific student. Perhaps s/he was HIV positive, for example. However, when the numbers become large enuf, a public health agency can say, ‘of the 100 cases that we had that were hospitalized, 20 of them had underlying conditions.’</p>

[LaurenTheMom]

<p>It would be enough to know if there was an underlying condition. I don’t need to know the specifics of the condition. But if there is a particularly bad version of the flu going around, or students are not getting the proper treatment, it would be helpful to understand.</p>

[Kim705]

<p>When we moved our daughter into Mews, there was an automatic soap dispenser in the ladies room near her room and it was filled.</p>

[ImTheHost]

<p>because Mews is the newest dorm lol…</p>

[CayugaRed2005]

<p>

if there’s a hand sanitizer right there, I will use it even if I just got of the bathroom and washed my hands. I don’t touch doorknobs, I use my shirt. I will hold doors open with my foot if possible, use elbows to cover my coughs or cough in my shirt. I’m considerate of others too. I don’t shake people’s hands. I keep a hand sanitizer in my backpack all the time and one in my dorm. I always have a bottle of water with me, and always refill it like 4-6 times a day. Always be hydrated.

</p>

<p>You do realize that this level of diligence, if practiced by the entire population, would yield worse health outcomes for everybody?</p>

[countryangel926]

<p>

On a separate note, my daughter was pretty sick with flu-like symptoms the first weekend of school. She tried to call Gannett several times on Sunday, but no one answered.

</p>

<p>I called Gannett one Saturday for another issue, and I got an automated message saying that Gannett is only open Mon-Fri. Really, really frustrating. Not sure if things have changed in light of the swine flu outbreak, but what good is a health center if people can’t get help on the weekends?</p>

<p>

because Mews is the newest dorm lol…

</p>

<p>Balch is pretty old, but there’s always dispensible hand soap in the bathrooms. But there’s no reason why every dorm shouldn’t have it available, especially during flu season.</p>

[ZFanatic]

<p>Donlon has hand soap dispensers in the bathrooms.</p>

<p>The hand dryers don’t always work though… But that’s more of an inconvenience I guess.</p>

[sunnyflorida]

<p>

it is likely a state or federal agency WILL give us information as to whether the student had underlying health problems putting him at higher risk.

Nope. Federal law is really clear. Legally, they can’t even do that if it enables us to figure it out for that specific student. Perhaps s/he was HIV positive, for example. However, when the numbers become large enuf, a public health agency can say, ‘of the 100 cases that we had that were hospitalized, 20 of them had underlying conditions.’

Nope. This is from hhs.gov about public health issues:</p>

<p>

The HIPAA Privacy Rule recognizes the legitimate need for public health authorities and others responsible for ensuring public health and safety to have access to protected health information to carry out their public health mission. The Rule also recognizes that public health reports made by covered entities are an important means of identifying threats to the health and safety of the public at large, as well as individuals. Accordingly, the Rule permits covered entities to disclose protected health information without authorization for specified public health purposes.

</p>

<p>It also goes on to explain

Persons at risk of contracting or spreading a disease. A covered entity may disclose protected health information to a person who is at risk of contracting or spreading a disease or condition if other law authorizes the covered entity to notify such individuals as necessary to carry out public health interventions or investigations.

There are instances when the health of the public outweighs the privacy of the individual.</p>

[mariambaby3]

<p>I don’t know about other dorms, but I can confirm there are liquid hand soap in the bathrooms at Dickson.</p>

<p>As well, there are hand sanitizers at both RPCC and Appel dining hall entrance.</p>

[woody]

<p>D called Gannet the first Sunday of school - she got a call-back, told the nurse her symptoms and then was instructed to take cab to Cayuga Hospital’s walk-in clinic.
Definitely had flu-like symptoms - no follow-up given, ie phone call, etc.</p>

[bluebayou]

<p>sunnyflorida: </p>

<p>

There are instances when the health of the public outweighs the privacy of the individual.

</p>

<p>Indeed, there may be but this is clearly not one of them. I personally don’t disagree with what you posted, alto most lawyers would counsel their clients hospitals and Unis) to err on the side of privacy. But regardless of what we think, what Laurenthemom is seeking is beyond the scope of the quotes you posted.</p>

<p>

The Rule also recognizes that public health reports made by covered entities are an important means of identifying threats to the health and safety of the public at large, as well as individuals.

</p>

<p>Even the President gave a press conference about HIN1 – the public has been forewarned as much as is humanely possible. There is NOTHING to be gained by informing the Cornell community if the deceased student had other complicating issues. Making this single information public will NOT make one iota of difference in carrying out “public health interventions or investigations.” The public health officers are all over these cases – for good reason. Thus, I stand by my laymen’s interpretation. Federal law precludes the dissemination of the information.</p>

[xxJustAMomxx]

<p>I think that at least one of the calls she made on that Sunday was answered with a recording telling her to go to a clinic if she needed medical attention. At that point I think she was more anxious about feeling so poorly instead of really needing to see a doctor or nurse, so I told her to wait it out and call again on Monday if she became worse. It’s just the idea that these kids are basically on their own if they get sick on the weekend, which is completely contradictory to what they said about health care on the tour just the day before.</p>

[ZFanatic]

<p>I’ve been trying to avoid the all you can eat places if I can’t get there like right when they open. haha. I figure by getting there first I can get it while the utensils and stuff are still freshly cleaned. Less likely to have been touched by an infected person if only 10 people have touched it before you instead of 200. lol.</p>

[bluebayou]

<p>Justamom:</p>

<p>There are a couple of Ithaca area walk-in clinics associated with the Cayuga Med center. One is near the airport and is staffed on weekends. They accept normal insurance.</p>

[woody]

<p>Cayuga red “You do realize that this level of diligence, if practiced by the entire population, would yield worse health outcomes for everybody?”
Why would that be so?</p>

[morrismm]

<p>

It’s just the idea that these kids are basically on their own if they get sick on the weekend,

</p>

<p>It’s basically like the rest of us not in college. Or maybe just for us in fairly rural areas. If you are really sick on the weekend, there is a hospital ER and probably other emergency health clinics. Cornell does not just say, “well if you get sick on the weekend you are on your own.”</p>

[MomOfTwoTeens]

<p>There is nothing to be gained by knowing the details of the deceased’s medical history. That information will not prevent others from getting H1N1 nor will it help those who have it. If the family requested that the medical history be kept private, they deserve that respect. </p>

<p>As a Cornell parent, am I scared? Of course, but the best thing to do is to talk with my child about the suggestions mentioned in this thread. </p>

<p>My thoughts and prayers go out to Warren’s family and friends.</p>

[cc102]

<p>there are 2 purell dispensers at trillium - one in between the two doors and one right before the food. almost everyone i see leaving and entering trillium stops at one (or both) and grabs a spritz.</p>

<p>

Cayuga red “You do realize that this level of diligence, if practiced by the entire population, would yield worse health outcomes for everybody?”

Why would that be so?

</p>

<p>bc you’re killing off an unnecessary amount of bacteria, some of which are good for you.</p>

<p>oh, and i had H1N1 and went to gannett. waiting was a pain, but that was to be expected. what’s surprising, though, is that every day after that, i got a follow up call by a nurse to check up on how i was doing, asking about my symptoms. it was nice - and definitely surprising, coming from gannett…</p>

[ZFanatic]

<p>“Why would that be so?”</p>

<p>When you kill every single bacteria, your body decides it doesn’t need to really defend itself and your immune system would kind of go into sleep mode.</p>

<p>Then when you get unlucky and some bug becomes resistant to hand sanitizer and other disinfectants, it gets in you and annihilates you before your body even has a chance.</p>

<p>Being exposed to bacteria on a daily basis helps keep your body on its toes I guess you could say.</p>

[countryangel926]

<p>Yeah, I actually avoid hand sanitizer for that reason and just wash my hands about 58326512635 times a day…any chance I get, lol. I also avoid touching my eyes, nose, etc., and don’t share food or anything like I used to with friends. I had the flu back in January but so far I’m glad to still be healthy!</p>