PURPOSE / SCOPE:
This policy outlines the requirements to matriculate into ICOM after acceptance.
DEFINITIONS:
- OMS: Osteopathic Medical Student
- OSCE: Objective Structured Clinical Examination
- AACOMAS: American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service
- PAR Committee: Professionalism and Academic Review Committee
POLICY:
All students must meet the following requirements prior to matriculation.
Health, Vaccine, and Immunizations Requirements
All deposited ICOM students are required to provide the following:
- Completed medical history form
- Proof of immunization
- Completed drug screen (as described below)
- Completed physical examination conducted by a licensed physician using an ICOM form.
Students must obtain all ICOM required immunizations and corresponding titers, prior to matriculation and remain compliant with all immunization requirements through graduation. Students must maintain all immunizations as required by ICOM in order to complete all required supervised clinical practice experiences in the osteopathic medical program curriculum. A complete description of all immunization requirements is available in the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Admissions. Details of what is required are also provided in the offer of admissions letter. Entering 1st year students, OMS I, who have not completed all ICOM immunization requirements by the end of the first block may be unable to participate in any laboratory activities including, but not limited to, Gross anatomy lab, OPP labs, Standardized Patient encounters and OSCEs. Non-compliant students may be called to the PAR Committee for review and adjudication.
All students must provide proof of adequate immunization/immunity for the following:
- TB test (completed within 6 months prior to matriculation)
- Tetanus toxoid immunization (Tdap)
- Hepatitis B virus
- Measles (Rubeola), Mumps and Rubella
- Varicella
- Influenza
Note: Some Clinical Sites may require proof of a COVID vaccination or a COVID Vaccination and recent booster. Students without a COVID vaccine may not participate in these clinical settings which may negatively impact the student’s ability to complete the requirements for graduation.
ICOM does not waive immunizations or student health requirements for religious or personal preferences. Exceptions to this requirement based on medical reasons will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Requests should be directed to the Director of Admissions. In some situations, clinical sites may have additional immunization requirements above those required by ICOM and may not consider immunization exemptions for religious or personal preferences.
ICOM may revise the immunization requirements at any time as deemed necessary, and all students will be required to comply with subsequent changes.
Health Insurance
All students are required to have personal health insurance for the duration of their enrollment at ICOM. Students may have insurance through a variety of options including insurance through parents, spouses, or health exchanges.
To ensure students have access to a comprehensive plan, ICOM has implemented a student health insurance plan through Aetna Health. Prior to matriculation, students must provide Proof of Health Insurance through the Health Insurance Waiver portal or enroll in ICOM’s Health Insurance. Through a dedicated ICOM website, https://app.hsac.com/ICOM, students can learn more about the benefits of the plan as well as the waiver process.
Criminal Background Checks
ICOM applicants are required to self-disclose any charges, arrests, or convictions including misdemeanors, felonies, deferred adjudications, traffic violations, court martial, military nonjudicial punishments and general or less than honorable discharge from the military, (all hereinafter: “offenses”) with the understanding that non-disclosure/falsification may result in the revocation of the offer of admission from ICOM. If prior offenses are not reported but are discovered after matriculation, a student may receive sanctions, up to and including dismissal from the program. If a student has any offenses pending final adjudication, it is the student’s responsibility to immediately inform ICOM.
Additionally, in response to requirements in the professional practice environment, and to minimize the risk to patients, a criminal background check will be completed on all accepted applicants prior to matriculation, and on any student whose actions could potentially be considered a risk to others at any time.
Should any offenses, including deferred adjudications, occur after matriculation, the student must report the incident to ICOM within 30 days of the incident. Following review, disciplinary action may be instituted, up to and including dismissal from the program.
A background check may be done prior to clinical rotations, and all results are shared with the clinical site. By accepting admission to ICOM and matriculating, the student agrees that ICOM will share background check information in full of the student’s respective clinical site(s). Additional background checks may be performed at the discretion of ICOM or its patterning institution before accepting a student into a clinical rotation. Background checks revealing prior criminal activity may result in consequences affecting clinical rotations, acceptance into residency programs, future licensing, specialty board certification, and/or employment opportunities. ICOM cannot be held accountable for the clinical facility declining the student. If a student cannot be placed successfully in a clinical setting and is not able to complete rotations due to the inability to pass background check requirements the student will not be able to meet the requirements for graduation.
ICOM has no control over the content of third-party background checks, which may include charges of driving under the influence. Even expunged records may appear on these checks. Background checks revealing prior offenses, even charges which may have been dismissed by the courts, could still result in consequences affecting clinical rotations, acceptance into residency programs, future licensing, specialty board certification, and/or employment opportunities.
Students are advised to contact the licensure boards to seek advice regarding eligibility for licensure and requirements needed to progress in a health profession in the state where they intend to practice ensuring the aforementioned offense will not prevent them from becoming licensed in that state in the future.
All current or former students returning from an approved extended period away from ICOM, such as a leave of absence (per policy, termed withdrawal with intent to return) or an offer to repeat an academic year, may be required to submit an updated background check, and must notify ICOM in writing of any offenses, including deferred adjudications, at least sixty (60) days prior to the anticipated return date. An offense occurring less than sixty (60) days prior to the anticipated return date must be reported to the Director of Student Affairs within 24 hours of the offense. Non-disclosure or falsification of any related information may result in the revocation of the offer to return to ICOM, or if already returned to ICOM, referral to the PAR Committee for possible sanctions up to, and including, dismissal from the program.
ICOM retains the right to relinquish the seat of any current or former student returning from an extended absence if they have been criminally charged or convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or traffic violation. Students who have already resumed classes following an extended absence, may be referred to the PAR Committee for sanctions, up to and including dismissal from the program. As future physicians, students are held to a high standard of professionalism, ethics, and honor, and ICOM has a duty to protect the public from potential harm by its students.
All current or former students returning from an approved period away from ICOM, such as a leave of absence (per policy termed withdrawal with intent to return) or an offer to repeat an academic year, minimally must submit a completed Secondary Application, national background check, and controlled substance screen within a timeframe designated by ICOM, but no later than sixty (60) days prior to the anticipated return date. Additional requirements, such as a psychiatric evaluation, may be placed on returning students as deemed appropriate.
Students who do not return on the approved date, or otherwise do not fulfill all the requirements for return, will need to re-apply through AACOMAS and will not be guaranteed re-admission.
Basic Life Support Skills
ICOM students will be required to have Basic Life Support training prior to matriculation. Each student must provide a copy of his or her BLS Certification card documenting successful completion of a Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers course. ICOM will only accept courses authorized through the American Heart Association.
Substance Abuse Screening
Pre-Matriculation
In response to requirements in the professional practice environment and to minimize the risk to patients, a controlled substance screening must be completed by all accepted applicants prior to matriculation. This screening must meet ICOM’s standards and be conducted by an agency approved by ICOM. Any substance-related incident which occurs before matriculation, including, but not limited to, charges/arrests for driving under the influence, must be reported by the student to the ICOM Office of Student Affairs within 30 days of the occurrence. Following review, the student’s acceptance may be rescinded. If the test result is positive (e.g. evidence of a controlled substance) or shows other abnormalities including, but not limited, to excessively dilute urine, the Dean will appoint an ad hoc committee consisting of members of the ICOM Admissions Committee to review the test results and the application for admission. Controlled substance screening results are viewed in light of Idaho and federal laws governing illegal or controlled substances. Depending on the recommendation of the ad hoc committee, the student’s acceptance may be rescinded. For example, although the use of marijuana is legal in some states, the US Federal Drug Enforcement Agency lists it as an illegal drug. Its use or abuse impairs the ability of a healthcare professional to provide optimal care to his or her patients. As such, the use of marijuana in any form is a violation of ICOM policy.
By signing the attestation confirming that students have read and acknowledge compliance with the precepts contained in the ICOM Student Handbook and Academic Bulletin, each applicant to ICOM promises he/she is not currently using, and that he/she will not use while an ICOM student, any products or substances in any manner which are illegal in the state of Idaho.
Post-Matriculation
Any substance-related incident which occurs after matriculation, including, but not limited to, charges/arrests for driving under the influence, must be reported by the student to the ICOM Office of Student Affairs within 30 days of the occurrence. Following review, disciplinary action may be instituted, up to and including dismissal from the program.
A controlled substance screening is required prior to starting clinical rotations, and all results are shared with the clinical sites. Additional screenings may be required, at any time, at the discretion of ICOM or partnering-institutions. By accepting admission to ICOM and matriculating, the student agrees that ICOM may share controlled substance screening results as deemed necessary.
ICOM has no control over the content of third-party background checks, which may include charges of driving under the influence. Even expunged records may appear on these checks. Background checks revealing prior Offenses, even Offenses which may have been dismissed by the courts, could still result in consequences affecting clinical rotations, acceptance into residency programs, future licensing, specialty board certification, and/or employment opportunities.
If the test result is positive (e.g. evidence of a controlled substance) or shows other abnormalities including, but not limited, to excessively dilute urine, the Dean will appoint an ad hoc committee consisting of members of the ICOM PAR Committee to review the test results and the student’s continued enrollment as an ICOM student. Controlled substance screening results are viewed in light of Idaho and federal laws governing illegal or controlled substances. A more detailed description of ICOM’s Substance Abuse Screening Protocol is found elsewhere in the Student Handbook.
Transcripts
All ICOM students are required to provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended if they have course work that was not included with the transcripts submitted through AACOMAS. All transcripts are included in the student’s application, so ICOM only needs official transcripts from coursework not verified in the AACOMAS application. All students must submit the required paperwork by the published deadlines. Failure to submit the information may result in the offer of admission being rescinded. Falsification of any document or omission of any pertinent information may result in dismissal if discovered after matriculation.
Medical Equipment
Required medical instruments can be purchased individually or through one of the medical equipment companies who have partnered with ICOM. The necessary medical equipment is as
follows:
- Stethoscope
- Reflex Hammer
- Otoscope and Ophthalmoscope
- Sphygmomanometer
- Tuning fork and monofilament
- Hip length white coat
PRIMARY POLICY OWNER:
Associate Dean for Student Services
Director of Admissions
APPROVAL:
Effective: 8/16/21
Last Reviewed: 3/30/23
Review Requirement: 3 Years