Leadership at MGH Institute of Health Professions continues to develop contingency plans to address the threat of COVID-19, more commonly known as the coronavirus.

The Institute has established coronavirus task force composed of President Paula Milone-Nuzzo, Associate Vice President for Information Technology, Campus Services, and Compliance Denis Stratford, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Alex Johnson, Vice President for Finance and Administration/Chief Operating Officer Atlas Evans, and Chief Communications Officer Paul Murphy.

Members of the task force are participating in thrice-weekly meetings with colleagues at Partners HealthCare and its affiliates to anticipate possible disruptions and generate a proactive response plan that will ensure the health and safety of the Institute’s faculty, staff, and students.

 “It’s important that we consider and review all the potential scenarios so we can take appropriate action if and when it’s needed,” said Stratford, who is interacting regularly with the Partners Emergency Preparedness team. Plans, if needed, include:

  • Closing the physical campus and having people work from home
  • Moving all classes online
  • Implementing telehealth for clients in the Sanders IMPACT Practice Center and the research labs
  • Developing scenarios for student to complete clinical education requirements
  • Determining ways to offer remote student support services
  • Coordinating campus security upon a closure

The Institute has instructed anyone traveling during Spring Break, which begins after classes finish on March 6, to continue to monitor the changes to the MGH Institute and Partners HealthCare travel policies as well as travel warnings issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Department of State. Travel anywhere outside the United States is strongly discouraged. 

“This is a situation that can change at any time so we recommend that everyone be aware of what the CDC, Department of State, and the World Health Organization are reporting,” said Murphy, who is working with communications colleagues throughout the Partners system. “We will continue to communicate updates to the IHP community as they become available.” 

The IHP has updated its travel ban for business- and academic-related trips to include China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Japan. Additional countries may be added at any time, depending upon the spread of the virus. 

All students, faculty, and staff who travel to these countries are required to fill out the Returning Travel Activity Survey and participate in the PHS Occupational Health Traveler Screening Process, which includes a minimum mandatory 14-day leave of absence before returning to class, clinical education placements, and work. The screening process will be invoked if you travel to or through countries (including layovers) already on the travel ban list, any countries that are added during your trip, or if you are exposed to anyone with the virus in any country.

 Additional information is available on the Partners Pulse Travel Safe page. (Login required.)

You can also view past communications and additional resources on the IHP's coronavirus page.