Policies | National Park College

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

Academic integrity is a vital element of any learning. NPC faculty hold themselves to the highest standards in this regard and expects their students to do the same. Students who compromise the integrity of academic inquiry are subject to disciplinary action on the part of the College. A violation of academic honesty may include (but is not limited to) the following:

Cheating on written examinations, quizzes or other written work;
Plagiarism—the use of another’s intellectual property (thought, writing, etc.) without proper reference/citation, whether directly quoted or paraphrased;
Giving or receiving unauthorized assistance during a test; or laboratory testing;
Falsification, forgery, or alteration of academic records; and
Obtaining or attempting to obtain copies of a non-circulating examination

Penalties for breaches of academic integrity may include receiving an F for the assignment in question, receiving an F for the course, and/or dismissal from the course. In extreme cases, the administration reserves the right to suspend the student from all studies at the College.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY

NPC, in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Amendments of 1972 Higher Education Act, the American With Disabilities Act of 1990, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or qualified handicap in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This provision includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and other educational services.

It is the policy of National Park College to create inclusive learning environments. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that result in barriers to your inclusion or to accurate assessment of achievement–such as time-limited exams, inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos–please notify the instructor as soon as possible, preferably during the first or second week of class. Then, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the campus Disability Specialist, Robyn Hendrix, to verify disability and to request one or more accommodations. Students should contact the Disability Specialist by telephone at 501-760-4227 (v/tty) or via email at rhendrix2@np.edu.

For more information, visit the Disability Services website.

THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1996

The focus of the Radiologic Technology Program concerning HIPAA is security and privacy of patient information. Following are the rules that each partnership or business associates will institute.

HIPAA Privacy Rule

HIPAA provides national standards to protect individuals’ medical records and other personal health information.
HIPAA gives patients more control over their health information.
HIPAA establishes appropriate safeguards.
HIPAA holds the violators accountable with civil and criminal penalties that can be imposed if they violate patients’ privacy rights.

Privacy regulations were written to protect every patient’s health information in any form:

Written
Oral
Electronic

Security regulations were written to ensure integrity and protect health information from:

Alteration
Destruction
Loss
Disclosure to unauthorized persons

PHI-Protected Health Information applies to individually identifiable health information transmitted or maintained that relates to:

Past, present, or future health conditions
Health care provided
Payment for health care

PHI is any health information by which an individual patient could be identified. There are currently 18 elements of PHI and they are:

Names
All Geographic’s
All dates
Telephone Numbers
Fax numbers
Email addresses
Social Security Numbers
Medical Record Numbers
Health Plan Numbers
Account Numbers
Certificate/License Numbers
Vehicle Ids & Serial Numbers
Device Identifiers
URLs
Internet Protocol Address Numbers
Biometric Identifiers
Photographic Images
Any other unique Number or Code

Use is sharing of PHI within the hospital.

Disclosure is the release of PHI outside the hospital.

Authorization is required for the use and disclosure of health information for reasons other than treatment, payment, and health care operations, or when required by law.

Privacy Practices: The hospital must provide patients with a notice that describes privacy practices and includes:

How they use and disclose PHI
Patient’s rights
Their responsibilities under HIPAA

Minimum Necessary: HIPAA requires hospital to use or disclose the least amount of information necessary to accomplish their job functions. Hospital may designate job classifications for electronic patient folder access.

Need to Know Rule: Before looking at a patient’s PHI ask yourself this question, “Do I need to know this to do my job?” Even doctors and nurses don’t have the right to look at every patient’s medical record. If you need to see patient information to perform your job, you are allowed to do so.

Enforcement: Civil Money Penalties - $100.00 per violation with $25,000 annual cap on violations of any one single requirement and enforced by the Office of Civil Rights. Criminal Penalties - $50,000 to $250,000 in fines and up to 10 years in prison enforced by the Department of Justice.

“Confidentiality is everyone’s job, not everyone’s business.”

THE FAMILY EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT OF 1974

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, commonly known as FERPA, is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Students have specific, protected rights regarding the release of such records and FERPA requires that institutions adhere strictly to these guidelines. Therefore, it is imperative that the faculty and staff have a working knowledge of FERPA guidelines before releasing educational records.

Educational Records

FERPA gives students the following rights regarding educational records:

The right to access educational records kept by the school;

The right to demand educational records be disclosed only with student consent;
The right to amend educational records;
The right to file complaints against the school for disclosing educational records in violation of FERPA.

Students have a right to know about the purpose, content, and location of information kept as a part of their educational records. They also have a right to expect that information in their educational records will be kept confidential unless they give permission to the school to disclose such information. Therefore, it is important to understand how educational records are defined under FERPA. Educational records are defined by FERPA as:

"Records that directly relate to a student and that are maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution."

Educational records are directly related to the student and are either maintained by the school or by a party or organization acting on behalf of the school. Such records may include:

Written documents; (including student advising folders)
Computer media;
Microfilm and microfiche;
Video or audio tapes or CDs;
Film;
Photographs.

Any record that contains personally identifiable information that is directly related to the student is an educational record under FERPA. This information can also include records kept by the school in the form of student files, student system databases kept in storage devices such as servers, or recordings or broadcasts which may include student projects.

NPC SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY

NPC POLICY 7.500

RESPONSIBLE USE SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

National Park College Health Science Division view personal online journals, websites, and web logs positively, and respect the right of students and staff to use them as a medium of self-expression. However, as a responsible health science educational program, the division has ethical, legal and regulatory obligations to protect confidential and proprietary information of students, faculty, staff, and the patients and healthcare agencies that are vital to the clinical educational experiences. In doing so, the Division must ensure that its faculty, staff, and students exercise good judgment and the highest degree professionalism and confidentiality concerning data and information included in online journals and web logs and related online communications ("blogs"). The term, "social media" or "social network" refers to any media, including but not limited to, print, electronic, audio or video, whose purpose is to share, discuss or exchange personal information, pictures, video, and ideas. Students, faculty and staff must be cognizant of the impression they create about NPC, faculty, peers, clinical agencies and patients when they create and/or participate in social media and must ensure that their communication is not causing harm to the College, its faculty and staff, other students or to any hospital (or other health care provider) its staff, patients, members or visitors. Moreover, all social media users must be aware of the legal implications with blogging and/or posting on the blogs of others. When an individual decides to go public with her or her opinions on a social media site, she/he is legally responsible for her/his commentary. Individual bloggers can be held personally liable for any commentary deemed to be defamatory, obscene, proprietary, or libelous. For these reasons, all social media users should exercise extreme caution before including information or data about third parties (anyone other than you). All individuals’ blog or post comments at his or her own risk and should understand that outside parties can pursue legal action for defamatory or libelous postings. Consequently, the guidelines below outline the standards that must be adhered to in connection with Social Media and Social Networks. Where no policy or guidelines exist, individuals and groups should use their professional judgment and take the most prudent action possible to comply with the policies of National Park College, the Health Science Division, clinical agency policies, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and any other applicable laws. Consult with your Division Chairs, faculty, or clinical agencies if you are uncertain. Think before you post. Individuals, if they so choose, are encouraged to participate freely in social media while following the guidelines below:

Students, faculty and staff are strictly prohibited from disclosing any "Confidential Information" including, but not limited to: protected student information, protected patient health information (PHI), information negatively impacting the reputation and well-being of the College, the Health Science Division, faculty, staff, students and the complete privacy of clinical patients and clinical partners on any Social Media or Social Network. That an individual is not physically present at the NPC campus or a clinical site or is not using NPC’s technology while posting a blog does not excuse any breach of confidentiality.
Before anyone publishes, uploads, or disseminates any information, including print, video, audio, and photography, related to the educational experience at NPC, the individual should carefully consider whether the disclosure of such information is prohibited by this policy or any other NPC policy or copyright.
All individuals should carefully consider whether communications on a social media site could be interpreted in such a way as to damage the College’s, faculty’s, staff’s, other students’, or any of our clinical partners’ or patients’ reputations. At no time and under no circumstances should any individual or group state or imply that he, she, or they are speaking on behalf of NPC unless given express authorization to do so by the College’s president or designee.
The identities of the College and our clinical partners are trademarked. No one is authorized to use them without proper consent. Unauthorized use may be considered a violation of this policy and could result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination or separation from the College.
Content placed on the Internet or transmitted via other media including email may not be potentially or actually defamatory, abusing, threatening, harassing, invasive of privacy, or injurious to the College, it’s faculty, staff, students or any of its clinical partners or patients.
No postings including video or pictures, of clinical patients, physicians, families, faculty, staff or other students may be made without their express written consent.
Social Media or Social Network activities should not interfere with work commitments and should not be accessed while being paid by, or using the equipment and property of the College unless such blog posting/social networking are related to the performance of their routine job responsibilities.
Individuals who choose to blog anonymously are also responsible for complying with this policy. Whether they choose to identify themselves or not, individuals are cautioned that they should have no expectation of privacy while posting or blogging on the Internet. Your postings/blogs can be reviewed by anyone, including NPC and its clinical partners. NPC reserves the right to monitor comments about the College, its faculty, staff, and students. NPC reserves the right to use content management tools to monitor, review, or block content on internal postings/blogs that violate the College’s posting/blogging rules and regulations.
Social media is not an appropriate platform for addressing employment and management concerns or academic or clinical concerns and issues. Any such issues are to be addressed directly with the appropriate faculty member, staff member or administrator. Chains of communication are published in student handbooks.

Discipline up to and including course failure may result from any communication that violates this policy.

This policy shall not be interpreted to restrict or interfere with any co-workers' federal or state labor law rights, any applicable rights under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or equivalent state law rights, or any whistleblower protections under federal or state law.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY

Introduction

The Division of Health Sciences recognizes its responsibility to provide a healthy environment within which students may learn and prepare themselves to become members of the Radiologic Technology profession. The Division is committed to protecting the safety, health and welfare of its faculty, staff, and students and people who come into contact with its faculty, staff and students during scheduled learning experiences. The Division strictly prohibits the illicit use, possession, sale, conveyance, distribution and manufacture of illegal drugs, intoxicants, or controlled substances in any amount or in any manner and the abuse of non-prescription and prescription drugs.

Any student who tests positive for illegal, controlled, or abuse-potential substances and who cannot produce a valid and current prescription for the drug is at risk of being in violation.

Furthermore, any student who is aware that another student is using or is in possession of illegal drugs, intoxicants, or controlled substances is obligated to report this information to a faculty member.

The intent of the Substance Policy is not just to identify those students chemically impaired, but also attempts to assist the student in the return to a competent and safe level of practice and to achieve his/her goal of becoming a Radiologic Technologist. Emphasis is on deterrence, education and reintegration. All aspects of the policy are to be conducted in good faith with compassion, dignity and confidentiality.

Further information regarding policies can be found in the NPC Catalog, Student Handbook, and on our policies page.

As a condition of enrollment, each student will sign a Substance Abuse Policy Release Form agreeing to adhere to the Substance Abuse Policy.

TESTING PROCEDURES

When the Testing May Occur:

The Division/Department requires the student to submit to drug testing under any or all of the following circumstances:

On entry to the program: Students with positive drug screens will be denied admission as policy states all students must have clear background checks and drug screens.
Scheduled testing at unannounced designated times throughout the program
Random testing as required by the clinical agencies or the Division
For cause
As part of a substance abuse recovery program

Cost

The approximate cost of each drug screen is $25 to $50, depending on the type of test requested. The individual will pay for testing as required by a recovery program.

Facility

The Division/Department will identify a SAMHSA2 –approved laboratory to perform testing utilizing the agency’s policies. The School may use a Medical Review Officer (MRO) who will review and interpret test results and assure (by actual telephone interview with each donor whose test is lab positive) that no test result is reported as positive unless there is evidence of unauthorized use of substances involved.

Sample Collection

Unobserved specimen collection techniques will adhere to the guidelines in accordance with US Department of Transportation 49 CFR Part 40 following chain of custody protocol.

Substances

Substance-related disorders are listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM-V). Substances of abuse are grouped into eleven classes: alcohol, amphetamines or similarly acting sympathomimetics, caffeine, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, nicotine, opioids, phencyclidine (PCP) or similarly acting arylcyclohexylamines and sedatives, hypnotics or anxiolytics. Testing may include any of these drug categories. The Division/Department shall have the authority to change the panel of tests without notice to include other illegal substances as suggested by local and national reports or circumstances.

Positive Results

Test results will be considered positive if substance levels excluding caffeine and nicotine meet or exceed the established threshold values for both immunoassay screening and gc/ms confirmation studies, and the Medical Review Officer Verification interviews verifies unauthorized use of the substance. Positive tests are run twice to verify substances. Split samples are saved at the original lab and may be sent to another SAMHAS approved lab for additional testing at the student’s expense.

Confidentiality

All testing information, interviews, reports, statements and test results specifically related to the individual are confidential. Drug test results will be received from the lab by the Department Head or Dean of Nursing & Health Sciences or designee, and only authorized persons will be allowed to review this information. Records will be maintained in a safe, locked cabinet and/or password protected electronic database.

Treatment, Referral & Reapplication

The outcome of a positive drug screen may include any of the following: a warning, a learning agreement for behavioral change, referral for evaluation by a certified or licensed alcohol or drug counselor, or immediate dismissal from the program. A positive drug screen of any of the following substances: amphetamines or similarly acting sympathomimetics, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, or phencyclidine (PCP) or similarly acting arylcyclohexylamines will result in immediate dismissal from the program. The Faculty will refer persons identified as having a substance abuse problem for therapeutic counseling regarding substance withdrawal and rehabilitation from a reliable source. (See Attachment C following this policy).

A student will not be denied learning opportunities based on a history of substance abuse. The re-application process for a student who has previously tested positive for substance abuse will include:

Demonstrated attendance at AA or NA for a 6 month period of time or a recognized substance abuse treatment program of choice. Evidence of participation must be sent to the school of Radiologic Technology. Acceptable evidence shall consist of a written record of at least the date of each meeting, the name of each group attended, purpose of the meeting, and the signature of signed initials of the chairperson of each group attended. Acceptable evidence for a treatment program of the student’s choice will be a verifiable completion certificate.
Demonstrate at least 6 months of abstinence immediately prior to application. Testing will be required at the student’s expense.
Demonstrate letters of reference from all employers within the last year.
Once readmitted, the student must sign an agreement to participate in monitoring by random drug screening consistent with the policy of the institution and the clinical agency where assigned client care. The student will pay for testing.
Once readmitted, the student must abstain at all times from the use of controlled or abuse potential substances, including alcohol, except as prescribed by a licensed practitioner from whom medical attention is sought. Student shall inform all licensed practitioners who authorize prescriptions of controlled or abuse potential substances of student’s dependency on controlled or abuse potential substances, and student shall cause all such licensed practitioners to submit a written report identifying the medication, dosage, and the date the medication was prescribed. The prescribing practitioners shall submit the report directly to the Dean of Nursing & Health Sciences or designee within ten (10) days of the date of the prescription.
The student may appeal the decision of the administrative team to the NPC College Student Discipline Committee.

Incident of Reoccurrence

Once, a student has been re-admitted to the program, a positive test for substance abuse will result in dismissal from the program, and ineligibility to return. Furthermore, the student will be ineligible to receive a letter of good standing from the program.

Drug Testing for Cause

Any student, who demonstrates behavioral changes suspected to be related to the use of drugs, including but not limited to alcohol, will be subjected to testing. The faculty member decision to drug test will be drawn from those facts in light of the experience of the observers and may be based on:

observable phenomena such as direct observation of drug use and or physical symptoms or manifestations of being under the influence of a drug
erratic behavior, slurred speech, staggered gait, flushed face, dilated/pinpoint pupils, wide mood swings, and deterioration of work performance
information that a student has caused or contributed to an accident that resulted in injury requiring treatment by a licensed health care professional
conviction by a court, or being found guilty of a drug, alcohol or controlled substance in another legitimate jurisdiction.

Testing will be conducted using the following policy/procedure:

The faculty member will have another faculty member or professional staff to confirm the suspicious behavior.
The student will be asked to leave the area and go with a faculty member and a witness to discuss the situation in a location ensuring privacy and confidentiality. The discussion will be documented, and the decision to drug test will be made.
If warranted, the student will submit appropriate laboratory specimens in accordance with the Substance Abuse Policy and clinical agency policies, if appropriate.
The student will be suspended from all clinical activities until the case has been reviewed by the appropriate personnel or committees, as designated by the Radiologic Technology program.
If the laboratory test is negative for substances classified in the Diagnostic and/or Clinical Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), the student will be allowed to return to class without penalty. Arrangement to make up missed work must be initiated by the student on the first day back to class or clinical (whichever comes first).
If any laboratory test is positive for substances classified in the Diagnostic and/or Clinical Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), the decision may be any one of the following: warning, a learning agreement for behavioral change, referral for medical evaluation, or immediate suspension from the program.
Confidentiality will be maintained.

Substance Abuse Policy Referral List

Quapaw House 501-767-4456

Quapaw House Outpatient 501-767-0051

Bridgeway (North Little Rock) 800-245-0011

Pinnacle Pointe Hospital (Little Rock) 800-880-3322, 501-223-3322

Rivendell Behavioral Health Services800-264-5640, 501-316-1255

Ouachita Chemical Dependency Unit (Camden, AR) 800-232-1289, 870-836-1289

Counseling Services are now available on the NPC campus. Please see the campus nurse for a referral.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Nursing and Allied Health Students (Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care Technology, EMT, Paramedic, Medical Laboratory Technology, and Health Information Technology) will follow the State Regulatory Board and/or the federal regulations regarding the use of medical marijuana.

Admission Drug Testing of Nursing/Allied Health students that test positive for marijuana will not be eligible for admission or will be terminated from the program if “admission”, “for cause” or “random” drug screening is positive for THC/marijuana. This includes students with written certification for use of medical marijuana. According to Act 593 (Medical Marijuana), there are “Safety Sensitive Positions” and Nursing and Allied Health students are included in the “Safety Sensitive Positions”.

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