Frequently Asked Questions

The following are some of the most frequently asked questions related to compliance requirements and the compliance process. Have a question you don't see listed? Please refer to your specific program's compliance resource page, compliance guide, and compliance overview training video library. You can also reach out to your OCPC Compliance Specialist at ocpc.compliance@uconn.edu.

What is compliance and how do I become compliant?

In our context, "compliance" refers to the set of requirements you must satisfy to be cleared for placement in a clinical or field setting. Requirements vary by program and include things like immunizations, titers, and other health screenings; background checks and drug screens; trainings and certifications; and forms. You must submit documentation of meeting all requirements to ADB/Complio and, once you've met each individual requirement, you'll be considered compliant overall. For details about your program's specific requirements and timeline, refer to your program-specific Compliance Overview Training and Compliance Guide. Find your program's dedicated page with training resources and other helpful information by going to our Students page.

How will OCPC contact me?

All compliance-related emails will be sent by OCPC to your UConn email. Please be sure you are checking your email frequently, even during breaks. This is also where all communications from ADB/Complio will be sent. It is your responsibility to monitor your inbox and respond to all notices in a timely fashion.

What is American Databank/Complio and how do I sign up?

American Databank (ADB) / Complio is the third-party compliance platform all clinical and field programs at UConn use to track student compliance. American Databank (or ADB) is the company, and Complio is the platform. If you're a matriculated UConn student, you should be able to sign into American DataBank/Complio by visiting http://adb.uconn.edu and logging in with your UConn netID and password. If you're having difficulty logging in, please let OCPC know right away by emailing ocpc.compliance@uconn.edu. Once you've signed into your ADB/Complio account and set up your profile, you'll then be able to order the appropriate package(s) for your program. Please refer to your program's Quick Start Video for details about what to purchase and when (find your program's page and Compliance Overview Training library on our Students page).

What happens if I don’t meet my compliance requirements on-time?

If you do not meet your compliance requirements on-time, you may be delayed in starting your scheduled placement(s). You will not be permitted to begin a placement until all compliance requirements are met, and you will be removed from your placement if your compliance lapses. It is your responsibility to plan ahead and make arrangements to complete your requirements by your program's deadlines. It is also your responsibility to monitor your compliance throughout your program and take proactive steps to avoid a compliance lapse.

I’m very busy. How can I complete my requirements?

We know that everyone's schedules are very busy. However, compliance is non-negotiable and must be completed on-time for you to move forward in your program. Advance planning is essential--but sometimes you also need to be creative in your approach, particularly if your primary care provider is hard to schedule. You can complete your physical exam with your primary care provider, Student Health & Wellness, or an urgent care/MinuteClinic provider.  A provider will also need to order the bloodwork for your required titers, which you'll complete by going to the provider's designated lab for the blood draw. You can usually receive standard immunization boosters and your annual flu shot at most pharmacies (which often have flexible scheduling).

I submitted my records when I was admitted to UConn. Why do I have to submit more documents or complete more requirements?

Any documents you may have submitted when you entered UConn were to satisfy campus health standards. Requirements for clinical/field placements differ and, in many cases, the threshold is much higher because of the nature of the work you will be doing with patients/clients in the clinical/field setting. Anything you submitted to Student Health & Wellness upon admission is completely separate from your compliance requirements, and the two systems do not talk to each other for privacy reasons.

I have received all of my vaccinations. Why isn’t my vaccination record sufficient for compliance?

Compliance standards for students in clinical and field placement programs are considerably higher than those for the general population. Documentation of prior vaccination is not sufficient for compliance in MMR, Varicella, and Hepatitis B categories. Instead, you must document positive titers (a type of blood test) to demonstrate immunity to those illnesses. Any negative titer will require booster(s) and a repeat titer on the appropriate schedule.

What form should I use for my physical exam?

You must use the Physical Exam form provided in the Clinical & Field Student Health Forms packet. You can access the updated version of the physical exam at http://ocpc.office.uconn.edu/Physical. Note that all fields are required for all programs, including Color Vision Screening and medical clearance for N95 fitting.

My provider could not complete Color Vision Screening during my Physical Exam. What should I do?

If your provider cannot complete Color Vision Screening as part of your Physical Exam, you can use our self-assessment tool in HuskyCT to generate a certificate you can then submit to ADB/Complio along with your Physical Exam form. To access the assessment, follow these steps:

  1. Log into HuskyCT
  2. Click on "Organizations" in the left-hand menu
  3. Click "Organization Catalog" in the top right corner of the page
  4. Enter "Color Vision Screening for Clinical/Field Students" in the search box
  5. Click "Go"
  6. Click on the organization
  7. Follow the prompts to enroll in the organization and complete the assessment

Once you've completed the assessment, download your certificate of completion and submit along with your Physical Exam form in ADB/Complio. Please let your designated OCPC compliance staff member know when this is complete as they will need to enter a manual approval for your physical exam category.

What are titers and where do I get my blood drawn for them?

Titers are blood tests that check for antibodies your body has built up in response to vaccines or past disease. A positive titer indicates immunity while a negative titer indicates a lack of immunity. For compliance items that require titers (MMR, Varicella, and Hepatitis B), your healthcare provider will need to order the specific bloodwork and instruct you about where to go for the blood draw based on practice affiliations. Make sure you know how and when you will receive lab reports with your quantitative titer results as these lab reports are what you will submit to ADB/Complio. Lab reports must include either qualitative results or quantitative results with reference range.

What happens if I have a negative titer?

If you have a negative titer, you will need to receive required booster(s) and have a repeat titer on the appropriate schedule. Please plan ahead for wait times between boosters and repeat titers and keep these schedules in mind when working on your requirements. For details on the timelines and steps for each requirement, please refer to the video episodes for each requirement, available in your program's Compliance Overview Training playlist (find your program page via our Students page). If you have any questions about what next steps you need to take for any requirement, please reach out to your compliance specialist at ocpc.compliance@uconn.edu (include your program and graduation year in the subject line).

What is a non-responder?

A non-responder is a person whose body does not convert a vaccine into measurable immunity. Under UConn policy, you will be considered a non-responder for a specific immunization when you have an initial negative or equivocal primary titer, repeat all recommended immunizations (boosters), and have a negative or equivocal repeat titer. In this case, your provider will complete a non-responder form, which you will upload to ADB/Complio under the appropriate category/requirement. In order for your non-responder submission to be approved, you must document all previous steps. OCPC will review your form and notify your program so that everyone is aware of your non-responder status for placement purposes. It’s important for you to be aware of your non-responder status as well so that you can protect yourself from possible exposure in the clinical or field setting.

What do I do if I have a religious concern about immunizations?

It has been UConn’s experience that clinical and field placement agencies will not accept a religious exemption form in lieu of proof of immunity or immunization and will deny placements to any student who fails to provide such proof. If you have a question about requesting an exemption from certain immunization requirements due to religious reasons, please start by speaking with your program's clinical/field placement coordinator.

My program requires a two-step PPD for my Tuberculosis requirement. What is a two-step PPD?

All UConn programs have an annual Tuberculosis (TB) requirement, meaning that you will need to prove that you are free from an active TB infection each year. For all programs, the preferred method of doing this is a QuantiFERON blood test, which requires a single visit to your provider for bloodwork. Alternatively, you may use the Mantoux PPD Skin Test method to satisfy your TB requirement. PPD requirements vary by program, with some programs requiring a single-step PPD and others a two-step PPD. If your program requires a two-step PPD, that means that you'll complete two separate PPD skin tests 7-21 days apart. You'll need to follow these steps:

  • Provider Visit #1 - Implant PPD #1
  • Wait 48-72 hours
  • Provider Visit #2 - Read PPD #1
  • Wait 7-21 days from date of first test implant
  • Provider Visit #3 - Implant PPD #2
  • Wait 48-72 hours
  • Provider Visit #4 - Read PPD #2

Upload documentation showing implant, read, and result information for each PPD to your ADB/Complio account.

Please refer to your program-specific Compliance Overview Training and Compliance Guide for more details and deadlines for your TB requirement. Find the training resources for your program by visiting our Students page.

I have a concern about a potential flag on my background check or drug screen. What should I do?

A “flag” on a background check or drug screen alerts you to a problem that will need your attention. For drug screens, the flag can indicate the presence of a tested substance or an issue within the screening process or the urine sample (e.g., negative dilute or inadequate sample). For background checks, the flag can indicate the presence of a criminal record, a pending charge, an issue with the background check process, or a need for additional information. Please reach out to clinicalcasemanager@uconn.edu right away to discuss any concerns about potential flags on a background check or drug screen. Note that discussing your concern with the Clinical Case Manager does not mean that the outcome of your background check or drug screen will be automatically acceptable for your program.

What do I do if I’m notified of a flag on my background check?

If your background check is completed and you’re notified of a flag, it is your responsibility to reach out to clinicalcasemanager@uconn.edu to discuss right away and begin the resolution process. Depending on the nature of the flag, you may have to provide additional documentation or repeat the background check (at your own expense).

What happens if I have a flag on my drug screen? Who pays for a re-test?

If you complete your drug screen and are notified that you have a flag of any kind, you must reach out to clinicalcasemanager@uconn.edu to review the flag right away. If your drug screen is positive for a tested substance, the Clinical Case Manager will work with you and/or your program to determine next steps. If your first test was flagged as a negative dilute or inadequate sample, you will be required to immediately complete a second drug screen at your own expense. As the student, you have an affirmative responsibility to check for the results of your drug screen and take necessary steps following any flags, including reaching out to clinicalcasemanager@uconn.edu.

Students who are required to immediately complete a second drug screen must purchase a new drug screen in ADB/Complio and complete the second drug screen at your selected site within three days. It is imperative for you to reach out to clinicalcasemanager@uconn.edu as soon as possible if you need to complete a second drug screen. If you are notified of the flag before noon, that day counts as day one of the three-day re-test window. Sundays and state holidays are excluded from the three-day calculation. You're allowed two attempts to pass the drug screen. For example, if your first test is flagged as a negative dilute and your second test is flagged as an inadequate sample, you will be deemed to have failed your required drug screen and the result will be disclosed to your program. You will not be able to proceed with placement.

Please review important information about the drug screen process and avoiding flags at http://ocpc.office.uconn.edu/DS.

My drug screen came back as a negative dilute. What is this and what do I do?

A negative dilute most often indicates overhydration, likely resulting from your desire to easily produce the required urine sample. Please make sure not to overhydrate prior to your drug screen as a diluted sample will result in a flagged order. Under UConn policy, if your drug screen is flagged as a negative dilute, you must immediately complete a second drug screen. Students who are required to immediately complete a second drug screen must purchase a new drug screen in ADB/Complio and complete the second drug screen at your selected site within three days. It is imperative for you to reach out to clinicalcasemanager@uconn.edu as soon as possible if you need to complete a second drug screen. If you are notified of the first test’s flag before noon, that day counts as day one of the three-day re-test window. Sundays and state holidays are excluded from the three-day calculation. You're allowed two attempts to pass the drug screen. For example, if your first test is flagged as a negative dilute and your second test is flagged as an inadequate sample, you will be deemed to have failed your required drug screen and the result will be disclosed to your program. You will not be able to proceed with placement.

How does the legalization of recreational marijuana impact my required drug screen?

This is an official notice that although the recreational use of marijuana is now legal in Connecticut and other states, UConn is required to continue testing for the presence of marijuana and to share drug test results that are positive for marijuana with placement agencies. There has been no indication that agencies will be revising their drug testing requirements. As such, it is most likely that agencies will deem drug test results that are positive for marijuana (including marijuana used for medical purposes with a valid prescription) as failing to meet their drug testing requirements. UConn Programs are not responsible for arranging placements for students who are unable to meet an agency’s requirements. Additionally, even if such an agencycan be identified, there is no guarantee that a student who has tested positive for marijuana can be placed at that specific agency. Students who do have a prescription for medical use of marijuana are strongly encouraged to inform the clinical case manager in advance of the drug screen. Please also be aware that, under some contracts between UConn and agencies, the agency can require random drug screens of students placed at the agency at any time without giving notice to UConn or to the student. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to clinicalcasemanager@uconn.edu.

What if my name changes or I have had a recent name change?

If you have had a name change in the past seven years for any reason, you should enter your current legal name into your ADB/Complio profile as your primary name and any previous/former names as aliases. This will allow the review team to accept documents in your primary and any alias names. To add an alias, log into your ADB/Complio account at http://adb.uconn.edu and click “Edit Profile” to open your account details. Check the “I have an Alias or Maiden Name” box and then enter your alias information into the boxes that appear. Click the “Add Alias” button to save. You will have the option to add another if necessary.

For purposes of your background check, please make sure that your primary name in ADB/Complio matches exactly the name on your social security card. If it does not, you will likely have a flag on your background check and will need to complete a new one at your own expense.

For purposes of your drug screen (if required for your program), please make sure that the name on the order matches your government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver’s license). Should this be a problem for any reason, please reach out to ADB/Complio and they can help you update the name on your drug screen order.

Do I need to do an international background check?

If you have lived internationally (outside the U.S.) for 90+ consecutive days in the last seven years, you must order an International Criminal Background Check through ADB/Complio in addition to your other required background check component(s). For all programs, this can be found as an à la carte item on the ADB/Complio order screen. The base price of an international background check is $20.00 with additional fees varying by country. If your time spent abroad was exclusively on a U.S. military ship and/or base, you do not need to complete an additional international background check.

Which CPR certification is accepted? Where do I find a CPR class?

If your program requires that you hold current CPR certification, your certification must be American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) or National EMT Certification. Alternate certifications are not accepted. If you're looking for a CPR course, we recommend starting at the American Heart Association website where you can search for BLS courses in your area.

What if my placement is remote?

Because clinical and field placements are all governed by legal contracts between UConn and the individual agency, the modality of the placement does not affect compliance requirements. All compliance requirements apply equally to in-person and remote placements. If your placement is remote and your compliance lapses, you will still be removed from your placement until you have regained compliance.

I’m employed at my placement agency. How does that affect my requirements?

The short answer is that employment at an agency has no bearing on your compliance requirements. When you are at the agency earning hours or completing work toward your program, you are there as a UConn student and not as an employee. UConn's legal contract with the agency applies for all students regardless of employment status. You should also be aware that many agencies have different requirements for their employees than for students completing a placement. For example, even if an agency does not require its employees to have an annual Seasonal Influenza Vaccine, it's likely that students placed there must fulfill that requirement.