Student Information

Overview of Medical Student Programs

Ascension Wisconsin is committed to our communities and providing personalized, compassionate care for all. We are a comprehensive undergraduate medical education program within Ascension Wisconsin, a community-based, faith-driven Catholic health system committed to academic excellence. We proudly partner with schools to help students achieve their educational goals. We are committed to providing quality and meaningful field placement to students to help inspire and enhance their learning experience in hopes that they might become part of Ascension Wisconsin's vision and future.

Student Placements

Student placements are managed through Ascension WI’s database tool called the Electronic Student Clinical Placement Process (ESCPP). All requests must be placed by a school coordinator or designee. Students cannot place requests themselves. The placement process is as follows:

  • Requests are entered into the ESCPP database at least 4 weeks prior to anticipated clinical start date.
  • The Ascension WI Student Placement Coordinator will check if there is an active Master Affiliation Agreement between Ascension WI and the school and if the site will accept placement. The school will then receive notification of acceptance.
  • Affiliation Agreements must be on file for any school before a student can be approved for placement. Please be advised that setting up an affiliation agreement can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. It is advised to contact us early if an agreement is needed. Once placement is accepted, the student and instructor information must be entered by the school coordinator. The school must verify health requirements and complete a criminal background check. Any students with positive background checks must be cleared through the Ascension WI Student Placement Coordinator prior to the start of their clinical experience.

Health Requirements

Health requirements for students/instructors can vary based on site. Please confirm with the school coordinator which requirements are needed for a specific site.

Physical Exam- Physical exams may be required prior to start of the program to include: a health history, physical examination by a physician, physician assistant or an advanced practice nurse prescriber, verifying that the instructor is free of clinically apparent communicable disease.

SEWNA Provision: Physical exam by primary healthcare provider (MD, DO, APNP, PA) is required prior to initial clinical start AND annual history update & verification. Physical Examination to include: Instructor is free of clinically apparent communicable disease, Instructor is able to meet physical demands of the work, i.e. lift 50 pounds, any ADA accommodation requirements, a health history with signed declaration by instructor that the report is correct to the best of their knowledge, annual declaration by instructor that health status is unchanged to the best of their knowledge.

Tuberculosis Test - He/she is free from active tuberculosis as documented by a negative Mantoux skin test or negative chest x-ray (dated after skin test conversion) and is free from signs and symptoms of tuberculosis. Quantiferon TB test acceptable in lieu of annual Mantoux skin test. TB testing is required annually.

Please see the CDC Guidance regarding the timing of TB testing in conjunction with COVID Vaccination.

MMR Vaccination/Immunity - Documented immunity to Rubella, Rubeola, and Mumps (MMR); positive titer or medical documentation of 2 MMRs, 1 month apart, with the 1st dose after the first birthday, and the 2nd dose at least 1 month thereafter.

Varicella Vaccination/Immunity - Documented immunity to Varicella; positive titer or 2 doses of varicella vaccine 4 weeks apart.

Hepatitis B Vaccination/Declination - Have been advised of the risks of Hepatitis B and have either begun the Hepatitis B vaccination series or, in the alternative, have completed the appropriate declination of immunization form.

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination- Have received the seasonal influenza vaccine each year no later than October 31st. (For experiences taking place between September 1st and March 31st ) Please Note: Any reason other than medical contraindication the instructor will not be permitted to participate in a clinical experience. The academic partner is to track compliance with this requirement, and send statistical documentation of the same to the designated Ascension education contact. This documentation should include total number of  clinical participants at an Ascension facility, how many received the vaccine, and how many had a documented medical contraindication to the vaccine. Documentation of shall be on file at the education setting.

Students/Instructors with exemptions to the vaccine are required to wear a surgical mask during the influenza season whenever in buildings where patient care takes place, regardless of whether the student/instructor is a direct patient caregiver or not.

Drug Screen - Drug screens may be required by certain Ascension sites.

SEWNA Provision: A 10-Panel Urine Drug Screen is required prior to initial clinical start.

  • A negative result will require no further screens unless indications of impairment are present, in which case additional screens may be requested.
  • If there is a break in an instructor's employment or the student's enrollment, the urine drug screen will need to be repeated. 
  • If an instructor/student has a current positive drug screen result, they will not be able to participate in a clinical placement. Notice of above must be provided to the Clinical Education Setting.

COVID-19 Vaccine- Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is no longer required by Ascension as a prerequisite for your clinical rotation

 

Background Check Requirements

Each student/instructor is required to have a completed Background Check prior to beginning a clinical placement at Ascension WI. The Background Information Disclosure form can be found here. It is the school's responsibility to complete and appropriately log the results in the individual's record within the ESCPP Database.

Any student or instructor with a finding on the background check must be cleared through the Ascension WI Student Placement Coordinator prior to the start of their clinical experience. Background check materials must be submitted for review at least 4 weeks before the anticipated clinical start date.

Other Requirements

Some placements require a valid and current Basic Life Support certification as issued by the American Heart Association.

Badges

Students should wear their school ID's as a badge for identification during clinical. If a student needs additional badge access, the student/instructor/school should work with the unit or department manager on site to obtain a badge.

IS Access/Assistance

Instructors/Students are provided with their computer access and logins after completing all requirements including the clinical orientation. Access will be sent via an encrypted email to the student or instructor email address as listed in the database within the week prior to the start of a rotation. In the case of a group clinical, logins will be sent to the instructor once the entire group has completed all requirements.

Problems with access, logins, or other technical issues should be forwarded to AIS - please call the appropriate number for your site.

Ascension North/Central (Legacy Ministry and Affinity Sites) - 877-640-1416

Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s – 414-326-2400

Ascension Wheaton Franciscan – 844-587-HELP