As a general rule, State of Wisconsin employees (including Medical School faculty, staff, and student employees), acting within the scope of their employment or responsibilities, are covered for liability protection through the State of Wisconsin Self Funded Liability Plan. Any work that is not a typical day-to-day duty, such as volunteer medical care, teaching or research outside the U.S., must be:

Approved by the employee's department Chair or Dean prior to departure. Chair or Dean's approval must be documented in writing and indicate the date, location and nature of the services being provided. Electronic communication is considered acceptable documentation of approval.

UW volunteer (zero dollar) faculty and staff who participate in international teaching, research, or service activities must have primary liability coverage through their own employer's policy, or carry personal professional liability protection. The State of Wisconsin Self Funded Liability Plan provides secondary coverage if the activity has been approved in writing by the department or school in which the faculty or staff person holds a volunteer appointment.

Retired UW faculty and staff members who maintain volunteer appointments have primary liability coverage through the state liability plan provided that 1) the international work done is under the direction and control of the UW; and 2) written approval has been obtained by the sponsoring department or school.

Note that automatic medical evacuation coverage is not provided by the University of Wisconsin for volunteer or retired faculty unless travel is authorized by and at the expense of the University and the volunteer is conducting business or research on behalf of the University.

The UW System CISI medical and evacuation insurance may be purchased for $30 per month by faculty or staff engaged in UW-sponsored educational activities abroad. It is required for students engaged in for-credit study abroad. Information is available from the UW Office of Risk Management,

Community health professionals who are not UW paid or volunteer (zero dollar) employees, but who wish to participate in UW-sponsored international health activities outside the U.S., must obtain a volunteer faculty appointment and written authorization for participation by the appropriate school or department prior to undertaking such activities. Liability coverage is provided as stated for volunteer (zero dollar) employees.

Note that automatic medical evacuation coverage is not provided by the University of Wisconsin for volunteer faculty unless travel is authorized by and at the expense of the University and the volunteer is conducting business or research on behalf of the University.

Approved by the employee's department Chair or Dean prior to departure. Chair or Dean's approval must be documented in writing and indicate the date, location and nature of the services being provided. Electronic communication is considered acceptable documentation of approval.

Health science faculty and staff undertaking international work-related travel are required to follow established travel reporting and approval procedures in their respective schools or departments and utilize forms developed for such purposes.

No. However, faculty and staff are advised to carefully review the risks of travel to countries where Department of State or Centers for Disease Control travel warnings have been issued. The University of Wisconsin cannot guarantee the health and safety of its employees or students traveling abroad.

The Medical School Office of Academic Affairs will review plans on a case-by-case basis for medical students undertaking electives or UW faculty-led groups of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to countries with U.S. Department of State or Centers for Disease Control travel warnings. Permission may be denied. Participants are required to sign the UW System Uniform Statement of Responsibility (liability waiver).

6. What is the State of Wisconsin evacuation and repatriation insurance policy (MEDEX)?MEDEX is a program provided at no cost to State of Wisconsin (including University) employees while traveling abroad in the course and scope of their employment. Coverage is not provided for family members or for University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinic employees who are not employed by the State of Wisconsin. This travel insurance program provides medical emergency assistance for worldwide travel while on business. MEDEX is designed to ensure the availability of competent health care as promptly as possible in situations where health care may not be available or is not up to US standards.

Students are covered only when traveling as an employee and when expenses are authorized and paid for by the University. University employees are defined as anyone on University payroll and/or on official leave due to being granted a sabbatical. Unpaid volunteer (zero dollar faculty and staff) could be covered, but only if travel is authorized by and at the expense of the University and the volunteer is conducting business or research on behalf of the University.

Coverage begins upon arrival at the site of first touchdown, and is within 72 hours of beginning one's employment at the jobsite. Coverage is also included for up to 72 hours of personal excursion before, during, and after a business trip. If additional time is needed for personal travel the employee may purchase additional coverage through a travel assistance provider.

The University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics (UWHC) professional liability policy provides coverage for employees engaged in international clinical, research, and service related pursuits anywhere in the world provided a claim for damages or legal action is filed, commenced and concluded in the United States of America, its territories or possessions, Puerto Rico, or Canada. Employees of UWHC must be performing duties on behalf of the hospital or within the scope of their residency or fellowship program.

UWHC staff employees are required to discuss international travel plans with their supervisor and to submit a Request for Leave of Absence form, signed by the supervisor, to the Human Resources Department for approval prior to departure.

Housestaff (residents and fellows) planning international rotations are required to submit a written request from their graduate medical education program director to the UWHC Housestaff Office administrator. The letter should describe the proposed rotation experience, supervision arrangements, and dates of leave, and specifically request continuation of salary support and liability coverage. The Housestaff Office and UWHC General Counsel will review all requests.

Group international activities such as medical service trips that include UWHC employees or housestaff must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate UWHC supervisor(s) and Graduate Medical Education program director(s), in addition to the department Chair(s).

UWHC employees are strongly advised to carry personal medical and evacuation insurance which provides emergency coverage for international travel. Employees are advised to check the applicability of their personal medical insurance coverage while traveling outside the country.

The CISI and MEDEX insurance policies offered by the State of Wisconsin and the UW are not available for purchase from the State or the UW by UWHC employees except in cases where travel is authorized by and at the expense of the University and the volunteer is conducting business or research on behalf of the University.

UW faculty and staff conducting or supervising group study tour, education, research, or medical service programs abroad as UW approved activities are required to comply with the UW System Policy Guidelines for the Conduct of International Programs. The System guidelines apply to all student, faculty and staff participants and include requirements for disclosure of health and safety risks, pre-departure orientation, insurance, emergency procedures, financial management, and participant and sponsor responsibilities. Designated faculty leader(s) and their departments are expected to advise participants of requirements and risks of participation in sponsored programs.

The Chair or Dean of the sponsoring department or school should approve faculty-led group programs no less than three months prior to the planned departure. Group international activities for which students will receive University of Wisconsin credit must be reviewed and approved by the Global Health Programs office in the Medical School Office of Academic Affairs.

The Center for Global Health office of the Medical School Office of Academic Affairs will review plans on a case-by-case basis for UW faculty-led groups of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to countries with U.S. State Department or Centers for Disease Control travel warnings. Permission may be denied. Participants are required to sign the UW System Uniform Statement of Responsibility (liability waiver).

Group international activities such as medical service trips that include UWHC employees or housestaff must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate UWHC supervisor(s) and Graduate Medical Education program director(s), in addition to the department Chair(s).

State liability coverage applies to students engaged in approved educational activities performed under the direction and control of the UW. Most health science international experiences such as clinical or research electives are undertaken at sites that are not under direct UW control. At the present time UW Legal Services advises health sciences schools to presume coverage for students completing required clinical or research training, e.g. fourth year electives, in approved programs abroad.

Approval for electives in countries where the Department of State or the CDC has issued travel warnings will be reviewed case-by-case by the Office of Academic Affairs in consultation with the State Department, CDC, UW, and site authorities. Approval may be denied. In the event a warning is issued while the student is abroad, determination of the appropriate action will be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the student, supervising preceptors, UW Office of International Studies and Programs and State Department officials.

All UW students undertaking for credit study abroad are required to purchase the UW System medical/evacuation insurance policy (CISI) for the duration of the elective and provide verification of purchase prior to departure. Other insurance plans may not be substituted. The CISI insurance policy must be purchased through either the Center for Global Health, 4230A HSLC, 750 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, 262-3862 or the UW Office of Risk Management at

All medical studentIn addition to my health plan's travel clinic, what resources are recommended for information about travel health and safety?s undertaking for-credit clinical, research, or public health electives outside the US must meet the requirements stated below.

Gather information concerning any in-country political problems, safety concerns, or health hazards by consulting current State Department announcements and publications, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) information, and the sponsoring site.

Submit a letter from the in-country faculty supervisor confirming the dates of elective, including a description of educational activities, on-site supervision, financial obligations and housing arrangements. Obtain elective course approval from the Director of International Health and complete registration.

Sign and submit the University of Wisconsin System Uniform Statement of Responsibility, Release, and Authorization to participate in study abroad and exchange programs prior to departure which establishes informed consent, assumption of risk, and understanding of the terms and conditions of the program abroad.

Submit an official evaluation of student academic performance and grade completed by the site preceptor. Credit will not be granted for electives without such evaluation. Submit a student elective report and evaluation of the elective to the Office of Academic Affairs.