Assessment Programs (Competency, Fitness for Duty, and Late Career Health Screening) COVID-19 Updates:

Effective August 1, 2020, we will resume in-person assessments. Your case manager will reach out to you shortly regarding the scheduling of your evaluation. Please note, to limit in-person interaction, some assessment components will only be offered virtually. In anticipation of the resumption of these activities, we have developed the following policies and procedures given the current COVID-19 pandemic. Please contact our office if you have any questions: the best contact method is to email us at UCPACE@ucsd.edu or contact your case manager directly. You can also call our mainline at (619) 543-6770 and leave a message, this may however take a little longer for a response.

Update COVID-19 Policies and Procedures for Conducting In-Person Assessments - March 11, 2022

This memorandum shall serve to inform you of the UC San Diego PACE Program’s guidelines for safely resuming in-person assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our decision to reopen our office was done after careful consideration and consultation with our school, University of California San Diego and its Health System, UC San Diego Health (UCSDH). These are difficult and challenging times and as such we understand that some of you may feel unsafe travelling to and/or attending an in-person assessment at this time. While we have made numerous changes to the way our assessments will be conducted to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we cannot eliminate all risks of transmission. If you feel unsafe travelling to or attending your in-person assessment, we strongly encourage you to share your concerns with the organization that referred you to PACE to see if you can defer your attendance to a later time.

For those who decide to come to San Diego to complete your in-person assessment, we want to let you know that your safety and well-being and that of our employees is our number one priority. The following policies and procedures have been enacted to keep you and our team members safe during your evaluation:

  • COVID-19 Testing: All participants who live and work outside of San Diego County will be required to have a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 24-72 hours prior to starting their in-person assessment unless they have proof of immunization (1-2 doses depending on manufacturer) plus booster (1 dose). **. The PACE Program will offer COVID-19 PCR tests free of charge for any participant who wishes to get one. Participants are not obligated to undergo COVID-19 PCR offered by the PACE Program. Participants who receive testing elsewhere will be responsible for the costs associated with their testing. Participants who receive a positive COVID-19 PCR test result will be required to reschedule their in-person assessments. No cancellation or rescheduling fees will be assessed for an assessment that is rescheduled due to a positive COVID-19 test result. Participants who test positive for COVID-19, or have a known exposure, will not be eligible for in-person activities for at least 14 days, and at least 24 hours without symptoms.

    ** Participants undergoing in-person neuropsychological evaluations will be required to have a negative test regardless of vaccination status. Participants may either get a PCR test within 72 hours OR a rapid antigen test within 48 hours of their in-person start time.

  • Daily Symptom Screening: All participants must be symptom free for 14 days prior to the first day of on-site activity and each subsequent day they will be on-site in any UCSD facility or satellite office. Each day the participant is on-site, they will be asked to answer two questions. Participants who answer “NO” to both questions will be allowed to proceed with their scheduled PACE activities. Participants who answer, “YES” to either questions will be contacted by a PACE employee to discuss their symptoms to determine if the in-person evaluation can proceed or if it will need to be rescheduled.

    1. Daily Symptom Screening Checklist question: Are you currently experiencing any of the following?
      • Fever or chills
      • Cough
      • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
      • Fatigue Muscle or body aches
      • Headache
      • Loss of taste or smell
      • Sore throat
      • Congestion or runny nose
      • Nausea or vomiting
      • Diarrhea
    2. Possible COVID-19 exposure question: In the past 14 days has a public health agency or a healthcare system notified you that you have been exposed to COVID-19 or has anyone in your household been diagnosed with COVID-19 infection?

  • Face Masks: Masks are required to be worn at all times in the PACE Office. Participants may use their own cloth masks or face coverings so long as they entirely cover the mouth and nose. PACE will provide surgical masks if one is needed or requested. Participants can refer to posted UCSDH approved signage for more information.
  • Hand Washing/Sanitizing: Upon entering the PACE Office, participants must sanitize their hands with alcohol sanitizer (e.g., Purell). Sanitizer will be provided to them. Once inside the PACE Office, participants are encouraged to frequently and thoroughly wash and/or sanitize their hands. Participants are required to wash or sanitize their hands before and after all activities which include contact (SPEs, H&Ps, etc.). Participants can refer to posted UCSDH approved signage regarding handwashing techniques.
  • Physical Distancing: Participants shall be asked to maintain a minimum of six feet between themselves and others to the extent possible. There may be certain activities during an evaluation (e.g., while performing or undergoing a physical examination) where six feet of distance between all parties in not possible. In these scenarios, all parties will be masked, gloved and provided with additional instructions for how to minimize the risk of transmission.
  • Dedicated Testing Rooms: Each participant will be assigned to their own testing room in the PACE Office and must stay in that room for the entirety of the day whenever they are not directly engaged in an activity in another location. Each testing room will be thoroughly cleaned before and after it has been used.
  • Reduced Capacity: The PACE Program is operating under reduced capacity to maximize physical distancing and to limit person-to-person contact. At this time and for the indefinite future, the PACE Program will allow no more than two participants to be present in our office at once. Similarly, PACE employees will minimize time in the office and work remotely whenever possible.
  • Office Cleaning: All public areas of the PACE Office will undergo regular cleaning with hospital grade disinfecting wipes. High touch points (e.g., door knobs, chairs, etc.) will be wiped down with hospital grade disinfecting wipes multiple times per day. Testing rooms will be cleaned before and after each use. Waiting room surfaces will be cleaned daily.

Please contact us by email (UCPACE@ucsd.edu) or by phone (619-543-6770) if you have any questions about the above policies and procedures. Participants who fail to follow the above policies and procedures may risk having their in-person evaluations terminated.