Office of Origin: Health Sciences Education
Responsibility: Dean, Health Sciences
Original Date Adopted: 7-12-06
Dates Reviewed:    11-5-25
Last Date Board Approved:2-24-26

Lake Michigan College (College) Health Science program students, except pre-program students, those enrolled in the Associate of Science – Health Sciences degree track, or taking non-program HEAL courses, are required to complete a national and state background check and a 10-panel urinalysis drug screen as part of program and clinical compliance. 

Notification of Background Check and Drug Screening Requirements

Clinical compliance requirements are posted publicly on the College website and detailed on publicly available program documents, including, but not limited to, program information sheets and brochures, second-admit program applications, and programmatic student handbooks. 

Students admitted into a second-admit program will be notified of this requirement in their acceptance letter and new student admission criteria. Students in other Health Science programs will be notified of the requirements before or during their program orientation. This notification will include compliance deadlines and a student guide for initiating the screenings.

Students admitted into a second-admit program must sign a Seat Acceptance form acknowledging their remaining pre-program entry requirements, which include clinical compliance and understanding of the required background check. 

Testing Agency

Lake Michigan College Health Sciences division utilizes Complio by American DataBank (“Complio”) to process and maintain all Health Science student background checks and drug screen results. Students will create an account with Complio and purchase the appropriate screening package as indicated in their acceptance letter, admission criteria, or program advising. The student is responsible for paying the fees associated with background checks and drug screening during the Complio purchase process. Students must acknowledge American DataBank’s consent and release agreements during the Complio order process, or the transaction will not be completed. 

Access to Student Records

The Health Sciences Office will be notified by email of any flagged background check or drug screen reports. The reports are viewable within the Complio platform by individuals with approved access. Access is controlled by the Health Sciences Administrative Staff and provided only to Health Sciences Staff and Faculty related to in-program and/or clinical advising. Individuals outside of Health Sciences are not provided with access to view student records in Complio.

To ensure the security of students’ personal information, paper copies of background checks and drug screen results are not maintained in the Health Sciences Office; any paper copies accessed will be shredded after appropriate use (such as a copy provided electronically to a clinical partner for access to the clinical setting). 

Students can view their background check and drug screen results upon completion; additionally, students maintain access to their Complio account and documentation for life, even after program exit, dismissal, or completion. 

Background Check Process

Complio will perform the background check by running the students’ provided personal information against various agency databases. This process is initiated after the student completes their order and is typically processed in three to five business days. Background check results are returned directly to Complio. 

Background checks will include data from the following agencies (this list is not all-inclusive): 
•    Healthcare Exclusion List (OIG, GSA, OFAC)
•    Nationwide Search (including, but not limited to Criminal, OIG, and Sex Offender results)
•    Social Security Trace
•    State Search (Michigan)

Flagged Background Check Results

Background check reports that indicate a flagged result or infraction are screened by the Health Sciences Office Administrative staff for appropriate routing. 

Staff will direct the report to the appropriate program director and the Dean of Health Sciences for review against the appropriate restrictions or requirements (i.e., a flagged result for a Nursing student will be reviewed for infractions against the Michigan Public Health Code). 

• Felony infractions will result in the student’s dismissal from their program of study. 
• Misdemeanor infractions may result in the student’s dismissal from their Health Science program, depending on the outcome of the review. 
• Other infractions listed on the report (such as an ordinance violation) will be reviewed following the same process. 

Following review by the program director and Dean of Health Sciences, students with flagged background check results that do not violate program admission requirements or restrict program entry or continuation will be notified of the outcome in writing via their student e-mail address. Students will be notified of the requirements set forth by the State and/or credentialing agency regarding background check requirements; the student is responsible for verifying with the appropriate State and/or credentialing agency that the infraction(s) in question will or will not disqualify them from earning their professional credential. The student will receive notice that the State and/or credentialing agency reserves the right to deny or approve any individual for examination and/or professional credentialing based on the restrictions set by the State and/or credentialing agency. Students are not guaranteed the right to receive their professional credential following program completion and any subsequent certification or licensure examination, professional boards, or other such application.

Students will be sent a background check exemption acknowledgement form detailing the results and decision. Students will sign and return this acknowledgement form to the Health Sciences Office. Health Sciences administrative staff will apply an exemption to the student's Complio account, and a copy of this acknowledgement will be placed in the student’s record. 

Drug Screening Process

Students will select one local drug screening facility during their Complio account set-up and package purchase. The student will receive a copy of the drug screen authorization form via the email address they provided during account setup. The student will take the authorization form and a valid photo identification to the facility selected. 

Students will complete a 10-panel urinalysis drug screen for the following substances: Phencyclidine, Methadone, Cocaine, Amphetamine, Methaqualone, Barbiturate, Opiates, Propoxyphene, Benzodiazepine, and Marijuana. This screening is initiated after the student completes their order and is typically processed in five to seven business days after completing the screening with the testing facility. Drug test results are returned directly to Complio upon completion.

Students have the right to refuse to consent to drug testing. However, clinical education is an integral component of Health Science programs, and clinical compliance requirements are mandatory. Therefore, students who decline the drug screen will not be allowed to enter their respective Health Science program.

After the initial drug screen for program admission, further testing may be required of the student per clinical requirements, program readmission, or upon reasonable suspicion of intoxication or substance use. Testing upon reasonable suspicion will be required at the discretion of the program, College, or the clinical partner to which the student is assigned. The student is responsible for the cost of any additional drug screening completed during the program. 

Flagged Drug Screen Results

Drug screen results that indicate a positive result will be reviewed by the Health Science administrative staff. Students who test positive for any substance on the 10-panel urinalysis will be notified and subsequently exited from their program of study. Students will be provided with guidance regarding their next steps. Students will also be informed if readmission to their program at a later time is permitted.

Drug screen results that indicate a negative dilute result will be reviewed by the Health Science administrative staff. Students will be notified via their Lake Michigan College student e-mail address of the negative dilute result and are required to re-test. Negative dilute results may be the result of a variety of factors, including over-hydration, prescribed medication, and sample quantity. 

• Authorized faculty and staff will not change the status or override rules for positive or negative dilute results in Complio. If the student repeats the screening, the new result and the old result will remain on file.
• Authorized faculty and staff will add notes regarding the result and communication with the student following a positive or negative dilute drug screen.
• Drug screen results that indicate a negative result are considered compliant and will not be flagged within the student’s account. 

Immunizations

Students must upload all the clinically required immunizations into Complio. In the event a student’s uploaded documents are rejected by the Complio Review Team (CRT), Health Science administrative staff will review the documents against the program’s clinical compliance requirements. If a determination cannot be made, staff will consult with the program director for guidance and/or approval.

• The uploaded document will be reviewed to ensure all critical information is present:
  • Evidence of official documentation
  • Student's first and last name
  • Completion of requirement (i.e., Heplisav dose for Hepatitis B)
  • Date of completion
  • Signature of provider (if necessary)
• Official documentation can include vaccine records from the Health Department and/or primary care physician’s office, lab reports, pharmacy slips, letters from healthcare providers, copies of valid BLS Provider CPR cards, etc. Screenshots from health portals such as MyChart will be accepted only if all critical information is present. If the student’s name is not visible, students will be asked to verify the information in person or by submitting other valid documentation.
• Upon verification, staff and or faculty will change the status of the criteria to “Meets Requirements.”
• Program directors will approve immunization exemption requests with notes included in Complio.

CPR Requirements

Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider and BLS Healthcare Provider RQI from the American Heart Association are the only courses accepted for Health Science programs. Students submitting cards from the American Red Cross will be directed to retake a course approved by the American Heart Association.

Expired Access

If a student’s Complio subscription expires during their final semester of the program:

• The student is not required to renew or extend the access.

If a student’s Complio subscription expires earlier in the program:

• The student must purchase extended access to remain in compliance through the duration of the program.

If a student exits a program and returns at any time:

• The student must extend their subscription and/or purchase a new background check and drug screen per clinical requirements.

References: 
Second Admit Program Seat Acceptance Form
Health Science Clinical Compliance Form
Health Science Program Student Handbook
Health Science program Infosheets and Advising Guides
Clinical Affiliate Contract
Complio by American DataBank Student Guide

Formerly Named: 
DRUG TESTING OF ALLIED HEALTH STUDENTS