Apr 19, 2024  
2020-2021 University Student Handbook 
    
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2020-2021 University Student Handbook

Hazardous Exposure Procedures

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Exposure Incident Definition: Eye, mouth, mucous membrane, non-intact skin contact or parenteral exposure to blood or potentially infectious or hazardous materials that result from the performance of a duty related to a student’s educational program.

Hazardous Exposure Procedure at Rush University Medical Center

  1. Wash injured area with soap and water. Use water only for the eyes, nose or mouth.
  2. Immediately report the incident to your preceptor, supervisor and/or course instructor. Do not complete the employee injury report.
  3. Immediately call, and then report to, Employee and Corporate Health Services, or ECHS, during regular hours (Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Room 475, fourth floor of the Atrium, 1650 W. Harrison St., (312) 942-5878 for blood/body fluid exposures only. People who are exposed to hazardous materials or other injuries should report to the Emergency Department, or ED, and follow up with a health care provider. Medical students should follow up with Lifetime Medical Associates. 
  4. If ECHS is closed, immediately report to the ED, first floor of the Tower, 1620 W. Harrison St., (312) 947-0100. Please bring your student ID or indicate that you are a student and not an employee. If a student is seen in the ED, they must report to ECHS the next business day. Medical students should follow up with Lifetime Medical Associates.
  5. Supply the ECHS or ED nurse or physician with the following information on the source: name, date of birth, medical record number, known medical diseases (e.g. hepatitis B, HIV) and patient room number. All information is recorded confidentially in the Blood/Body Fluid Exposure Record. 
  6. If the incident occurs in the OR, have personnel draw two red top tubes on source, label them with source information and take them to the ECHS or ED. Students will be counseled or treated as deemed appropriate by ECHS or ED personnel.
  7. Follow up with ECHS as directed for follow-up lab work and treatment as indicated. Only medical students will follow -up with Lifetime Medical Associates (LMA).
  8. If you are not on Rush’s main campus, follow the protocol at your facility. If directed to the Rush ED, bring source patient information (No. 4) and source blood in two red top tubes with source information. Email RU.Report_Exposures@rush.edu with the exposed student’s name, college, course, date, time and details of exposure for follow-up and billing. Follow-up care should be received at ECHS or Lifetime Medical Associates.