Procedure for Hazardous Exposure

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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.

Procedure

1. Wash injured area with soap and water. If the area is the eyes, nose or mouth, use water only.
2. Immediately report the incident to your preceptor, supervisor and/or course instructor. Do not complete the employee injury report.
3. Immediately call Employee and Corporate Health Services (ECHS) at (312) 942-5878 and then report to ECHS, located in suite 475, Atrium Building, 1650 W. Harrison St. during regular hours (Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Bring your student ID or indicate you are a student and not an employee.
4. If ECHS is closed, immediately report to the Emergency Department (ED) on the first floor of the Tower, 1620 W. Harrison St., (312) 942-0100. Please bring your student ID or indicate that you are a student and not an employee. When a student is seen in the ED, that student must report to ECHS on the next business day.
5. Supply ECHS or ED nurse/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 and label with source information and take to 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. Medical students will follow up with Lifetime Medical Associates.
8. Follow the protocol at your facility. If directed to the RUMC ED facility, bring source patient information (No. 4) and source blood in two red top tubes with source information. Email ru.report.exposures@rush.edu with 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.