Exposure To Blood-Borne Pathogens: Student Information

The purpose of this information is to advise students of the procedures to be taken if they are in an educational activity and have an exposure to a blood-borne pathogen. The following definition of educational exposure will be used:

An exposure to a blood-borne pathogen during an educational experience is defined as a percutaneous injury (e.g., a needlestick or cut with a sharp object), contact with mucous membranes or contact with skin (especially when the exposed skin is chapped, abraded, or afflicted with dermatitis, or the contact is prolonged or involving an extensive area) with blood, tissues, or other bodily fluids to which universal precautions apply.

Note that this definition includes injuries and contacts that have potential exposure; any injury or contact is to be treated the same way by the student. Decisions about prophylactic medication will be made in concert with hospital personnel.

All students are required to participate in yearly informational training about blood-borne pathogens and universal precautions.

Student Instructions:

1. Perform basic first aid
   • Clean the wound, skin, or mucous membrane IMMEDIATELY with soap and running water. Allow blood to flow freely from the wound. Do not attempt to squeeze or "milk" blood from the wound.
   • If exposure is to the eyes, flush eyes with water or normal saline solution for several minutes.
2. Notify the Hospital’s Medical Education office.
   • If the incident occurs after hours or at an ambulatory care site, report to the nearest emergency room immediately.
   • Each College consortium hospital Medical Education office is designated as the hospital contact for student exposure and this office is responsible for making sure that hospital personnel understand procedures and that costs are managed according to policy.

    

   Medical Education Office Contact Information

   Akron Campus:

   Akron Children's Hospital
   330-543-8407

   Akron General Medical Center
   330-344-6050

   Barberton Citizens Hospital
   330-848-7740

   Summa Health System
   330-375-3107

   (Akron City/St Thomas Hospitals)

   Canton Campus:

   Aultman Hospital
   330-363-5902

   Mercy Medical Center
   330-489-1409

   Youngstown Campus:

   Forum Health
   330-884-3110

   St. Elizabeth Health Center
   330-480-3326

   Other Associate Hospitals:

   Edwin Shaw Hospital
   330-784-1271 ext 5258

   Forum Health Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital
   330-841-3742

   Lodi Community Hospital
   330-948-5521

   Med Central Health System
   419-526-8761

   Medina General Hospital
   330-721-5983

   Heartland Behavioral Health Center
   330-833-3135 ext 1236

   Robinson Memorial Hospital
   330-297-2540

   Salem Community Hospital
   330-332-7636

   Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital
   330-841-9880

   Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital
   330-334-2824

3. Report to the hospital Employee Health Clinic for treatment and evaluation. If the incident occurs after hours or at an ambulatory care site, report to the nearest emergency room immediately.
   • The cost of health clinic or emergency room visit will be billed to the student’s health insurance.
   • The cost of initial prophylactic treatment will be billed to student's insurance.
     Please note, IF THE EXPOSURE IS CONSIDERED HIGH RISK, prophylactic treatment should begin within 2 hours of the exposure, but delays should not preclude prophylaxis.

4. Notify Mrs. Jan Divoky in the office of student services immediately. If the incident occurs during nights, weekends or holidays contact student services on the next business day. All records should be HIPAA compliant.

   The office of student services will maintain a record of each incident. If at all possible, have the following information available for your discussion with Mrs. Divoky:

   • When: Approximate time of exposure
   • Where: Location of exposure (e.g., hospital, office, etc.)
   • What: Source of the exposure (e.g., blood, contaminated instrument, etc.)
   • How & How Long: Skin, mucous membrane, percutaneous; and how long (e.g., seconds/minutes/hours) exposure time
   • Status of the patient: Negative, Positive, or Unknown HIV Status, whether or not patient is at risk for HIV infection because of:
     • Multiple Blood Transfusions 1978-1985
     • IV Drug User
     • Multiple sexual partners, homosexual activity
     • Significant blood or bodily fluid exposure has occurred.
5. Follow up with a designated infectious disease specialist
   • The hospital Medical Education office will identify an infectious disease specialist for each clinical campus and students are required to report to this individual for follow up and evaluation.
   • If the incident occurs at a non-consortium site students will be directed to an infectious disease specialist on their clinical campus.
   • The cost of any follow-up treatment will be paid through the student's health insurance policy.