Interactions with Patients and Potential Exposure to Infectious and/or Hazardous Agents.

Policies on interactions with patients and on potential exposure to infections and/or hazardous agents will be articulated in the corresponding course syllabi.

For any personal injury or occupational needlestick or blood/body fluid exposure at any clinical site, students should follow these steps:

Stop what you are doing and ask someone to take over for you

For needle stick or blood/body fluid exposure follow steps below for any personal injury see personal injury instructions below

Exposure

Immediately wash exposed area thoroughly with soap and water. Splashes to mucous membranes (e.g., eyes, mouth) should be flushed vigorously with water. Needlestick sites should be cleaned with soap and water;

Notify your immediate supervisor;

Your supervisor should ask the patient to wait;

The source patient, if available, is tested ASAP for all blood borne infectious diseases –HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis (RPR) –as per the site’s protocol.

For Exposures That Take Place at the St. Barnabas Hospital Health System (SBHHS) Facilities:

Monday-Friday from 8am-4:30pm: Report immediately to the SBHHS Occupational Health Services (OHS) 4422 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY (718) 960-6537 for a STAT dose of post exposure prophylaxis, risk assessment, work-up and post exposure plan.

All other hours, holidays, and weekends: Report immediately to SBHHS Emergency Department (ED) (4432 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY) for STAT dose of post exposure prophylaxis, risk assessment, and work-up.

When you arrive, identify yourself as a CUNY School of Medicine student and that you have had an exposure and need to be seen immediately.

If the Exposure Occurs At a Site Outside of SBHHS Facilities follow the policies of that site.

 If the Exposure Occurs At a Site Outside of SBHHS Facilities and That Site Does Not Have Their Own PEP (Post Exposure) Meds and Protocol

Please report immediately to the SBHHS Emergency Department (ED) at 4432 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY for STAT dose of post exposure prophylaxis, risk assessment, and work-up.

If you have any questions, call SBHHS at 718-960-9000 and ask to be connected to the Infectious Disease (ID) physician on-call.

When you arrive at the ED, immediately identify yourself as a CUNY School of Medicine student and that you have had an exposure.

Exposure Follow-Up:

Students who have exposures at SBHHS facilities will have their medical at Occupational Health Services at SBHHS.

Students who have exposures occurring at a site outside of SBHHS and are not followed at that site’s Occupational Health Service will have their medical follow up through the SBHHS Infectious Disease Clinic –SBHHS Ambulatory Care Center–4th Floor, located at 4487 Third Avenue, Bronx.

If a student has an infectious disease or is exposed to an infectious disease and must be monitored for a period of time, the occupational health service at the clinical site where a student is assigned, in conjunction with the course director for the course in which a student may require restricted activities, will determine whether any modifications to the student’s clinical duties are required to prevent transmission of infection to other patients or healthcare personnel.

Personal injury

Notify your immediate supervisor;

For Personal Injury That Occurs at the St. Barnabas Hospital Health System (SBHHS) Facilities:

Monday-Friday from 8am-4:30pm: Report immediately to the SBHHS Occupational Health Services (OHS) 4422 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY (718) 960-6537 for evaluation.

All other hours, holidays, and weekends: Report immediately to SBHHS Emergency Department (ED) (4432 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY) for evaluation. When you arrive, identify yourself as a CUNY School of Medicine student and that you have had an exposure and need to be seen immediately.

If the injury occurs at a site outside of SBHHS and that site has urgent care, the student should be evaluated there.

If the injury Occurs At a Site Outside of SBHHS Facilities and That Site Does Not Have Their Own Emergency Department or Urgent Care. Please report immediately to the SBHHS Emergency Department (ED) at 4432 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY as above. The school will reimburse students for transportation to SBH during hours when students cannot receive care at their clinical site. Students should give bring health insurance card with them.

Students who miss educational activities due to illness from occupational/environmental exposure or personal injury will be granted approved absences as per the School’s attendance policy. Each case will be individually reviewed by the Office of Student Affairs to determine whether the student may be required to make up missed course time or clerkship sessions. As per the School’s attendance policy, the student may receive a grade of incomplete for a required clerkship if s/he exceeds the maximum allotted number of absences during the clerkship.

Students should report exposures/personal injury to either the Associate Dean for Student Affairs or their Medical Student Advisor.