Health care workers are at risk for exposure to a wide range of infectious and environmental hazards including slippery or uneven walking surfaces and exposure to infectious diseases and hazardous chemicals. Students should always seek appropriate medical care, including immediately seeking emergency or urgent medical care for any serious or life or limb-threatening injuries, exposures or illness.
Universal precautions procedures protect both students and patients from unnecessary health risks. IU School of Medicine students receive annual online training on prevention. Students must be aware of the recommendations outlined in the relevant teaching hospital’s policies.
Needlesticks and certain specific injuries and exposures require reporting and a mandatory consultation with the statewide 24 hour/7 day a week OUCH team to provide information regarding needlesticks and assist in finding local testing and treatment resources.
Such situations include:
- Needlesticks, punctures, lacerations or other injuries with skin breakage
- Mucous membrane exposure to blood or body fluid
- Any injury from an environmental hazard
- Unprotected or inadequately protected:
- aerosol exposure to active cases of aerosol spread infections, such as tuberculosis or measles, or hazardous chemicals
- contact exposure to chemicals or irritants such as chemotherapeutics or high-level disinfectants
- contact with active enteral infection such as salmonella, shigella or Clostridium difficile
To report a needlestick, injury or exposure, please go to the Needlestick/Injury/Exposure Reporting Form. Students should complete the form immediately after the incident. After completion of the form, students will be directed to next steps.
It is the medical student's responsibility to cover any costs for the services that are not covered by their insurance. Expenses incurred for any follow up visits, treatment, or lab work after the initial visit will be borne by the student and their insurance. We understand there are times when a health exposure occurs, the system may have processes or procedures in place to provide the services. When this is available, it is done as a courtesy, but, it is not required nor expected of the health system.
Additional information about financial responsibility and a link to the time away policy are available on the reporting form.