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Student, Employee, Patient Occupational Exposure Plan

Board of Trustees Policy: 4.4

Date: December 2016

Supersedes:   May 2013, November 2004, October 2004, June 2004, September 1997, September 1995

Purpose

Montgomery County Community College recognizes its responsibility to provide a safe workplace/learning/healthcare environment for students/employees/patients. Current standards of medical/dental practice require a specific plan with written protocols addressing student/employee/patient exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Needle stick injuries and other exposure to blood and bodily fluids have a potential of transmitting various pathogens including but not limited to Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Policy

When a student, employee or patient notifies the College that there has been a blood-borne exposure incident, the individual will be informed of the recommended action(s) to be taken, listed under Procedures below, which are in accordance with the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A blood-borne exposure incident, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a percutaneous injury (e.g. needle-stick or cut/puncture with a sharp’s type of object) or contact of mucous membrane or non-intact skin (e.g. exposed skin that is chapped, abraded, or afflicted with dermatitis) with blood, tissue, or other bodily fluids (e.g. semen, vaginal secretions) that are potentially infectious.
This policy allows for future review and updates to specific procedures and/or related documentation forms with the approval of the President, Vice President of Finance and Administration, and Executive Director of Human Resources.
Procedure

  1. When a suspected blood-borne exposure occurs first aid measures should be implemented immediately.
    1. Thoroughly wash wound(s) with soap and water
    2. When the exposure is to the
      1. Nose or mouth — flush with water splashes.
      2. Eye(s) — irrigate with clean water/sterile eyewash or saline irrigating solution.
    3. Contact Public Safety (Blue Bell Campus to report and obtain assistance with first aid care:
      1. Central Campus at Blue Bell: Ext. 6666 or 215-641-6666
      2. West Campus at Pottstown: Ext. 1913  or 610-718-1913
      3. Culinary Art Institute in Lansdale: Ext. 5973 or 267-646-5973
  1. Seek medical evaluation within two-three hours of blood-borne exposure to obtain baseline testing for blood-borne pathogens (i.e. HBV, HCV, HIV, etc.), determination of level of risk exposure and treatment, if indicated.
  2. On Campus Incidents
    1. Employees
      1. Employees are to go to the College’s designated worker injury healthcare provider during regular business hours.
      2. If incident occurs after normal business hours, employee goes to nearest local hospital Emergency Department.
    2. Students in Credit and Non-Credit Health Career Program
      1. Are strongly encouraged to carry health insurance coverage.
      2. Are responsible for all medical costs related to evaluation, testing, treatment, and follow-up care involving a blood-borne exposure incident.
      3. Should seek medical evaluation from personal healthcare provider, local Emergency Department or other medical facility such as an urgent care center within two-three hours of exposure to obtain baseline testing for blood-borne pathogens (i.e., HBV, HCV, HIV, etc.), determination of level of risk exposure and treatment, if indicated.
  1. Off Campus and Contract Sites
    1. Employees
      1. Implement first aid measures as previously described.
      2. Notify immediate supervisor by phone or email.
      3. Contact Public Safety. Provide initial information about incident (formal report to follow within 24-48 hours).
      4. Seek medical evaluation within two-three hours of blood-borne exposure at College’s designated worker injury healthcare provider during regular business hours. If incident occurs after normal business hours, go to nearest local hospital Emergency Department.
    1. Students in Credit and Non-Credit Health Career Programs
      1. Implement first aid measures as previously described.
      2. Inform supervising Instructor or Clinic Site Supervisor at the time of blood-borne exposure.
      3. If the clinical site is
        • a hospital — go to the Emergency Department within two–three hours of blood-borne exposure for medical evaluation, baseline testing for blood-borne pathogens (i.e., HBV, HCV, HIV, etc.), determination of level of risk exposure and treatment, if indicated. Hospital Incident Report Form should be completed.
        • not a hospital, or student prefers not to go to a local Emergency Department — student should go to personal healthcare provider or other medical facility such as an urgent care center.
      4. The supervising instructor informs the respective Health Careers program Director/Coordinator of the incident. The Director/Coordinator then notifies Public Safety at 215-641-6604.
      5. Within 24-48 hours a completed College Accident/Injury/Illness Report (Attachment A) must be sent to Public Safety (College Hall 126).

Accident/Injury/Illness Report is available on website under Emergency Operations and Public Safety (login required).

      1. Send original copy of Accident/Injury/Illness Report to specific Health Careers program Director/Coordinator.
      2. Follow-up Investigation — pertinent information regarding contributing factors, equipment malfunctioning, training requirements, recommendations to avoid future occurrence, etc. should be attached to the Accident/Injury/Illness Report. Complete follow-up investigation of the incident as soon as possible following the incident. If additional investigation is required, send initial Accident/Injury/Illness Report with notation that follow-up report will occur.
  1. Patients, who sustain a blood-borne exposure from a student or employee on campus, will be rendered first aid care as previously described and advised to seek medical evaluation from personal healthcare provider or other medical facility such as local Emergency Department or urgent care center within two-three hours of blood-borne exposure to obtain baseline testing for blood-borne pathogens (i.e., HBV, HCV, HIV, etc.), determination of level of risk exposure and recommended treatment, if indicated.
    1. If incident occurs on campus, Public Safety is notified and will provide assistance with first aid care, if needed, as well as reporting of incident.
    2. If incident occurs off campus, the patient will be informed to seek medical evaluation from personal healthcare provider or other medical facility such as local Emergency Department or urgent care center within two-three hours of exposure to obtain baseline testing for blood-borne pathogens (i.e., HBV, HCV, HIV, etc.), determination of level of risk exposure and recommended treatment, if indicated.
    3. If incident occurs off campus, an Accident/Injury/Illness Report form is completed within 24-48 hours and original copy sent to Health Career Program. Director/Coordinator. Send copy to Public Safety (College Hall 126).
    4. Follow-Up Investigation should include pertinent information regarding contributing factors, equipment malfunctioning, training requirements, recommendations to avoid future occurrence, etc. If additional investigation is required, send initial report with notation that follow-up report will occur.