Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine (NSU MD) 2024–2025 79 first day students are assigned to work at a clinical rotation site, the faculty members at the affiliate site will provide information regarding the policies and procedures at their respective site that students must follow in the event of exposure, as described below in Student Exposure to Blood/Body Fluids Procedures. All students are required to complete training in OSHA and HIPAA. OSHA Students are required to complete two educational modules prior to matriculation: Blood-borne Pathogens and Formaldehyde Use. Successful completion of these modules is monitored by the Office of Student Affairs. Standard Precautions Infection control policies are established for the surveillance, prevention, and control of infection caused by a variety of microorganisms. Blood, semen, and vaginal fluids are the three most potentially infectious body fluids, but other body fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and unfixed body tissues should be considered potentially infectious, especially if contaminated with blood. Universal precautions should always be followed, even when handling fluids and tissues that are not normally infectious, such as saliva, feces, urine, sweat, sputum, vomitus, and tears. It should be noted that these body fluids carry a greater risk of infection if contaminated with visible blood, which can result from an accidental occurrence or complication of patient contact and procedures. Students are required to follow appropriate infection control procedures, including the use of personal protective equipment, whenever there is a risk of parenteral, cutaneous, or mucous membrane exposure to blood, body fluids, or aerosolized secretions from any patient, irrespective of the perceived risk of a blood-borne or airborne pathogen. Regardless of the real or perceived communicable disease status of the patient, all students and staff members should follow standard universal precautions when providing patient care. The basic precautions include: • Always wash hands before and after patient contact, according to the policy of the clinical site, even if gloves are used. • Always wear gloves when exposure to blood, body fluids, and other body excretions is likely. • Use gloves appropriately according to aseptic and/or sterile techniques, and always change gloves between patients. • Wear gowns/aprons when soiling of clothing with blood or body fluids is likely. • Wear masks, face shields, and eye protection when aerosolization of blood or body fluids may occur. • Dispose of sharps in designated rigid sharp containers. Never recap needles by hand. • Dispose of waste saturated with blood or body fluids in designated red biohazardous waste containers. Risk of Exposure, Encouraged Disability Insurance, and Mandatory Medical Insurance Despite the best efforts of health care practitioners and facilities, as well as educational institutions and faculty members, the risk of student exposure to blood-borne pathogens cannot be eliminated. Although all prudent precautions are taken, students still have a real risk of acquiring infectious diseases
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDE4MDg=