Student Handbook - College of Medicine - Florida Atlantic University

N L K H F E D C AStudents who are at high risk of infection from patients or other personnel because of their immune status or anyother reason are encouraged to discuss their work responsibilities and educational activities with their personal healthcare provider. If the health care provider believes that there are certain assignments the individual should not acceptdue to personal health reasons, this should be discussed with his/her faculty supervisor. In some cases, studentsmay be unable to participate fully in medical school life or meet the technical standards of the FAU College ofMedicine because of their disease. In these cases, the individual should contact the OSA and the FAU Office forStudents with Disabilities to discuss the existence and nature of the disability and whether reasonableaccommodations are available. For more information, see the policy on “Students with Disabilities” contained in thisHandbook. If a student’s exposure results in the contraction of a disease or disability, the student will be allowed tocontinue in the education program with as little disruption and as safely possible depending on the circumstances.The student’s specific medical circumstances will be confidentially evaluated on a case-by-case basis andappropriate recommendations regarding the student’s progress through medical school may be submitted to theMSPPSC for appropriate action, if necessary.Needlestick Injury and Other Potential Blood-borne Pathogen ExposureThe FAU College of Medicine provides a system in which all medical students, including visiting students, must reportall accidental exposures to blood and other potentially hazardous biological fluids that occur through accidentalneedlestick injury and other potential blood-borne pathogen exposure. This process is necessary for the followingreasons:to quickly evaluate the risk of infectionto inform the exposed student about treatments available to help prevent infection,to monitor for side effects of treatments, andto determine if infection subsequently occursThis process initially involves the immediate provision of appropriate first aid, including ample washing of the exposedarea that was punctured by the needle, or otherwise exposed, with soap and water. The student must immediatelycontact his/her clinical supervisor to report the incident as stated above in “Exposure at FAU” and “Exposure at aCollege of Medicine Affiliate Site Not Located on the Campus of FAU.” The student will need to contact the deans ofthe COM Office of Student Affairs and complete the FAU “Medical Student Exposure Incident Form” available on theOffice of Student Affairs webpage (http://med.fau.edu/students/). The deans of the COM Office of Student Affairsmust be notified of the exposure and the form must be submitted within 24 hours of the exposure incident. Forincidents in FAU laboratories and clinical settings owned or operated by FAU or on FAU campuses, EHS policiesmust also be followed, with EHS forms completed as described above.Subsequently, the student may require blood testing to rule out the presence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and/orother infectious agents in both the index patient as well as the student. The plan provides for appropriate postexposuretreatment and addresses the key aspects of OSHA Directive 29 CFR Part 1910.1030, Post-exposureEvaluation and Follow-up. https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_BloodborneFacts/bbfact04.pdfAny student identified as a candidate for post-exposure HIV prophylaxis as a result of this protocol is to beimmediately referred to one of the College of Medicine’s hospital affiliates or local ambulatory care center for initiationof medications as prescribed by the medical staff. It should be noted that locating and testing the source individual iscritical for appropriate management, including immediate and follow-up testing of the student and/or source and, ifmedically indicated (e.g., HIV infection), for the student to receive prophylactic antiretroviral medication as soon aspossible, preferably within two hours of exposure.The “Selected Measures of Access to and Utilization of Treatment and Prophylaxis for HIV-infected Persons” isavailable at the Centers for Disease Control web site: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/guidelines/Workers’ CompensationGenerally, because students are not employees of the FAU College of Medicine or its clinical affiliate sites, they arenot eligible for Worker’s Compensation coverage. Therefore, any coverage for illness or injuries incurred as a medical40