NYMC > Departments > Administrative Departments > Health Services > Needlestick Exposure
Procedure for Needlestick, Blood/Body Fluid Exposures
What to Do Immediately
- Wash the area immediately with soap and water or irrigate mouth/eyes thoroughly with water.
- Notify your clinical supervisor immediately as you must receive care. Students report to either the Emergency Room or Occupational Health. See location by hospital below.
- Treatment for exposure to HIV is ideally started within 2 hours of the injury.
- The source patient is to be tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. The patient's attending physician (or designee) orders tests.
- Take down the source patient's name, DOB, MR#.
- You are required to inform:
- Your site director (or sub-internship/elective director) of the BBFE as they can assist with any issues.
- NYMC Health Services (914-594-4234) as Health Services provides all follow up after the initial evaluation.
What to Expect at Evaluation at Your Clinical Site
- You will need to provide:
- Your health insurance information for billing.
- Indicate who the source patient is.
- Complete any required incidence reports.
- You will be asked to describe your exposure: How/ when did it happen? Instruments involved? Any visible blood?
- Ideally, the source patient is tested for HIV using a rapid test which provides results within 20-30 minutes allowing that information to be used to determine if HIV post-exposure prophylaxis is needed.
- At your visit you will have baseline testing for HIV and Hepatitis C. You will be tested for Hepatitis B immunity if you do not have proof of your immunity.
- If you are starting HIV post-exposure prophylaxis you will need a CBC, CMP and pregnancy test.
- You must complete the NYMC Health Services Blood/Body Fluid Exposure Form
Where to Report for Evaluation by Hospital Location
For outpatient locations, please ask your site or elective director.
Site
|
Report to
|
If Closed Report to
|
Bronx VA |
Occupational Health |
Emergency Department |
Good Samaritan Hospital |
Emergency Department |
|
Greenwich Hospital |
Occupational Health |
Emergency Department |
Health Alliance Hospital- Kingston |
Emergency Department |
|
Hoboken University Medical Center |
Emergency Department |
|
Lenox Hill Hospital |
Occupational Health |
Emergency Department |
Lincoln Hospital |
Occupational Health |
Emergency Department |
Metropolitan Hospital Center |
Emergency Department |
|
Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital |
Occupational Health |
Emergency Department |
Northern Westchester Hospital |
Emergency Department |
|
Richmond University Medical Center |
Emergency Department |
|
St. Joseph's Medical Center |
Emergency Department |
|
St. Michael's Medical Center |
Emergency Department |
|
VA Hospital |
Occupational Health |
Emergency Department |
Westchester Medical Center |
Occupational Health |
Emergency Department |
Policy on Blood and Body Fluid Exposure (Needlestick)
The safety of our students is of utmost importance to New York Medical College. Students, faculty and staff, both at the Valhalla campus and at our clinical affiliated sites, are asked to familiarize themselves with the Policy on Blood and Body Fluid Exposure (Needlestick), is available on the NYMC policies webpage under Academic, Faculty, and Students.