NYMC > Departments > Administrative Departments > Health Services > Needlestick Exposure

Procedure for Needlestick, Blood/Body Fluid Exposures

What to Do Immediately

  1. Wash the area immediately with soap and water or irrigate mouth/eyes thoroughly with water. 
  2. 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. 
  3. Treatment for exposure to HIV is ideally started within 2 hours of the injury. 
  4. The source patient is to be tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.  The patient's attending physician (or designee) orders tests. 
  5. Take down the source patient's name, DOB, MR#.
  6. 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

  1. You will need to provide:
    • Your health insurance information for billing.  
    • Indicate who the source patient is.
    • Complete any required incidence reports.
  2. You will be asked to describe your exposure:  How/ when did it happen? Instruments involved? Any visible blood?
  3. 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. 
  4. 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.  
  5. 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.