Exposure Incidents

Students may encounter risk of exposure incidents to potential biohazards during clinical training. As there is no way to eliminate these risks, students are expected to utilize universal precautions at all times while in patient care areas and implement all reasonable and expected risk reduction behaviors whenever entering any patient care environment. If a student is accidentally exposed to known or potential biohazard via needle stick, punctures, or other possible exposures, the student should follow the policies defined by the individual facility and by RFUMS.

Documentation & Follow-up Treatment:

All students exposed to a potential biohazard via needle sticks, punctures, or other possible exposures should report this event to the Division of Student Affairs and Inclusion at 847.578.3205 within 24 hours of the incident.

Financial Responsibility:

Treatment for such care is often provided at no cost by the facility in which the exposure occurred. In the event that there is a cost associated with this follow-up, students are expected to allow charges to be processed through their health insurance and any subsequent out-of-pocket expense to the student will be reimbursed by Student Wellness after review and approval by the university Student Affairs office.