Needle Stick Policy

If stuck with a contaminated needle, or otherwise subjected to contamination by bodily fluids from a patient, there is a small but very real risk of acquiring a serious infection from the host. It is to your benefit to report all incidents because, if necessary, you will need to prove that you were infected during your training in order to claim the disability insurance offered through the medical school. If such an incident does occur, you are automatically excused from whatever you are doing. Remember that your health comes first.

Medical attention will include cleansing and treating any wound, obtaining both your blood and the host blood for testing, and the provision of counsel on follow-up treatment and testing. At the time of any potential contamination, you should excuse yourself from the activity under way and immediately call or go to the site specified below:

NMH - Notify the unit manager or charge nurse immediately and call NMH Corporate Health 312-926-8282 (If this is after hours or on a weekend, the office will be closed, but an answering service will take your call and will page the nurse on call.)
RIC Corporate Health 312-926-8282 (If this is after hours or on a weekend, the office will be closed, but an answering service will take your call and will page the nurse on call.)
CMH Employee Health 3-2273 (needle stick pager NAB 103)
VAW - Student should report immediately to VA Employee Health (7 North Damen) during regular work hours (Mon-Fri 8 AM - 4PM) and to the Emergency Department at all other times.
MacNeal - report the incident to your chief resident or Dr. Zawacki. Proceed to Employee Health ext. 3427 (before 4 PM ) or to the Emergency Department ext. 6000 (after 4 PM).
If at a physician's office or other site, you would still contact Corporate Health at NMH.

You should not receive any bills for treatment, but if you do, send them to:

Christopher Johnson
Director, Office of Risk Management
Northwestern University
2020 Ridge Avenue #240
Evanston, IL 60208-4335

Phone: 847-491-8518
Fax: 847-467-7475
E-mail: cljohnson@northwestern.edu

While the exact reporting procedure varies from hospital to hospital, the first step is to contact the appropriate person immediately. This individual deals with such incidents on a routine basis. He or she can order testing of the patient and you, provide counseling regarding the need and desirability of further testing or treatment, and answer any questions you may have.

For your own information and for patients who ask, it is important to differentiate between confidential and anonymous testing. Confidential testing is done at a medical institution, and the results become part of the medical record, which is available to insurance companies and may affect future insurability. Anonymous testing is done by "neutral" organizations like Family Planning and state/county health agencies, and only the patient will know the result. Consider this issue before being tested.

In order to minimize your risk of exposure, follow the universal precautions. Wear gloves, eye protection, and facemask during procedures. Treat all patients and bodily fluids as if they are infected. Wash your hands frequently. Don't recap needles, and dispose of all sharp objects immediately after use. If you follow them consistently, they will become second nature.