Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Protocol for HMS and HSDM Students

Dental and medical students who may have been exposed to pathogens via body fluid exposure should:

First – Attend to the injury

For example, if there is a wound from a sharp object, wash it with soap and water and apply direct pressure if it is bleeding. If clothing is contaminated from a chemical, biological, or radiation spill, remove it and wash the exposed area. Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available when laboratory reagents and chemicals are used and may be a useful resource for immediate care. Be sure to inform your supervisor of the injury.

Second – Seek immediate medical attention at your clinical site

Your PCE or clinical supervisor has given you specific instructions for your site. If in doubt, you can also find the hospital-specific contact numbers for our 20 clinical sites below.

Note, when seeking immediate care in a hospital emergency department, medical and dental students should register using their Harvard University Student Health Program (HUSHP) Student Health Insurance Plan or other insurance. Do not register in the hospital emergency department as a hospital employee, or you may be subject to higher bills than the copayment required by HUSHP or your other insurance.

Third – Plan any follow-up care with your primary care physician or their designee at HUHS within 48 hours

During weekdays, 9:00am-5:00pm, call the Medical Area Clinic at (617) 432-1370. After hours, on weekends, and on holidays, call HUHS Urgent Care at (617) 495-5711.

If you would like additional procedural advice, please call (617) 384-STIK (7845). This is a recorded message containing the pager number of the HUHS on-call physician. You may page the physician for procedural advice about the exposure and follow-up care rather than for medical advice.

Immediate Needlestick Care at HMS Clinical Sites

HMS Clinical Locations Information

Harvard University Health Services

Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm: Medical Area Health Services (617) 432-1370
24/7 Urgent Care, Smith Campus Center (617) 495-5711

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm: Employee Health Service (617) 632-0710
All other times: Emergency Department (617) 667-7000
Call Infection Control (617) 667-2249 or Employee Health (617) 632-0710 with any questions.

Boston Children’s Hospital

For exposure to blood/body fluids: Contact an Occupational Health Service provider or Infectious Disease attending physician, through the hospital paging system, to evaluate the exposure (617) 355-7243 to access page. At the voice prompt, dial the mnemonic STIK (7845).

For communicable disease exposure at Children’s Hospital, contact an Occupation Health Service provider (617) 355-7580 or the Infection Control Department (617) 355-6932 or (617) 355-7412. The infection control on-call beeper is (617) 355-6369.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Monday-Friday, 7:00am-4:30pm: Occupational Health Department (617) 732-8501
All other times: Emergency Department (617) 732-5636

Brockton VA Medical Center

24 hours: Emergency Department at (508) 583-4500 ext. 62315
Questions: Contact the Infectious Disease staff physician through the West Roxbury VA operator

Cambridge Health Alliance

Call Cambridge Health Alliance Occupational Health at (617) 591-4660 to report the needlestick and to ensure follow-up oversight occurs.

Monday through Friday, daytime Occupational Health personnel will guide the response. After hours, nights, and weekends, you will be directed to the nearest Cambridge Health Alliance emergency department.

Cambridge Hospital Emergency Department (617) 665-1430
Somerville Hospital Emergency Department (617) 591-4700
Whidden Hospital Emergency Department (617) 381-7150

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM: The Occupational Health Service (617) 632-3016
All other times: Page STIK pager, dial (617) 632-2337, enter ID# 47845, enter your 10-digit call-back number. If no answer in 5 minutes, call page operator (617) 632-3352 and ask for PEP MD on-call.

Emerson Hospital

Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm: Employee Health (978) 287-3075
All other times: Emergency Department (978) 287-3690

Faulkner Hospital

Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm: Ambulatory/Employee Health (617) 983-7845
All other times: Emergency Department (617) 983-7700

Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm: Immediately report the incident to the Office of Clinical Affairs (617) 432-4257, then call the Medical Area Health Service (617) 432-1370
All other times: HUHS After Hours Urgent Care Clinic, Smith Campus Center (617) 495-5711

Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates

The student should immediately report the exposure to the Supervisor of the department where the incident occurred, or if the Supervisor is unavailable, go directly to Urgent Care.

Lahey Hospital & Medical Center

Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm: Employee Health (781) 744-8796
Evenings and weekends: Emergency Department (781) 273-8100
For any eye splash, go immediately to the Emergency Department

Martha’s Vineyard Hospital

24 hours: Emergency Department (508) 693-0410 ext. 277)

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm: Go to the Department Manager for the incident report (Needlestick Mucous Membrane Form) and further directions. If the Manager is not available, report to the Emergency Department.
Evenings, weekends, and holidays: Page the Nursing Supervisor through the Hospital Operator for further directions.
For any Eye Splash, go immediately to the MEEI Emergency Department, 24 hours/day.

Massachusetts General Hospital

Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:30pm: Occupation Health, Clinic 3, (617) 726-2217
Weekends, evening, and holidays: Occupational Health on-call nurse, Clinic 3, (617) 726-2217
For any eye splash, go immediately to MEEI Emergency Department, 24 hours/day.

Massachusetts Mental Health Center

24 hours: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, East Campus Emergency Department (617) 667-7000
Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm: New England Baptist Occupational Medicine Center (617) 754-5620

Mount Auburn Hospital

Monday-Friday, 8:00am-7:00pm: Walk-In Clinic (617) 499-5065
Saturday, 10:00am-5:00pm: Walk-In Clinic (617) 499-5065
All other times: Emergency Department (617) 499-5025

McLean Hospital

Monday-Friday, 9:00am-4:30pm: Walk-In Clinic (617) 499-5065
Evenings, weekends, and holidays: Page MDOC through the operator
Questions: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm, Infection Control Nurse (617) 855-3258