SUNY Downstate
Policy of Training Medical Students on Exposure to Infectious and Environmental Hazards
Purpose
This policy describes the mandatory training and education to insure our students
understand how to protect themselves against infectious and environmental hazards.
Policy
- During Orientation
- Students must attend a mandatory OSHA presentation by the Director of the Student
Health Service, who discusses the following:
- The prevention of sharps and splash exposures, personal protective equipment (PPE),
and steps to take if an exposure occurs.
- Information about hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infection
- How to find additional information in the “Exposure to Blood and Body Fluids” section
of the Student Health website, and in the Student Handbook which is distributed to
students on a flash drive at Orientation and is also available online. OSHA training
is performed annually.
- In all instances, standard and universal precautions are to be utilized by all students
during patient care activities.
- Medical students in New York State are required to receive training in Infection Control
and Barrier Precautions which is given by the Hospital Infection Control Department,
Division of Infectious Diseases. This New York State approved course is valid for
a four year period.
- Wallet-sized cards are distributed that contain:
- Information about “Universal Standard Precautions” which includes PPE and steps to
take in case of exposure, including follow-up care at Student Health.
- A second card is distributed which contains emergency phone numbers and the HIV post-exposure
protocol.
- In the second year of the curriculum students must be “fit-tested” for N-95 particulate
respirators and receive a respirator for personal use.
- Documentation of required training is required prior to the student‘s entrance into
clinical training.
- Before beginning Core Clerkships students must retake OSHA training.
- Visiting students are given (and must sign receipt of) laminated cards with “Universal
Standard Precautions” and emergency phone numbers and HIV post-exposure protocols.
Additionally they must be given a copy of the Blood and Body Fluids section of the
Student Health website. Visiting students are required to show proof of completion
of OSHA training within the past year, and the mandatory NYS Infection Control and
Barrier Precautions training. They are “fit-tested” for N-95 masks at Student Health
before they begin their elective, and are given OSHA instruction if needed.
Approved by the Dean's Council on Education, July 16, 2013
