Needle Stick Policies & Procedures: Home

If a student experiences a needle stick, puncture wound, accident, sharp injury, or is otherwise exposed to bodily fluids of a patient while on a clinical clerkship, the student should:

1. Immediately wash the area, scrubbing the skin with soap and water.
2. For exposures to eyes, mouth, and/or other mucous membranes, rinse with running water, normal saline, or sterile eye wash for at least 10 minutes.  For eye exposure, hold the eye open for irrigation.
3. Immediately report the incident to the attending physician or another appropriate supervising physician.  See the charge nurse for assistance obtaining contact information for house supervisors or attending physicians.
4. Immediately report to the appropriate personnel and follow the post-exposure protocol as designated by the core site. 

   • Prompt evaluation and treatment is essential. Post-exposure prophylaxis and other treatment may be indicated and should be started within an hour of exposure.

   • You will present yourself to the facility's emergency room as a patient for purposes of consent to treat and billing. Your health insurance will be the primary form of insurance used for any such incident(s).

5. Contact your Regional Coordinator, Core Site Coordinator, and the ACOM Director of Safety & Security. Fill out the Needlestick Incident Report within 4 hours of the incident.

The tab "Core Sites by Name" provides helpful information regarding site-specific protocols.  Students may also access the CDC guide for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) as needed at:
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/emergnedl.html.

For questions regarding these procedures, please contact Dr. MaryAnn May, Director of Safety and Security, at 334.405.5755 or mmay@acom.edu.

Northern Region

Regional Coordinator: 
Lana Calvert
Cell:  (256) 438-3007

Core Sites:

Marshall Medical Center South (Boaz)

Cullman Regional Medical Center (Cullman)

Decatur Morgan Hospital (Decatur)

North Alabama Medical Center (Florence)

Gadsden Regional Medical Center (Gadsden)

Marshall Medical Center (Guntersville)

Crestwood Medical Center (Huntsville)

Helen Keller Hospital (Sheffield)

 

Central Region

Regional Coordinator: 
Leigh Kincer
Cell:  (334) 303-6928
Office:​  (334) 944-4075

Core Sites:

Russell Medical (Alexander City)

Anniston Regional Medical Center (Anniston)

St. Vincent's East (Birmingham)

Cahaba Medical Care (Centreville)

Southeast Health (Dothan)

Jackson Hospital (Montgomery)

Rural Health Medical Program (Selma)

Coosa Valley Medical Center (Sylacauga)

 

Southern Region

Regional Coordinator:
Becky Jordan
Cell: (251) 236-1637
Office: (334) 944-4076

Core Sites:

North Baldwin Infirmary (Bay Minette)

D.W. McMillan Hospital (Brewton)

Thomas Hospital (Fairhope)

South Baldwin Regional Medical Center (Foley)

Memorial Hospital & Physician Clinics (Gulfport)

AltaPointe Health Systems (Mobile)

​Franklin Clinic (Mobile)

Mobile Infirmary Medical Center (Mobile)

Springhill Medical Center (Mobile)

Sacred Heart Health System (Pensacola)

West Florida Hospital (Pensacola)

 

Southeastern Region

Regional Coordinator:
Brenda Coxwell
Cell:  (850) 276-1112

Core Sites:

Lake City Medical Center (Lake City)