Care for Potential Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures to University of Florida Faculty, Staff and Students

Michael J. Huey, M.D., Director

Because time is of the essence when managing bloodborne pathogen exposures (for example, some treatment regimens must be started within 2 hours of exposure), we wanted to clear up any confusion that may exist regarding the care of faculty, staff and students who have sustained a potential exposure (needlestick, sharps injury, mucous membrane splash, or the like):

Students Students should receive their care at the Student Health Care Center facilities. Care can be accessed at either the SHCC at Shands satellite clinic, Room A1-132, located in the hallway across from the Hyperbaric Chamber (open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or at the main Infirmary Building on Fletcher Drive (open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Weekends 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. during regular semesters, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during Summer semesters). After hours, students should seek care for bloodborne pathogen exposures at the Shands at UF Emergency Department.

Students who sustain a potential bloodborne pathogen exposure at an off-site rotation, further than one hour travel time from UF, should seek care at that facility.

Residents Medical Residents receive their care at Shands Occupational Medicine, Shands Room 1004 (open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). After hours, residents should seek care for bloodborne pathogen exposures at the Shands at UF Emergency Department.

UF Faculty University of Florida faculty and staff have two options for care in the event and Staff of a potential bloodborne pathogen exposure. They may either seek care at the Family Practice Clinic at the new UF Medical Plaza, next to the Cancer Center, 395-8231 (open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), or they may come to the main UF Infirmary Building on Fletcher Drive (hours listed above). After hours, UF Faculty and Staff should seek care for bloodborne pathogen exposures at the Shands at UF Emergency Department.

It is our goal to offer timely, state-of-the-art care for potential bloodborne pathogen exposures in the UF/Shands health system. Please contact Michael Huey, M.D., Director, Student Health Care Center, if you have any questions regarding this memorandum at (352) 392-1161 ext. 4220 or by e-mail at mhuey@nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu. Policy questions regarding the university bloodborne pathogen program can also be addressed to Carolyn Keierleber, Ph.D., Biological Safety Officer, Environmental Health and Safety at (352) 392-1591 or by e-mail at carolyn@ehs.ufl.edu.