Infection Prevention Manual

EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN EMPLOYEE EXPOSURE TO AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE The Agency shall make available to employees, at no cost, a confidential medical evaluation and follow-up should an incident of exposure occur. This would include: 1. Documentation of the routes and circumstances of exposure 2. Identification and testing of the source individual, if possible, in accordance with state and local laws 3. Testing of the exposed employee's blood and the source individual's blood as soon as feasible upon consent 4. Post-exposure prophylaxis 5. Counseling and evaluation of the reported illness The Agency will develop a plan to obtain such services before the need arises to ensure timely response and intervention. Within 15 days of the completion of the evaluation, the Agency will obtain a written statement from the health care professional examining the exposed employee which states that the employee has been informed of the result of the evaluation and that the employee has been told about any medical conditions resulting from the exposure which will require further follow-up. All other findings or diagnosis shall remain confidential and shall not be included in the written report. The statement must be given to the employee, however, if the information by law is confidential, the Agency may not be privileged to the information. The Agency will comply with local and state regulations regarding confidentiality and develop a mechanism to ensure that the employee receives the required information. The Agency shall maintain records of an exposed employee for the period of employment plus 30 years. If an employee is exposed to a known HBV virus and has not previously received the vaccine or is not known to have adequate immunity, the employee will be referred to an Agency approved licensed physician or licensed health care professional for administration of serum globulin injections. Such treatment shall be at the Agency's expense and available at a reasonable time and place. The employer shall insure that laboratory testing is conducted by an accredited laboratory at no cost to the employee. If the employee refuses treatment, a signed statement shall be obtained which indicates that the employee has been counseled regarding the risk, treatment has been offered and the employee has refused. An incident/occurrence report shall be completed and processed according to Agency policy.