Guidelines to Experiential Education Exposures, Injury, and Emergency

Procedures Following Exposure to Blood/Body Fluids

If you are in contact with another person’s blood or body fluid (e.g., through a needlestick injury or mucous membrane splash):

• Follow the CDC Emergency Sharps Information steps
  • Wash needlestick(s) and cut(s) with soap and water.
  • Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water.
  • Irrigate affected eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigants.
• Immediately contact preceptor/site coordinator to report the incident.
• Immediately seek medical treatment:
  • Students with non-UC SHIP health insurance may:
    • Contact Primary Care Provider (PCP)/Physician Group, or
    • Proceed to your insurance designated Urgent Care/Emergency Care facility (Notify PCP of situation), or
  • Students (regardless of insurance) may contact UC San Diego Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine (COEM), regardless of where the injury happened (Hours are M-F 8am-4:30pm, except holidays).
    • Call COEM: 619-471-9210. An appointment will be made for the injured student at the most convenient site (Bring a picture ID and student ID).
      • COEM 330 Lewis St., Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92103 (Hillcrest), or
      • COEM 8899 University Center Lane, Unit 160, San Diego, CA (UTC area), or
      • COEM 16950 Via Tazon, San Diego, CA 92127 (Rancho Bernardo), or
    • If COEM is not available:
      • Preferred: Contact UC San Diego Health Urgent Care in advance to verify needlestick injury/exposure care services are available, then proceed if advised. If not advised, proceed to UC San Diego Health (Hillcrest or La Jolla) Emergency Room.
      • Students outside of the San Diego area:
        • Contact local Urgent Care in advance to verify needlestick injury/exposure care services are available, then proceed if advised.
        • If services are not available, proceed to local Emergency Room.
• If prescriptions are needed:
  • Students with UCSHIP should fill prescriptions at Student Health Services or network pharmacy.
  • Students with other insurance fill prescriptions at authorized pharmacy.
• Contact OEE to report the situation.
• If subsequent care is needed, follow-up with usual PCP/Physician Group.

Procedures Following Experiential Related Injury or Emergency

• Emergency:
  • Call 911 or go to the nearest hospital or emergency care facility.
  • Contact your PCP as soon as possible to inform them about your condition.
• Urgent Medical Situation:
  • If student is injured but unsure of the seriousness of your condition, call PCP/Physician Group for guidance.
  • If student is unable to reach their PCP, proceed to urgent care facility/hospital as needed.
  • Contact your PCP as soon as possible to inform them about your condition

Next steps:

• Contact OEE to report situation.
• If subsequent care is needed, follow-up with usual PCP/Physician Group.
• If student receives a bill from Urgent Care/Emergency Room visit, contact OEE for guidance

Students outside of the SD County region:

• Call your healthcare provider. Stay at home until you have received guidance, which may include testing for COVID-19.

Summary of Process at Experiential Partner Sites: Seeking Care and Incident Reporting

• Students can seek emergency department care in the facility they are rotating if warranted.
  • Student or appropriate individual at experiential site will determine if situation is
    1. Emergency, or
    2. Urgent Medical Situation.
• Students will follow above listed procedures following experiential related injury or exposure.
• Students or OEE will immediately notify preceptor or site coordinator as soon as possible following any incident.
• SSPPS, Pharmacy department or preceptor submits incident report to appropriate internal department, depending on where incident occurred.
• Student receives follow up care with their insured health care provider (i.e. UC Student Health Services or PCP)

Updated September 2025