Employee Infectious Disease Exposure
What should an employee do if exposed to a needlestick or infectious disease?
- Notify your supervisor immediately, no matter how minor the incident may seem. If you are exposed to any human or animal body fluids or other potentially infectious materials, seek treatment immediately.
- The UT Medicine Diagnostic Pavilion is the preferred provider for UT Health Science Center at San Antonio needlestick and infectious disease exposures. Because timely treatment is essential, call (210)-592-0150 to be seen at the Family and Community Medicine Clinic.
- Your department should provide you with an Employee Post-Exposure Medical Release Form to give to your medical provider. Inform the medical provider that your injury or exposure is work related. Follow your physician’s instructions or treatment plan.
- Provide your supervisor with a Workers’ Compensation Work Status Report (DWC 73) from your medical provider after receiving medical attention.
- Workers’ Compensation insurance my cover part of the cost of the treatment of the injury or exposure. For law enforcement officers, the cost of baseline testing will be covered only if done within 10 days of an exposure to a reportable disease. For other state employees, the cost of baseline testing will be covered only if done within 10 days of an exposue to HIV. This provision applies to baseline testing and not to follow-up testing or prophylactic treatment. Contact the Workers’ Compensation Coordinator in the Environmental Health & Safety Department at 567-2955 for more information.
- You should not be billed for medical expenses. If you receive any bills, contact the Workers’ Compensation Coordinator.
- Report to your supervisor or the Environmental Health & Safety Department at 567-2955 any unsafe condition that caused the infectious disease exposure.
