Policy
Per HIPAA laws, medical facility staff shall not release confidential patient data. Questions relating to the diagnosis of a patient who may have a potentially contagious disease or infection and with whom MPD employees may have been exposed shall be directed to the MPD Health and Wellness Coordinator. The MPD Health and Wellness Coordinator will liaison with the Infection Control Unit of the medical facility to determine if the patient’s medical status poses a risk of significant exposure to the MPD employee.
Definitions
Refer to the Commonly Used Terms page for general definitions.
- Significant Exposure:
Having sustained a contact which carries a potential for a transmission of bloodborne pathogens by one or more of the following means:
- A skin puncture by a needle or sharp object that has had contact with blood or body fluid from another person
- Blood or bodily fluids of another person in contact with the mucus membranes or eyes
- Any contamination of open skin (cuts, abrasions, blisters, open dermatitis) by blood or body fluids, or bites that break the skin
- Blood or blood-containing fluids in contact with skin longer than 5 minutes
Note: Fluids such as urine, saliva, vomit and stool are considered significant only when they contain visible blood. Significant exposure to diseases communicable by airborne transmission (including tuberculosis, chicken pox, measles, and pertussis) will be confirmed and follow-up will be determined with the help of Public Health.