GME Exposures (e.g., Needlesticks) and State Workers Comp Procedures

As a UT GME Resident/Fellow, if you are injured while working (e.g., needle stick or exposed to blood/body fluid, etc.), you must report the injury or exposure to hospital or office/clinic in which you are working (typically Erlanger, our primary clinical training site).  You must also report the incident to the GME Office so staff can guide you in reporting the injury to the State of Tennessee Workers Compensation provider called "CorVel."

First, the Resident/Fellow must notify his/her Supervising Faculty and/or Program Director as soon as the exposure/incident occurs.

Next, the Resident/Fellow should seek assistance from the Head Nurse or Supervising Nurse in the area where the incident occurred, or from the Erlanger House Supervisor/Erlanger Administrator On-Call.  To reach this individual, the Resident/Fellow should call 423.778.6168.  This person can assist in completing the Erlanger Exposure Form for Non-Employees.  This will include details about the incident (where, when, what, how, and the exact part of the body that was injured such as left ring finger.)  Once the form is completed, the House Supervisor/Administrator can sent it to Erlanger Infection Prevention and Erlanger ExpressCare/Employee Health.  The Head Nurse or House Supervisor/Administrator will advise if you need any medical treatment beyond first aid.  Typically this would involve going to Erlanger ExpressCare or the Emergency Department if any blood work should be done.  Erlanger would cover these immediate screening measures.  If you are advised that additional medical care would be needed, that would be handled through the University's Workers Comp through CorVel.

After thoroughly complying with Erlanger reporting guidelines for exposures, as UT employees, the Resident/Fellow must follow the UT Risk Management Process of reporting via its main webpage:  https://riskmanagement.tennessee.edu/, and clicking on the left-hand link to Report an Incident.  You must call CorVel to be issued a Workers Comp Claim # that must be entered online to seek approval for a CorVel approved physician to be referred to see that provider.

Any injury, exposure, or incident must be reported within three (3) working days (M-F) in order that your Department will not be subject to a $500 fine.  Also, all injuries must be reported to CorVel and approved before getting medical care beyond the initial first aid provided.

Please remember that, before seeking medical treatment after the initial first aid or blood draws by Erlanger, you must report the injury to the UT Workers Comp agency (CorVel) at 866.245.8588 and choose Option 1 (a 24/7 Nurse Line).  The CorVel Nurse is the one who will determine the appropriate level of treatment needed and will direct you to the nearest STATE APPROVED treatment facility.  Please, DO NOT go to a doctor before you get approval from CorVel.

Finally, be sure that your Supervisor (Program DIrector) and the GME Office are notified within 24 hours of reporting to CorVel.

Any invoices for physician services would be coordinated and submitted to CorVel.  Our GME Financial Coordinator, Nolan English, will work with CorVel for these matters. Please contact him within three (3) business days (M-F) at nolan.english@erlanger.org or by phone (423.778.3899). Please leave a phone message if the incident occurs in the evening or weekend.

View the UTHSC College of Medicine - Chattanooga GME Policy #748 for Exposure to Blood or Body Fluid including Needle Sticks via the first green button on the right-hand side of this page. 

View the full UT Risk Management Process for reporting an incident via the second green button.