There are many healthcare workers that wind up on the receiving end of medical treatment after being exposed to an infectious disease. Any time a patient that carries an infectious disease, they can expose it to unsuspecting medical workers especially in times of emergency treatment when the diseases are not properly disclosed.
Ambulance personnel and other emergency medical workers are prone to being stuck with needles that are infected by accident or when patients become violent. These workers will then need to be tested at length and perhaps for a long period of time for evidence of infectious disease like hepatitis and HIV.
Most in the healthcare industry take the proper precautions to prevent such incidents and employers need to stay on top of the important safety standards to protect workers. Vaccinations and protocol for emergency situations are crucial to workers’ safety. There must be precautions taken to prevent the unnecessary spread of disease in the healthcare workplace including protective equipment, proper training of staff, and follow up care for when events do occur.
Infectious diseases can have a serious long-term impact on your life, especially as some of the conditions currently do not have a cure. Your regular physician may not be able to provide that long-term care and you may be referred to a specialty doctor, a medical microbiologist, for further evaluation, testing, diagnosis, and treatment.
If you have been infected while on the job, it is urgent you get medical attention. You will also need the guidance of a professional attorney experienced in the complexities of workers compensation. Call our office for a free consultation at 888-799-3918 or use our online form for more information.