UT Police (EMERGENCY) DIAL 911 or 794-4357 (500-HELP)
UT Health Services (713) 500-3267
Policy 18.03 Medical Emergencies, Minor Injuries/Illnesses
When a member of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) community incurs, or encounters someone who has incurred an injury or illness on university property, the incident should be handled expediently, efficiently, and calmly. To accomplish this, employees and students should familiarize themselves in advance of encountering medical emergencies with basic procedures provided herein.
Procedure
I. Employees
A. Life-threatening Injuries/Illnesses
If a UTHealth employee incurs an injury/illness that appears to be life-threatening, the person reporting the incident should immediately contact The University of Texas Police Department (UTPD) and provide the dispatcher with:
- his or her name;
- his or her location;
- name of the injured/ill person;
- name of the injury/illness, if known;
- any special directions regarding the situation.
Unless otherwise requested or indicated, the injured/ill employee should be transported by ambulance to the appropriate health care facility.
If the incident specifically involves an injury to a UTHealth employee, the employee's supervisor must prepare a Supervisor's First Report of Injury form as soon as possible.
B. Minor Injuries/Illnesses
If a UTHealth employee incurs a minor injury, the injured employee's supervisor must prepare a Supervisor's First Report of Injury form. If the employee chooses to seek medical attention through the UTHealth, the employee's supervisor should contact Student Health or Employee Health Services to schedule an appointment for the employee. If the injured employee chooses to see his or her personal physician, the employee should advise the physician to contact the UTHealth Office of Risk Management (713-500-8100)for billing instructions. The injured employee must have the pink copy of the Supervisor's First Report of Injury form with him or her when visiting Student Health or Employee Health Services or a personal physician.
If a UTHealth employee experiences symptoms of a non-life-threatening illness, the name of the employee's personal physician should be obtained, then that physician should be contacted for directions on how to deal with the situation. If the ill employee has no personal physician, the employee may be directed to Student Health or Employee Health Services or to an emergency treatment center. For more detailed information regarding UTHealth employee injuries/illnesses, refer to HOOP Policy #100 – Worker’s Compensation Insurance and Temporary Modified Duty.
II. Students, Patients, or Visitors
A. Life-threatening Injuries/Illnesses
If a student, patient, or visitor incurs an injury/illness that appears to be life-threatening, the person reporting the incident should immediately contact UTPD and provide the dispatcher with:
- his or her name;
- his or her location;
- name of the injured/ill person;
- name of the injury/illness, if known;
- any special directions regarding the situation.
Unless otherwise requested or indicated, the injured or ill student, patient, or visitor should be transported by ambulance to the appropriate health care facility.
The department supervisor or class instructor of the area in which the incident occurred should be informed of the incident immediately.
B. Minor Injuries
If a student, patient, or visitor is injured, the department supervisor/instructor of the area in which the incident occurred must be advised immediately of the incident. If the injured person is a patient or visitor, that supervisor/instructor will request information from the injured person such as name, and nature of the injury, and will advise that person to seek medical attention from a physician of his or her choice.
If a student is injured, the supervisor/instructor will request information and advise the student that he or she may seek medical attention through the UTHealth or through his or her personal physician. If the student chooses to seek medical attention through the UTHealth, the supervisor/instructor should contact Student and Employee Health Services to schedule an appointment for the injured student.
Link to Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOOP) Policies
