Use of the University of Maryland School of Medicine Anatomy Lab

NO PHOTOGRAPHS OR VIDEOS MAY BE TAKEN IN THE LAB

DO NOT TAKE ANYTHING FROM THE LAB

DO NOT BRING IN VISITORS

A. Anatomic Gifts

Our School is a member of the Maryland State Anatomy Board to which our donors have given of themselves. Persons donating their body receive no financial compensation and donate with informed consent. This is truly an ultimate gift. Hence it is imperative that proper respect be paid to the donor at all times. You are required to observe professional conduct both within the laboratory itself and whenever discussing anything related to a donor the same way you would with a patient. Consider this individual to be your first patient and behave accordingly.

Disrespect or unprofessional conduct with our donors will not be tolerated and may result in a Professional Conduct Evaluation (see Student Handbook). If you are unsure of appropriate conduct ask instructional staff.

The State Anatomy Board holds a memorial service for all of the donors within the program every Spring (mid-late June) where students, faculty and staff pay their respects to the donors and their families. A reminder of the service will be sent out to your class close to the date.

B. Care of our donors

Your donor is at risk of dehydration while we study anatomy and needs to be kept moist at all times. This is achieved by covering the donor with towel moistened with wetting agent from the spray bottles at each table.  Best practice is to uncover only the area you are studying, both as an indication of respect as well as to protect other areas from dehydration. When working on an area, occasionally moisten the area using the wetting agent spray bottle to keep the area hydrated. When you are finished for a day, replace the towel covering, close the inner plastic sheet securing it with hemostats, zipper closed the outer white outer bag, and finally cover the donor with the blue sheet.

You would not forget to replace a patient’s bandages; you should not forget to replace donor coverings!

C. Care of Computers/Models/Books

You may use the touch panel and large screen computers along with the anatomical models and books at any time during your studies. Please try to keep the touch panel computer screen clean with provided leaning cloths at supplies tables.

D. Laboratory Access

During your studies in anatomy you have  access to the laboratory via key card entry at the front door from 6am through to 11pm.  However, access will be restricted afternoons prior to exams and may be restricted at other times should there be safety concerns or building repairs occurring.

E. Laboratory Safety

a. Attire: Donors are embalmed with a fluid containing glycerin, ethyl alcohol and formaldehyde-phenol. While this fluid is safe  for incidental contact, prolonged or repetitive physical contact to your skin should be avoided. You are required to wear the following in the anatomy labs:

• Scrubs - Scrubs must be worn when working within the lab. If you do forget scrubs let an instructor know as the lab has a limited number of disposable gowns for emergency use.

• Face Shields - These are provided and must be worn whenever working in the lab to provide eye protection. Keep your face-shield in your locker between sessions and for future classes in the lab. Emergency eyewash stations are present at the hand wash stations if you do experience a fluid eye contact. If that occurs, inform an instructor immediately and seek appropriate medical attention.

• Gloves - Disposable nitrile (non-latex powerless) gloves are available at he supply areas of the lab and must be work when working in the lab. Nitrile is a lower allergenic compound compared to latex, but if you do experience any reactions please let your anatomy director know promptly (e.g. hand redness, tingling, numbness). The lab has supplemental barrier hand creams and other options that can be explored for allergen protection. Discard gloves into the regular waste containers to the sides of the lab (do not put them in the red human remains only biohazard containers).

• Closed Toe Shoes - Shoes must cover your entire foot. No open toe shoes or sandal footwear is permitted within the lab.

• Other Personal Possessions - Papers, notes, books, or other personal study items may be brought to the lab at your discretion.  Non-study personal items that do not fit within your scrubs pockets may not be brought to the lab and should be kept in your lockers (e.g. backpacks, bags, etc.). During inclement weather that may dictate a coat/umbrella there is an area to the right outside the lab entrance where those items can be placed.

b. Foodstuffs: Food and drinks are not permitted in the main lab as this is a biosafety area. If you have a medical requirement for access to food, medication, or fluids inform the instructional staff of your needs and we will do our best to accommodate them.

d. Human Remains: All tissues removed from the donor must be collected and placed only in the designated human remains biohazard containers. Do not discard paper towels, gloves, etc. in these biohazard containers, use the regular trash cans next to the sink for those items.

e. Fluids: Under each table is a drain and fluid collection bucket. Check this regularly and empty any excess liquid that has accumulated in the collecting bucket from under the table drain into the fluid waste drum at the rear of the lab. If you spill any embalming fluid advise instructional staff so that appropriate cleanup can take place.

f. Dissection Instruments: During dissection you will be using sharp instruments, scissors, scalpels, saws, etc. Safe handling of these tools is paramount. The introductory videos on surgical instrument handling are linked in the dissector and must be viewed prior to starting in the lab. Used scalpel blades must be discarded only in designated sharps containers.

g Ventilation: The ventilation system in the lab is designed to replace the air in the lab at the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) mandated rate to reduce exposure to the embalming chemicals and odors. Air safety testing by the campus Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) team occurs on a regular basis to validate exposures are within OSHA safety standards. If you have any medical or allergic conditions that make you sensitive to air quality inform the anatomy director who will work with you on having a personal chemical respirator fitted for your use in the lab. If you experience respiratory difficulties while in the lab, inform an instructor immediately and seek appropriate medical attention.

IF YOU ARE UNSURE OF CORRECT CONDUCT, ASK!