Services Available

Dallas County Health And Human Services Tuberculosis Elimination Division has many services available to the public and to the health care profession. Among them are consultation and information to health professionals on TB related matters, medication therapy through the direct observed therapy (DOT), delivery of Direct Observed Preventive Therapy (DOPT) to school age children in a collaborative effort with area school districts, case management of TB cases, referrals to other agencies or providers when appropriate, disease surveillance and investigation, complete evaluation and treatment for tuberculosis infection or disease upon referral from other health care providers, court ordered quarantine of noncompliant patients when applicable.

DEPARTMENT SERVICES

1. TB Elimination Clinic

Dispense TB medication, PPD testing, chest x-ray, blood draw, sputum collection, blood pressure, weight, visual acuity, audiogram, health history, toxicity assessments (physician/nurse), consultation to infection control nurses, private physicians, follow up on referrals from medical community and contact investigation.

2. Disease Surveillance and Investigation

Provide medical epidemiology intake service including receiving and coordinating referrals from providers and institutions.

3. TB Outreach Services

Locate patients/refugees, identify contacts, collect sputum, deliver RX. and CPX, administer DOT and DOPT, transport patients/refugees, social services ( assist patients.)

4. TB Refugee Screening Program

TB testing, Ova and parasite testing, patient assessment including: medical history, vital signs, vision and hearing testing, glucose and anemia screening.

5. Special Populations

Screening activities of people at high risk for TB, education presentations, TB testing at drug treatment centers, HIV pre and post test counseling, serve as liaison between the health department and methadone clinics, perform monthly toxicity checks on patients that receive DOT and DOPT.

6. TB Field Nurses

Home visits, case management, DOT, DOPT, toxicity checks, contact
investigation, PPD testing, blood draws, injections, sputum collection, locate and transport patients, health history and TB screening of homeless shelters.

LAWS

Confirmed or suspected cases of tuberculosis is reportable by state law to the local health department in addition to tuberculosis infection in persons less than 15 years of age . Tuberculosis disease shall be reported within one working day of identification with the following minimal information: name, city, age, date of birth, sex, race and ethnicity, physician, disease, type of diagnosis, date of onset, type of antibiotics and antibiotic susceptibility: COMMUNICABLE DISEASE PREVENTION AND CONTROL ACT, HEALTH and SAFETY CODE, CHAPTER 81.

Court Ordered Management ( Quarantine )

Tuberculosis Elimination Department is able to obtain a court ordered management of TB for a small number of patients who are unable or unwilling to adhere to treatment recommendations of their local health department in accordance with CHAPTER 81, SUBCHAPTER G (LAW ) of the Texas Health and Safety Code.

TB Statistics

Click Here for TB Statistics for Dallas County and State of Texas