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About...
The Ben Franklin Tuberculosis (TB) Control Program controls and prevents TB in Columbus and Franklin County. Services include education, screening, treatment, and prevention activities.
Program Services
TB screenings-TB Clinic The TB clinic performs TB screenings for clients at risk for TB by performing a symptom review, TB skin tests , and the QuantiFERON TB-Gold Blood Test (QFT). Starting January 2008 the TB program will primarily use the QFT Blood Test to screen for TB exposure. A TB screening tells if someone has been exposed to active TB disease. If the screening test is positive, a nurse does an assessment for risk factors and sends the client for a chest x-ray (off-site) to determine if the person has active TB disease or latent TB infection. Click here for clinic brochure. Medication appointments-TB Clinic If a person does have latent TB infection, they may be given medication to treat this condition. Medications to treat latent TB infection are given out during pre-scheduled appointments, during which a nurse also assesses how you are doing. Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) The Direct Observed Therapy (DOT)/Outreach Program provides medications and other direct care services to treat active TB disease patients in a place convenient for them. This is done to make sure that they complete their treatment. The DOT staff also provides TB outreach to people at-risk for TB and works with family members and close contacts of active TB disease patients, checking them for disease/ exposure and providing them medications if needed. Education The TB Program provides education about latent TB infection and active TB disease for patients, agencies, health care providers, and to the general community. Staff serve as a primary TB resource for Franklin County for guidance about TB surveillance, reporting requirements, infection control practices, and treatment guidelines. Call (614) 645-2199 for more information.
Who Is The Program For?
The program only serves people who live in Franklin County AND are at risk for being exposed to TB or at risk for progressing to active disease should they be exposed. Take this quiz to determine if you are at risk. 1. Are you HIV positive? 2. Have you ever had a chest x-ray that was "suggestive" of TB? 3. Do you have close contact with someone who has infectious TB? 4. Have you had an organ transplant? 5. Are you immunosuppressed for other reasons (e.g., taking the equivalent of >15 mg/day of prednisone for 1 month or more, taking TNF-alpha antagonists) 6. Do you have any of the following chronic medical problems (silicosis, diabetes, kidney disease, or cancer of the lung, head, or neck)? 7. Were you born in a country where TB is common? 8. Have you traveled outside the US since your last TB test? 9. Do you use IV drugs? 10. Are you living or working in a congregrette setting (homeless shelter, jail/prision, nursing home)? 11. Are you a healthcare worker? If you answered “YES” to ANY of the above questions it is recommended, that you be screened for tuberculosis. If you answered “NO” to ALL the above questions it is NOT recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The American Thoracic Society that you be screened for Tuberculosis. As mentioned above, skin testing programs should be conducted only among high-risk groups. But certain individuals may require tuberculin skin test (TST) for employment or school attendance. Should you require a TST and do not have any risk factors for TB disease (answered “NO” to ALL the above questions) please visit your primary healthcare provider. If you do not have a primary healthcare provider click here for a list of local health centers or "Little Clinics".
How To Use The Program
The TB Clinic has same day and scheduled appointments for all services. Same day appointments are used for scheduling TB screening tests and walk-in visits to see a nurse. When the schedule is filled for that day you will be directed to return the following regular work day unless you have a critical TB problem. The wait time for a TB screening may be up to 2-3 hours depending upon how many clients are on the same day appointment schedule to be screened. Same day appointment hours for TB screening tests are as follows: - Mondays: 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM
- Tuesdays: 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM
If you get a skin test, you must come back to have someone read your skin test 48 to 72 hours after your test is placed. After 72 hours (the third day), the test expires, and you may need to redo the test in order to get a result. Please take careful note of the schedule given to you when you receive your test so that you do not miss your reading time. If you get the QuantiFERON TB-Gold Blood Test your results will be ready in a week. If you are sent to the walk-in clinic for a chest x-ray by your job or doctor, you are assessed for risk factors before receiving the chest x-ray. Please bring the millimeter measurement of you skin test and referral from your doctor. If necessary, you will be given a voucher to take to one of our off-site chest x-ray partners. Remember to take your insurance information with you.
Cost
All Clinic services have a fee associated with them. The following are the most common services provided, if medically indicated. TB Skin Test $20 QuantiFERON® Blood Test $100 Nurse visit for medication refill $20 Nurse visit for medical records of previous test/treatment NO CHARGE Chest X-Ray Adult: $51.52 Pediatric: $81 We accept Cash, Check/ Money order, Medicare, Medicaid, CareSource, Molina, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Partnership Plan, and United Healthcare to cover these fees. Please bring your insurance information with you to each visit. You are responsible for any co-pays and deductibles that are required by your insurance company. A sliding fees scale is used for those without insurance. No one is denied services if they cannot pay.
Location
We are located at the Columbus Public Health Department at 240 Parsons Ave., second floor. Our Direct Observed Therapy Outreach Team visits patients with active TB where they live or work. Staff also meet in the community with family and close contacts of persons with active TB.
Hours
The TB Program is undergoing an Information System conversion May 2008. Click here for the list of temporary changes in our services and hours of operations. All Clinic visits are done through pre-scheduled or same day appointments. If the schedule for same day appointments is filled you will be directed to return the next regular work day unless you have a critical TB issue. Same day appointment hours to see a nurse: - Mondays: 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM
- Tuesdays: 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM
- Wednesdays: 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM
- Thursdays: 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM
- Fridays: 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Medications are given out by scheduled appointments during the above times. Call 645-2199 to schedule an appointment. The TB Clinic experiences heavy usage. There may be a wait. Translation services are available.
Program Publications
2007 Ben Franklin TB Control Program Annual Report 2008 TB Risk Assessment for Franklin County, Ohio Trends in Tuberculosis, Franklin County Ohio 1996-2005 (PDF)
Resources and Links
The TB skin test, also known as the PPD test or Mantoux test QuantiFERON ® TB Gold Blood Test Latent TB Infection (LTBI) Active TB Disease Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: TB Guidelines: http://www.cdc.gov/tb/pubs/mmwr/maj_guide.htm Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Tuberculosis Home Page http://www.cdc.gov/tb/faqs/default.htm Tuberculosis Net: Teaching Materials: http://www.findtbresources.org/scripts/index.cfm
Forms and Applications
The TB Clinic Registration Form needs to be filled out to be able to access our services. Remember to bring your insurance information and personal identification cards such as a Driver's License, student ID, Passport, immigration papers, or your Social Security Card. Click on the underlined TB Clinic Registration Form to open a copy of the Registration Form. Print yourself a copy, fill it out, and bring it in to register with us to help decrease your wait time in the TB Clinic.
Contact Us
You can call us at (614) 645-2199 for our hours and directions.
Additional Information
Remember, the wait can be long, arrive early. We no longer send chest x-ray results in the mail. Please keep your doctor appointment to review your results.
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