245911 Promoting a tuberculosis free community: One referral at a time

Monday, October 31, 2011

Sandra S. Morano, BA, RN , Stamford Department of Health and Social Services, Public Health Nursing, Stamford, CT
Olga M. Brown-Vanderpool, BSN, MPH, MA , Nursing Services, Stamford Department of Health and Social Services, Stamford, CT
Anne T. Fountain, MPH , Director of Health and Social Services, Stamford Department of Health and Social Services, Stamford, CT
In 2008 and 2010 Stamford, CT had the highest incidence of active tuberculosis, 11 and 9 cases respectively. 306 latent cases were followed in 2010. In order to prevent tuberculosis, education is required to make choices to keep bodies and communities healthy. A referral system is in place in collaboration with the Stamford Health Department clinics, 5 FQHCs, local hospitals, the State Dept. of Health and the CDC. Stamford is located 38 miles outside of NY City.

Patient/family education includes: one on one teaching, posters, health fairs and World TB Day. The local medical community, includes, residents, medical students, and nurses from: public health, schools, community health centers and the hospital, also obtain TB education and the most current recommendations and guidelines through the Stamford Health Department. Additional educational opportunities are available in: high school CNA classes, ADRNs in a local community college, an RN internship and MD/MPH student tours.

Approximately 85% of non-pregnant referrals are compliant with the first clinic appointment, compared to 52% of the pregnant referrals. The inherent problem being that pregnant TB referrals are not treated until after delivery and breastfeeding.

In conclusion, a healthy tuberculosis free community is dependent on an intact/utilized referral system. Collaboration between the local and state health departments as well as a systematic EXCEL spreadsheet is helpful to evaluate the TB program.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related nursing

Learning Objectives:
1.Demonstrate the systematic way to locate individuals and groups in the community who need tuberculosis education and/or preventative therapy. 2.Identify 5 educational tools for clients and health educators including individual patient/family teaching, multilingual reading materials, visuals posted in strategic places, health fairs and lunch and learns. 3.Assess the 2010 strengths and weaknesses of TB program referral system.

Keywords: Tuberculosis, Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the Tuberculosis Coordinator for the City of Stamford for 4 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.