Bayou Page LSUHSC Wetmore TB Education

LSU Health Sciences Center
Wetmore TB Foundation
TB Education

Community Education...........

Bayou Page -- Basic Information and Resources Available:
(Source: TB handout by Albert Fournette, Jr. Office Manager, TB Control/Wetmore Clinic)

Contact Resources ----- TB cases - New Reports - Louisiana 2000

...HISTORY

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Prevention Update

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Tuberculosis control has existed in New Orleans for over half a century. The program was founded in January 1943 when three public health nurses were assigned to the tuberculosis program. Previously, these nurses worked for The Orleans Anti-Tuberculosis League. Their reassignment to the New Orleans Health Department marked the beginning of a formal city TB program. From the clinic's inception, its role has not changed: to treat and care for the tuberculosis patients in the New Orleans area.

The Wetmore Clinic, as it is known today, is presently housed in the Charity Hospital building where it shares space with the LSU and Tulane TB and Chest Clinics.

In August 1990 the State of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans entered into a cooperative agreement to improve the Tuberculosis Program. These program enhancements were necessary in light of the limited staff available for TB control as well as the increased incidence of TB in the New Orleans area. In the joint city/state venture both parties provide support services in terms of personnel and other expenditures.

...STAFF

The Wetmore Clinic Staff consists of a clinic administrator, public health nurses, an office manager, clerks, an X-ray technician, a social worker, a pharmacist and disease intervention specialists (regional staff positions). The clinic is open five (5) days per week. Six (6) clinic sessions are held each week: four (4) clinic sessions are for adults and two (2) are for pediatric patients.

...SERVICES AVAILABLE

The Wetmore Clinic offers the following:

1.Treatment of TB patients before and after discharge from the hospital and in lieu of hospitalization, to insure that treatment continues for the prescribed period of time.
2. Diagnostic studies and out-patient supervision of TB contacts and suspects, and positive tuberculin reactors.
3. Preventive treatment of persons considered at high risk of developing active tuberculosis.
4. Maintenance of a central register for monitoring and coordination of all TB treatment and follow-up activities.
5. TB health education and research.
6. Directly observed therapy (DOT).
7. Free medications to all patients regardless of income.

...Goals

The goal of the Wetmore Clinic is to lower the morbidity and mortality from tuberculosis and ultimately eradicate the disease. To reach this goal the clinic aims are:

1. to reduce the risk of becoming infected for persons not yet infected.
2. to reduce the risk of developing the disease once a person has been infected.
3. to reduce the risk of severe complications and death once the disease has been developed.

...Contact persons:

Keta Lowe,, MSW, BCSW
Executive Director
Wetmore Foundation
4700 Hessemer Avenue
Metairie, LA 70002
Tel: (504) 779-1888
Fax: (504) 779-1830

J . Scott Jones
Administrator
Louisiana State TB Program, Office of Public Health,
State of Louisiana, Department of Health & Hospitals
Tel: (504) 568- 5015
Fax: (504 ) 568-5016

Charles Degraw
Consultant, TB Program
Office of Public Health

Rebecca Meriwether, M.D.
Executive Director
Office of Public health

Louise McFarland, Ph.D
State Epidemiologist
Office of Public Health

...Louisiana TB Statistics

Last modified: Feb 26, 2003

Disclaimer: The material on the LSU-Wetmore TB website and subsequent e-mail correspondence in respone to your queries is for general information only. It is not meant to constitute a patient-physician relationship and whereas confidentiality will be maintained, it cannot be guaranteed. If you have any further questions, you should consult your personal physician or qualified health care provider in your area for specific advice and follow-up.