Tuberculosis Program

Information for Physicians

How do I refer a client to the Multnomah County TB Program?

A physician can refer any client to the TB clinic that meets the eligibility requirement.

How do I report a case of active TB to the TB Program?

It is state law (OAR 333-018-005) that all active TB cases be reported to the local health department. A physician must report both suspect and confirmed cases. You may call the MCHD TB Program at 503 988-3417 to report your case. Please have the following information available when calling the TB program:

• Case/suspect’s identification and demographics (name, address, phone numbers, race, date of birth, sex, and place of birth)
• Clinical information (hospitalizations related to current diagnosis, smear and culture results, x-ray reports results, biopsy results, client treatment plan (if available)
• Site of suspected of active disease (lung, pleura, lymph, abdominal, etc.)
• Physician’s contact information.

After a TB case report is made it is assigned to a registered nurse case manager. The assigned case manager will contact your office to discuss the treatment plan. The TB clinic has a medical director on staff that can manage your patient’s treatment.

If a client has co-existing medical conditions, it is recommended that their managing physician direct TB treatment with consultation from the TB medical director as needed. The TB Program case manager will work with the treating physician to provide follow-up, directly observed medication management and side effects management.

How do I transfer TB case or latent TB treatment to Multnomah County TB Program?

Call the Multnomah County TB Program at 503-988-3417 (press option 7 for providers).

Additional Resources

Oregon Department of Human Services, Tuberculosis Control
oregon.gov/DHS/ph/tb/

Page updated January 19, 2010