Medical Consultation
Medical and nursing consultation and technical assistance with various aspects of TB control are available at no cost to physicians, nurses and other health care professionals in the thirteen states that comprise the Heartland Region.
HNTC Regional Medical Consultation Services Plan
Download the current plan (PDF ▣ HTML ▣ 12/2/2009).
View the State-Specific Consultation Processes (Last Updated: 7/24/2008).
Common Reasons for Consultation
- Diagnostic Evaluation of TB Suspects
- Treatment Recommendations: LTBI and TB Disease
- Resistance to One or More First-Line TB Drugs
- Failure to Convert AFB Smears/Cultures after 2-3 Months of Treatment
- Treatment Failure
- Relapse of TB Disease
- Adverse Drug Effects: GI Upset, Rash, Hepatitis, etc.
- Pediatric TB
- TB in the Setting of HIV Infection
- Coexisting Conditions: Renal Insufficiency, Hepatic Disease, Pregnancy
- Nonadherence with Treatment
- Evaluation and Treatment of Contacts to an Infectious TB Case
- Nurse Case Management
How to Access Our Services
Consultation may be requested through your state's TB Control Program or by contacting Heartland National TB Center directly at our toll-free number:
1-800-TEX-LUNG (1-800-839-5864)
The consultation line is staffed Monday — Friday, from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM, Central Time. After business hours, voice mail service is available. Voice mail messages will be returned within one business day.
You may also contact:
- Alisha Blair at 210-531-4546 or alisha.blair@uthct.edu;
- Catalina Navarro at 210-531-4569 or catalina.navarro@uthct.edu;
- Debbie Onofre at 210-531-4539 or debbie.onofre@uthct.edu.
Responses
Response to your inquiry is determined by the nature of the request and your stated preference. Recommendations may take the form of a written consult, an email reply or telephone consultation. A copy of the written consult or email will be shared with the TB Controller in your state so that they are aware of the recommendations made and can better participate in the care of the patient. Semi-annual summary reports of consultation activity are made available to the TB Control Program in each state. HNTC tracks and reports to the CDC the number and nature of consultation requests in order to inform our educational activities and to document the most frequently asked questions about TB prevention and control.