TB Program Structure

To perform the stated goals efficiently, the program is made up of four services. The four services are:

1. Clinical Services
2. Field (Outreach) Services
3. Surveillance Services
4. Administrative Support Services

1. Clinical Services

Clinical Services operates three TB clinics at the following locations in the County:

Health District Center

1350 NW 14th Street

Miami, FL 33125

Telephone number: (305) 575-5401

Little Haiti Health Center

300 N.E. 80th Terrace

Miami, Florida 33138

Telephone numbers: (305) 795-2100 and (305) 795-2030

West Perrine Health Center

18255 Homestead Ave.

Miami, Florida 33156

Telephone numbers: (305) 256-6315 and (305) 234-5400

The major responsibilities of Clinical Services are:

1. Physician Services, including:

• Diagnosis and treatment of patients with active tuberculosis.
• Diagnosis of patients with tuberculosis infection and treatment as indicated.

2. Nursing Services, including:

• Patient care of active TB cases.
• Case management of patients on Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) and Self-Administered Therapy.
• Patient care of suspected TB cases.
• Provision of medication to high-risk clients with Latent TB infection.

3. Radiological services including:

• X-ray screening for patients with latent TB infection.
• X-ray screening for patients on treatment to monitor progress.

4. Testing & Laboratory Services, including:

• Lab diagnostic services- smears and culture of sputum or other body fluids for TB bacteria.
• Lab testing for patients on medication to monitor adverse effects.

2. Field (Outreach) Services

Field Services is responsible for all Outreach activities aimed at screening and identifying persons exposed to Tuberculosis and for the administration of Directly Observed Therapy (DOT).

Field Services provides the following services:

1. Patient's Initial Interview
2. Contact Investigations
3. Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) Services and Directly Observed Preventive Therapy (DOPT) Services
4. Community Based Organizations (CBO) liaison
5. Institutional Outreach (i.e., correctional facilities, homeless shelters, etc.)
6. Social (holistic patient care) Services
7. Tuberculosis Education
8. Targeted Testing

3. Surveillance Services

Surveillance Services is responsible for all functions pertaining to reporting, surveillance and analyses of TB cases in the county, including:

1. Obtaining reports from physicians, laboratories, and hospitals on suspected cases of Tuberculosis
2. Liaison with reporting facilities to obtain TB confirmation.
3. Liaison with other providers to ensure compliance with standard of care for TB treatment.
4. Maintain a database of all suspected TB cases reported to the DOH and ensure a disposition on each report.
5. Report all confirmed cases of Tuberculosis to the State Bureau of TB Control.
6. Maintain a database of all reported B1 and B2 immigrants and refugees. 

• Evaluate B1 and B2 immigrants for TB within the stipulated time period. B1 and B2 are classifications established by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (former INS) based on X-rays of persons that come to the US as immigrants.
• The B1 classification designates active TB but not infectious.
• The B2 classification designates TB inactive.

7. Epidemiological and demographic reports on TB cases, TB suspects and other client analyses.

4. Administrative Support Services

Administrative Support Services is responsible for all program support services.