Wetmore Regional TB Clinic

Wetmore Regional Tubercolosis Clinic Location

Location:  Charity Hospital
C-600 6th Floor Center
1532 Tulane Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone (504) 568-8839
Fax (504) 568-8890

Hours of Operation:

Services Available:

• Diagnostic studies and outpatient supervision of TB contacts, suspects and positive tuberculin SKIN TEST reactors.
• Provide quality treatment of TB patients before and after discharge from the hospital, in lieu of hospitalization, to insure that treatment continues for the prescribed period of time.
• Preventive treatment of all persons considered at high risk of developing tuberculosis.
• Maintenance of a Central Register for the purpose of monitoring and coordination of all TB treatment and follow-up activities.
• TB health education and research.
• Directly observed therapy.

The Wetmore Clinic provides free medications to all patients regardless of income or treatment agency.

Wetmore Regional TB Clinic Staff 

The Staff consists of Doctors, Public Health Nurses, Senior X-Ray Technician, Social Worker and Disease Intervention Specialists.

Goals
Our goal is to lower the morbidity and mortality from tuberculosis and ultimately obtain eradication of the disease. To reach this goal the clinic intends to:

1. Reduce the risk of becoming infected for persons not yet infected.
2. Reduce the risk of developing the disease once a person is infected.
3. Reduce the risk of severe complications and death upon contracting tuberculosis.

Methods

The methods used to reduce these risks are:

1. Case Finding: Among symptomatic persons, in groups with high prevalence of tuberculosis infection or disease (close contacts of tuberculosis cases for example) or in groups where the presence of a single case could provoke a major outbreak, such as:

A. Nursing Homes
B. Prisons/Jails
C. The Homeless
D. Drug Treatment Programs
E. Immunosuppressed Individuals

2. Treatment and follow-up of cases of tuberculosis combined with early diagnosis to reduce the risk of complications and death. Treatment of infectious case, by sterilizing the main source of bacilli is the best way to reduce the risk of infection of the population.

3. Early detection of infection combined with preventive treatment to reduce the risk of developing disease.

4. Preventive treatment of "not infected" contacts to reduce the risk of infection/disease.

5. Education of infected person(s), cases and the general population, is a major component of a sound prevention program.

History of Tubercolosis Care  in New Orleans
Tuberculosis control has existed in New Orleans for 56 years. The program was founded in January 1943 when three Public Health Nurses were assigned to the tuberculosis program. Previously, these nurses were assigned to 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 tubercular patients in the New Orleans area.
• The Wetmore Clinic as it is known today was named in memory of Charles and Elizabeth Wetmore, is presently housed in Charity Hospital C-600 6th Floor Center at 1532 Tulane Avenue, where space is shared with Tulane and LSU TB and Chest Clinics share space.
• 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 need for treatment in the New Orleans area. In the joint city/state venture both parties provide support service in terms of personnel and necessary expenditures.
• The clinic is open five (5) days a week, seven (7) clinic sessions are held each week, five (5) adult sessions and tow (2) pediatric sessions.