Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tuberculosis topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Health department to meet with Ascension, Deaconess and Saint Mary’s on TB evaluation and support
Summary
Evansville health officials said they will meet with Ascension and other hospital partners to arrange shared diagnostic support for tuberculosis patients and to confirm how care and medications will be provided.
The Evansville City health department said it has arranged a meeting with Ascension and representatives from Deaconess and Saint Mary’s next week to coordinate diagnostic and clinical support for tuberculosis (TB) patients.
Officials said the department currently has seven patients receiving directly observed therapy (DOT) and no newly confirmed active pulmonary cases in its jurisdiction; one case discussed during the meeting originated in Gibson County. The planned meeting aims to secure hospital commitments to provide imaging and laboratory support and to clarify which institution will take primary clinical responsibility for patients who need evaluation and clearance.
Health staff described a proposal under discussion in which hospitals would provide a set amount of free X‑rays and laboratory tests and possibly accept patients for clinical follow‑up. Saint Mary’s was described as interested in “taking the patients on and doing the care,” including clinical clearance and residency participation in care delivery; the health department said it would help obtain medications if hospitals assume patient management. Deaconess staff said they would participate if Ascension does; otherwise they may not.
Board members also raised the department’s broader workload tied to TB: although the number of active DOT cases is small, staff said the health department holds records for roughly 200–300 people with latent TB infection (LTBI) whose treatment status is unclear. Officials warned that the first year after infection carries the highest risk of progression to active disease and that moving LTBI patients into treatment remains a high priority to prevent future transmission.
Discussion at the meeting touched on possible friction with hospitals that may wish to retain patients for residency training or other reasons, and on ways to coordinate referrals so the health department and hospital partners can share clinical responsibilities without duplicating services.
The health department said it will report back to the board after next week’s meeting with Ascension and other hospital representatives.
