Tuberculosis (TB) Control Program Information For Healthcare Providers

How to Report Active/Suspect TB Cases

Mandatory TB Reporting Requirements 

In accordance with California Regulations and California Health and Safety Code 121365, suspected or confirmed active TB disease must be reported to the San Luis Obispo County TB Control Program within 24 hours of initial suspicion. 

GOTCH Law for In-patients at Healthcare or Correctional Facilities

Prior to the discharge or transfer of patients with confirmed or suspected TB, California Health and Safety Code Section 121361 requires all correctional facilities and all health care facilities (including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and nursing homes) to obtain written approval of the treatment plan by the Health Officer (Tuberculosis Controller) of the county in which the facility is located. This does not apply when there is an immediate need to transfer for a higher level of care.

The TB Program has 24 hours to review the GOTCH form. To make a request after-hours, you must contact the Health Officer on-call at 805-781-4553.

To expedite approval, please submit an initial GOTCH form along with pertinent medical records: physician notes, medication list and dosages, radiology reports, current weight, diagnostic testing for TB (AFB smears/cultures, molecular diagnostic tests, pathology and cytology reports for body fluids), uric acid test results, HIV test results, baseline CMP and CBC results as soon as a patient is suspected of having TB. When a GOTCH form is received, a Public Health Nurse Case Manager is assigned and begins the evaluation of the household to ensure a safe transition home for patients and their families.

Download the GOTCH Form

Reference

Tuberculosis (TB) Testing
Latent Tuberculosis (TB) Treatment
CMR-Form-B
SLO TB Discharge Treatment Plan