Woods Wellness Center

Policy Purpose

To help avoid an outbreak of tuberculosis on campus, the following policy concerning risk screening and testing for tuberculosis is in place for William Woods University.

Tuberculosis Risk Screening Policy

All new students are required to complete a screening questionnaire to assess their risk factors for tuberculosis.

Administering risk screening questionnaire for all new students

The risk screening questionnaire is required for registered William Woods University students.

The risk screening questionnaire must be completed within the first two weeks of a student’s first academic term at William Woods University.

Evaluation of risk screening questionnaires

• Completed questionnaires will be sent to the WWU Woods Wellness Center. The WWU Woods Wellness Center is responsible for documenting the return of the form and the initial evaluation of each completed questionnaire. The following information, for evaluations needing further testing, will be indicated in each student’s medical file:

• • Date the questionnaire was received and evaluated
  • The number of “yes” responses checked in the questionnaire
  • Copy of completed questionnaire

• Students whose questionnaires contained all “no” responses are deemed NOT to be at risk for tuberculosis. These students do NOT need to be tested for tuberculosis and will be allowed to register for courses.

Students whose questionnaires contained one or more “yes” responses must undergo further evaluation and testing to determine if they have tuberculosis. These students will NOT be allowed to register for courses for the next academic term until further testing has been completed, and that restriction will be noted in their medical file. It is the responsibility of the WWU Woods Wellness Center to initially notify students that they need to undergo further testing for tuberculosis and that a registration restriction has been placed until testing is completed. Follow-up contact to arrange testing will be made by WWU Woods Wellness Center. Students will be allowed one week from time of notification to have testing completed. (see below).

Testing Policy

All students who answered “yes” to one or more questions on the risk screening questionnaire are required to undergo further evaluation and testing to determine whether they have tuberculosis. WWU Woods Wellness Center is responsible for notifying students of their need for further testing and should do so within the first two weeks of the current academic term. Students who need further testing must complete the evaluation process as soon as possible.

Testing Protocol

The following testing protocol should be followed for all students who answered “yes” to one or more questions on the screening questionnaire.

Step 1 — Tuberculosis Testing

All students who answered “yes” to one or more questions on the screening questionnaire are required to be screened by a healthcare provider to evaluate need for further TB testing. WWU Woods Wellness Center is responsible for administering this test. Once notified of their need to be tested for tuberculosis, students will be required to contact WWU Woods Wellness Center within one week after initial notification for testing to be completed. Students whose tuberculosis test is NEGATIVE and have not indicated any risk factors, are deemed NOT to be infected with tuberculosis and no further testing is needed. These students will be allowed to register for the subsequent academic term. It is the responsibility of WWU Woods Wellness Center to notify the student of the negative finding and to remove the registration hold if in place. It is the responsibility of the WWU Woods Wellness Center to ensure this update is made in the student’s medical file.

Students whose tuberculosis test is POSITIVE must undergo a chest x-ray and clinical evaluation to assess signs and symptoms of tuberculosis. It is the responsibility of WWU Woods Wellness Center to notify the student of the positive test result and the need for a chest x-ray.

Step 2 — Chest X-ray and Diagnosis

All students whose tuberculosis test is POSITIVE or are symptomatic for active tuberculosis disease must undergo a chest x-ray and physical exam with emphasis on signs and symptoms of tuberculosis. WWU Woods Wellness Center will make arrangements for these students to have a chest x-ray done at a qualified facility as soon as possible. A student who tests POSITIVE, but chest x-ray is NORMAL, and has a negative physical exam, does not have active tuberculosis disease but does meet the diagnostic criteria for latent tuberculosis infection. It is recommended that these students undergo treatment. It is the responsibility of WWU Woods Wellness Center to coordinate and document whether a student completes treatment. It is also the responsibility of WWU Woods Wellness Center to document if a student begins treatment but does not complete it, or if a student refuses treatment altogether. In these instances, the student is required to receive an annual symptom evaluation by WWU Woods Wellness Center before being allowed to register for subsequent academic terms. A student whose chest x-ray is ABNORMAL or students whom have signs and symptoms of TB need further testing to determine whether they have active tuberculosis disease. It is the responsibility of WWU Woods Wellness Center to notify the local health department that a student has a positive tuberculosis test result and an abnormal chest x-ray, and to seek guidance on further evaluation. One of the following three scenarios can be expected:

1) If upon further testing it is determined a student does not have active tuberculosis disease, a diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection is assumed. It is recommended that these students undergo treatment. It is the responsibility of WWU Woods Wellness Center to coordinate and document whether a student completes treatment. It is also the responsibility of WWU Woods Wellness Center to document if a student begins treatment but does not complete it, or if a student refuses treatment altogether. In these instances, the student is required to receive an annual symptom evaluation by
WWU Woods Wellness Center before being allowed to register for subsequent academic terms.

2) If upon further testing, a student is diagnosed with active tuberculosis disease that is non-contagious (as determined by the local health department), the student must undergo treatment to remain enrolled at William Woods University. The student may continue to attend classes as long as he/she adheres to treatment. It is the responsibility of WWU Woods Wellness Center to document that a student has completed treatment for non-contagious active tuberculosis disease.

3) If upon further testing, a student is diagnosed with active tuberculosis disease that is contagious, WWU Woods Wellness Center will work closely with the local health department to isolate and treat the infected student and to identify and test people who have come in contact with the infected student. William Woods University will work with the local health department to implement appropriate communication efforts with students, parents and the community to inform them of the diagnosis of active tuberculosis disease on the William Woods University campus. All students who have been diagnosed with active tuberculosis disease must be certified by the local health department as non-contagious and in adherence with their treatment before they are allowed to return to campus. WWU Woods Wellness Center is responsible for documenting this in the student’s medical file.