Tip: Tuberculosis Testing?
With your hectic schedule, it is sometimes easy to overlook simple compliance issues. Advanced Healthcare Studies’ “Tuesday Tips” will bring you a quick, helpful idea each week that can assist you in your operations related to regulatory compliance. We know that many of you implement outstanding practices in your community, and we welcome your ideas as well. If you have a tip that you would like to share, just reply by email and we may share your tip in a future “Tuesday Tip.”
We recently received a question regarding tuberculosis (TB) testing in California assisted living and residential care facilities, so we thought we would review the requirements with you.
Residents
California DSS/CCL regulations (RCFE – 87458, ARF – 80069) require that residents have a TB test as part of the initial medical assessment prior to admission. Residents with active communicable tuberculosis are of course prohibited from residing in the facility.
Staff
Staff must also be screened for tuberculosis. RCFE (elderly residents) regulation 87411 requires the screening be completed “not more than six months prior to or seven days after employment.” General Regulation (adult and group home residents) 80065 requires the testing be completed “not more than one year prior to or seven days after employment or licensure.”
Cal/OSHA
You should also be aware that Cal/OSHA standards require that increased-risk environments, such as our facilities, perform regular TB testing of employees in accordance with CDC recommendations. Specifically, the CDC Interim Tuberculosis Control Enforcement Guidelines state: “In general, all employees in increased-risk environments must receive PPD testing at least annually. In the healthcare industry, where exposure potential is particularly high, the required testing frequency can be more frequent, depending upon the degree of risk of transmission of TB in the specific workplace for the category of work being performed.”
This tip was provided by Advanced Healthcare Studies – your source for operational and training products and services.
Sincerely,
Josh Allen, RN
Advanced Healthcare Studies, LLC
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