Occupational Health Clinic FAQ

You can check your compliance in the Health and Wellness Information Portal.

Supervisors can monitor compliance with the programs below using the VUMC Immunization Compliance Report in Tableau.

Also, you can call the Occupational Health Clinic during business hours and select phone menu option #1 for "compliance or immunization questions."

Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Occupational Health Clinic staff may read results. Also nurses who have been trained and certified by Occupational Health Clinic can read the results. You cannot read your own TB skin test.

If there is either redness or swelling at the TB skin test site at 48 hours you must come to the Occupational Health Clinic to have the test site evaluated. If more than 72 hours has passed since the test placement you will need to have a new test placed so that the reading can be confirmed by the Occupational Health Clinic staff.

When a person has a negative TB skin test reaction, giving a second test two weeks later can confirm that person is truly negative. The first test serves to "boost" the immune system so it responds fully to the second test. This two-step testing identifies persons who were exposed to tuberculosis many years prior and did not receive routine testing.​

​Some people who are immunosuppressed cannot mount a full immune response to a skin test. For this reason the criteria for interpreting a test as positive differs depending upon the immune status of the individual. An immunosuppressed patient with induration (swelling) of just 5 mm would be considered positive, and this would be very valuable information for them to know. Since the skin test is not harmful for these patients, we do not exclude immunosuppressed employees from this important surveillance program which is designed to protect them. While OHC will accept a record of a blood test for TB infection (an IGRA such as T-Spot or QuantiFERON-Gold) in lieu of skin testing, we cannot reimburse for the cost of blood testing, since skin testing is not medically contraindicated.​

​The skin test medication, called PPD, is a pregnancy category B medication, which means that animal reproduction studies have not demonstrated a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. The CDC supports testing of pregnant healthcare workers who are in occupational TB surveillance programs, and the Vanderbilt Medical Center policy specifically states that pregnancy is not a valid reason for medical deferral from the surveillance testing program. This policy was drafted with input from the Vanderbilt Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology which fully supports this position. While OHC will accept a record of a blood test for TB infection (an IGRA such as T-Spot or QuantiFERON-Gold) in lieu of skin testing, we cannot reimburse for the cost of blood testing, since skin testing is not medically contraindicated.​

Risk Management determines if the condition is compensable under TN Workers' Compensation. You can be seen in Occupational Health for an initial consultation regardless of the Workers' Compensation decision.

There are no charges for professional services at Occupational Health Clinic.

However, lab tests and/or medical supplies for non-work-related conditions will incur charges to your insurance. Costs not covered by insurance will be your responsibility.​

Walk-in services are available for vaccines, labs, TB tests and urgent medical care. Walk-in services are also available for minor medical conditions at Faculty/Staff Express Care.

We do not close for lunch; however, depending on clinic volume, walk-ins may experience a longer wait during the lunch hour.

It is extremely important to order the source labs quickly. Medication to prevent HIV is most effective if given within 2 hours of the exposure, so the source patient's HIV status must be ascertained right away.

If you have access to eStar, find the source patient order set by typing in exposure or source or blood in the order/order set field. You should see and select the "Source Blood/Body Fluid Exposure Panel". The ordering provider will be the patient's attending provider. ​

If you cannot find the order set, please order the following labs from the Facility List:

• "Rapid HIV BBF Exposure"
• "PCR Hepatitis C Virus Qt"
• "Hepatitis B Surface Ag"

​ If you will be using an external lab, contact the Occupational Health Clinic at 615-936-0955 for assistance. Recorded instructions for providers and exposed employees is also available by calling 615-875-STIK (875-7845.)

For non-occupational testing, your Vanderbilt provider can order labwork in eStar, and you can present to Occupational Health to have your blood drawn. The Vanderbilt lab does not accept lab orders from providers outside VUMC. The provider must include the ICD-10 code with the order. We do not charge you for the visit, and the lab will bill your insurance.​