HEPATITIS C SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND FOLLOW-UP CARE

dc.contributor.authorFlynn, Constance Mary
dc.date.accessioned2019-11-05T18:18:40Z
dc.date.available2019-11-05T18:18:40Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractChronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection causes more deaths than all infectious diseases combined. Direct acting antivirals (DAAs) may cure over 90% of HCV infections. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends screening high risk and baby boomer birth cohorts (CDC, 2015a). Those testing positive for HCV antibodies require HCV RNA to confirm infection. Positive HCV RNA necessitates follow-up with a primary care provider (PCP) or HCV specialist. This project was designed to determine if educating a group of PCPs on CDC HCV testing sequence would improve diagnosis and follow-up care. An educational presentation on CDC HCV guidelines was provided to group of PCPs. Rates of HCV screening, diagnosis and follow-up appointments were collected three months pre/post intervention. Descriptive statistics were used to compare rates of HCV screening, RNA confirmation and follow-up care. Although pre-post screening rates were nearly identical with all HCV positive patients receiving confirmatory diagnosis and follow-up, the overall project impact was not anticipated. The end result led to automated reflex HCV RNA confirmatory testing, formation of a hospital/ community task force to examine HCV treatment access, and establishment of a hospital based HCV clinic. In addition, there were multiple HCV educational presentations for providers and allied health personnel. There was increased local media attention (television, newspaper) on the HCV epidemic, which improved community awareness of the need for HCV screening and treatment.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12517/56
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.subjectHCV birth cohort screening, HCV RNA, CDC HCV sequence, HCV link-to-careen_US
dc.titleHEPATITIS C SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND FOLLOW-UP CAREen_US
dc.typeOtheren_US

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