The national Viral Hepatitis Action Plan recommends strengthening partnerships among health departments, community-based organizations, and health-care providers for hepatitis services. We implemented a hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and linkage-to-care program through a local health department using similar strategies reported for HIV care

Anderson, Alexandria

Hilton, Alison

Hurt, Christopher B.

Muir, Andrew J.

Seña, Arlene C.

Willis, Sarah J.

Wohl, David A.

Public Health Reports

English

PubMed

Objectives. The national Viral Hepatitis Action Plan recommends strengthening partnerships among health departments, community-based organizations, and health-care providers for hepatitis services. We implemented a hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and linkage-to-care program through a local health department using similar strategies reported for HIV care. Methods. The Durham County Department of Public Health received federal funding to conduct HCV testing and linkage to care in Durham, North Carolina. HCV antibody testing with reflex RNA was offered through a sexually transmitted disease clinic, a county jail, community testing sites (including a residential substance abuse recovery program), and a homeless clinic. People with evidence of HCV infection were linked to care through an HCV bridge counselor who provided education, incentives, and transportation, and scheduled appointments with HCV specialists at nearby academic centers and on-site clinics. Results. From December 2012 through February 2014, we conducted 2,004 HCV tests, of which 326 (16.3%) were HCV antibody positive and 241 (12.0%) had detectable HCV RNA. Among the 241 people with HCV infection, 178 (73.9%) were men, and 133 (55.2%) were born between 1945 and 1965. Of 241 people with chronic HCV infection, 150 (62.2%) reported ever injecting drugs, eight (2.5%) were coinfected with HIV, and 123 (51.0%) were linked to care. Conclusion. At the local public health level, HCV testing and linkage to care can be facilitated with additional funding and by leveraging existing programs and provider networks to deliver a coordinated system of care. </jats:sec

Arlene C. Seña

Sarah J. Willis

Alison Hilton

Alexandria Anderson

David A. Wohl

Christopher B. Hurt

Andrew J. Muir

Crossref

Efforts at the Frontlines: Implementing a Hepatitis C Testing and Linkage-to-Care Program at the Local Public Health Level

Carolina Digital Repository

http://cdr.lib.unc.edu/downloads/2v23w069t

Efforts at the Frontlines: Implementing a Hepatitis C Testing and Linkage-to-Care Program at the Local Public Health Level

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Crossref

Carolina Digital Repository